March 2007

Code This Scenario!
Quick Briefs From the Home Health World!
The HCS-D exams are now online!!!!
Upcoming Events

Hello from the Board of Medical Specialty Coding! We hope you enjoy your monthly ezine and find the information useful. If you have any comments or recommendations for future issues, please contact me through the following channels:

Victoria Forlini, Executive Director
vforlini@medicalspecialtycoding.com
301/287-2250 (phone)
301/287-2941 (fax)

Code This Scenario

Put on your thinking cap and code the following scenario:

A patient is admitted with a documented condition of cellulitis of buttock.

How would you code this scenario? Find the answer at the bottom of this ezine.

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Quick Briefs from the Home Health World!

• National Nurses Day is May 6th!! There are more than 2.7 million licensed RNs in the United States, as well as more than 2.5 million LPNs, home health aides, and million nurses’ aides. Celebrate your nurses and aides within your organization. during National Nurses Week, May 6-12.
  
• According to the Alzheimer’s Association, more than five million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease. One in eight people over 65 and one in two people older than 85 now have the disease. The group's report talks about the increasing Medicare money being spent for these patients' care. To find out more, go to: http://www.alz.org/

Remember: The HCS-D exams are now online!!!!

Just check off the “online” option on the registration form. You’ll need a proctor to take it in your office. We’ll send the proctor a username and password so you can take the exam on your schedule!! Sign up today at www.medicalspecialtycoding.com

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Upcoming Events

Here's the 411 on some upcoming events where you'll get top-notch educational opportunities to earn CEUs and even a place to sit for your HCS-D certification or recertification exam!

Event: Beyond the Basics:Critical Issues in Home Care Coding
Date and Locations: Six dates and locations in April and May 2007
To register or learn more information: http://www.beyondthebasicscoding.com/home.html

Event: Turn Your Agency's Web Site Into A Referral Magnet
Date: April 24, 2007
To register or learn more information:
www.homehealthinteractive.com/conferences/A1225/home.htm

Event: Would Private Duty Be Good for My HHA and
How to Make It Happen
Date: May 2, 2007
To register or to learn more information:
www.homehealthinteractive.com/conferences/A1223/home.htm

Event: Develop a Falls Prevention Program to Boost
Your Agency’s Referrals & Outcomes Scores
Date: May 23, 2007
To register or to learn more information:
www.homehealthinteractive.com/conferences/A1245/home.htm

Event: 2007 Home Health Coding Summit
Date: August 13-16, 2007 in Chicago
To register or learn more information: http://www.homehealthinteractive.com/conferences
/homehealthcodingsummit2007/

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What do you want to see in your next issue of the Home Care Advisor? More news? More events to earn CEUs? Some practice scenarios? Email BMSC's Executive Director, Victoria Forlini, and let her know. We want to hear from you!!

Answers to Code This Scenario!

Answer:
682.5 (other cellulitis abscess of buttock) -- M0230(a)

Rationale:
If co-morbid conditions are also documented in POC, code as additional codes in M0240.

Integumentary coding tip: 692.71 (sunburn) is not considered a burn for the purpose of the burn case mix diagnoses. Only codes 940-949 are considered burns for 21 case mix codes.