May 2007

PPS changes still all the talk in Home Health
Don’t forget about your NPI deadline
Coding Tips
Know About All of Your Test Prep Options?
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)

PPS changes still all the talk in Home Health

Potential changes are still the talk of the town. Have you read the whole document yet, or read the summary that shows the changes compared with the current system? Read on!

Some highlights:
• Case-mix on M9175, M0610 and M0800
• Therapy changes with new thresholds
• M0245 will be deleted and replaced with a new item!!
• The SCIC adjustment will be eliminated
• Early and Later Episodes are new terminology

To read the 311-page proposal, go to:
www.cms.hhs.gov/HomeHealthPPS/downloads/CMS-1541-P.pdf

To read a summary that compares changes to current PPS, go to: www.ppsplus.com/documents/cmsfactsheet.pdf

Tip: Diagnosis Coding Pro for Home Health’s June issue will have tons of information on the changes. This newsletter’s technical editor is BMSC Home Health Board Member Lisa Selman-Holman!

(Return to Top)

Don’t forget about your NPI deadline!

Compliance with the NPI provisions is effective May 23, 2007. Small plans must be in compliance by May 23, 2008. CMS is providing more information at: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/NationalProvIdentStand/

(Return to Top)

Coding Tips

• Use 038 codes to indicate septicemia or sepsis caused by bacteria. Do not use to indicate infection.
  
• Codes from 531.xx are commonly referenced as “stomach ulcers.”
  

(Return to Top)

Know About All Of Your Test Prep Options?

Hey, BMSC certified coders and potential test-takers!! Do you know about all of our test-prep options?

Go to www.medicalspecialtycoding.com to find out more about
studying on your own time with:

• Lisa Selman-Holman’s HCS-D Certification and HCS-D Recertification audioconference CDs!!! Lisa spent almost two hours on each subject going through main points and answering questions!! Order today!
  
• Want a broader, larger study view? We have a six-hour Beyond the Basics audio and presentation study prep, too! Order your copy of the audio CD and presentation today!
  
• Other BMSC Study Resources to Help You:
  Look for our skill assessment questions and the examination outlines to learn more!

More exciting news and resources coming soon on study options!!

(Return to Top)

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

Event: Prevent ICD-9 Sequencing Errors that Cheat Your Agency Out of Full Payments
Date: May 30, 2007 in your office
To register or learn more information:
www.homehealthinteractive.com/conferences/A1266/home.htm

Event: The Art of ICD-9 Coding for Home Health
Date: June 5-6, 2007 in Rancho Cordova, CA
To register or learn more information:
www.cahsah.org/education/2007/ICD9CodingSummer2007.pdf

Event: ICD-9 Coding for Home Care
Date: June 6-7, 2007 in Southfield, MI
To register or learn more information:
www.medicalspecialtycoding.com/homecare
/documents/A1flyer2007.pdf

Event: 2008 ICD-9-CM Codes in Home Health
Date: June 12, 2007 in your office
To register or learn more information:
www.homehealthinteractive.com/conferences/A1271/home.htm

Event: The Art of ICD-9 Coding for Home Health: Creating a Diagnosis Masterpiece
Date: June 19-20 in Orlando, FL
To register or learn more information:
www.medicalspecialtycoding.com/homecare/documents/
CodingWorkshopFlyer06-19-07.pdf

Event: QHR Presents the 2007 Home Health Coding
Workshop
Date: July 11-12, 2007 in Brentwood, TN
To register or learn more information:
www.medicalspecialtycoding.com/homecare/documents/
HomeHealthCodingWorkshop.pdf

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/

Event: National Quality Outcomes Conference
Date: September 5-7, 2007 in Chicago
To register or learn more information:
www.homehealthinteractive.com/conferences/outcomes/home.htm

(Return to Top)

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!!