6 certified coders Reasons why Anesthesia practices should hire
1
There was a time when medical coding was a
eliminate coding ERRORS
simple job. When paper trolleys trundled across hallways. But that was the healthcare space
Coding for anesthesiology can drive coders who are not familiar with the specialty up the wall. Every single CPT code has to be crosswalked to the correct anesthesia code based on the region of the body, age, level of sedation and technique. Calculating base units and time units accurately comes with appropriate training and education.
yesterday
and
it
is
quickly
disappearing over the horizon. Most healthcare organizations still follow antiquated ways of working. Like, working with medical coders who don’t hold specialty specific certifications. Especially, in a specialty like anesthesiology where medical coding is incredibly complicated.
2 Only a certified anesthesiology coder can perform a thorough clinical review of a medical record, spot and report documentation inconsistencies, summarize the findings and ensure that the best reimbursement is received for a service.
of
Minimize coding denials
The most common denials faced by anesthesiology practices are MAC denials. The major reason for MAC denial is the insurer’s assumption that a higher level of sedation wasn’t necessary. The best solution to solve these denials? Provider documentation. Certified coders are more adept at assigning codes according to the appropriate sedation level.
3
INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY
Certified coders are trained in medical terminology, anatomy and physiology. They have the expertise to abstract information from charts and assign accurate codes, quickly. On an average, a medical coder can code about 25-30 charts an hour. Specialty focused coders on the other hand can code over 40 charts an hour. This increases the productivity of your coding process and accelerates the coding
5
Perfect time units
Time units play a major role in reimbursement. But unfortunately, most anesthesiology claim rejections are due to improper calculation of time units. Novice coders usually mention the units alone. Insurers expect the time to be stated in the claim as well. Else, it takes longer to pay.
The guidelines for reporting time units vary between commercial insurance companies and Medicare. A certified anesthesiology coder is trained in these nuances and can assure physicians and facilities of proper reimbursement for the services rendered.
4
Improve compliance
There are various qualifying circumstances that can be submitted to insurers to improve reimbursement. Additional codes result in significantly higher reimbursement for anesthesiologists and CRNAs. Add on codes can be used to specify emergency situations and procedures complicated by preexisting conditions or medical complications. Certified anesthesiology coders are trained to report qualifying circumstances accurately. This results in compliance with reporting standards.
6
ERRORLESS MODIFIERS
Nothing’s changed except everything‌ The healthcare field has changed drastically over the last few years. With the downward pressure on anesthesiology medical practices to comply with coding regulations and maintain pristine documentation, hiring certified coders is a solution that will help you face the reimbursement challenges of today.
Two separate claims must be filed for medically directed anesthesia procedures. Claims must be filed separately for the coded and anesthesiologist and the qualified non-physician anesthetist. Appropriate modifiers must me assigned according to the medical directions given. If the medical directions are not met a separate modifier must be used. This can be way too complicated for a medical coder who’s not trained or certified in the specialty.
About US AnesthesiaBillingBridge is a revenue cycle management and medical billing company that
specializes
enabled
RCM
in
offering
services
for
technology anesthesia
practices. Our certified anesthesia coding experts provide wholesome and result-driven coding solutions. Power your anesthesia practice with the right teams and technology.
Call us @
713-893-6202
Contact INFO Address:
3907 Liggio St Suite A/B, Dickinson TX-77539 United States.
Email : support@anesthesiabillingbridge.com Website : https://www.anesthesiabillingbridge.com