What the world needs now is……….

Many languages are spoken around the world. A universal language does not exist. Wouldn’t it be nice if there was?

A universal language does exist in medical coding. It is ICD-10. ICD-10 is in almost every country of the world with the exception of the United States. The United States still uses ICD-9.

Huge differences exist between the two just like any spoken language. Some languages can be very complex. But at the same time simple parts are mixed in.

October 1, 2014 was the deadline for the switchover to ICD-10. It was pushed back to begin no sooner than October 1, 2015. Change is going to happen. It is inevitable. I think we should take the extra time and be ready.

Some codes will still be a simple single code. Dysuria is 788.1 in ICD-9 and R300 in ICD-10.

Some conditions required more than one ICD-9 codes that will require only one ICD-10 code. Meningitis due to Lyme disease required ICD-9 codes 088.81 and 323.01 but will only need ICD-10 code A69.21.

Things may seem more complicated at first, but I think it is going to be easier. I mean if the rest of the world can do it, you can too.

Change Change Change

I had planned on this blog being about the changes between ICD-9 and ICD-10. I had an assignment in my Business Communications class dealing with infographics. I was trying to find an infographic that has something to do with Medical Coding. I was not successful.

I was successful in finding an interesting infographic at http://www.juststand.org/Portals/3/images/JustStandInfoGraphicV3.png that pointed out the health problems associated with sitting for long periods of time. I like, most medical coders sit for at least 8 hours every day I am at work.

“Sitting Disease” is now a term used by medical professionals to refer to the long periods of physical inactivity and its negative consequences.

Women who are inactive and sit over 6 hours a day were 94% more likely to die during the time period studied that those who were physically active and sat less than 3 hours a day. I find this fact concerning because almost all medical coders I know are women. I would not consider what we do as inactive because we are typing on our keyboards but I am sure the number is still higher than it should be.

I found another infographic at http://dailyinfographic.com/keeping-good-posture-at-work-infographic that explained how we should pay attention to our posture. Reasons mentioned to sit up straight included injury prevention, sharper thinking, faster metabolism and a libido boost.

You should do a posture check when sitting for extended periods of time. Stand with your back and back of your head to a wall. Pay attention to where your chin is when you stand like this and try to keep it there when you sit back down and resume your work. Another thing you can do during a posture check is to draw your shoulder blades down your back and bring your chest forward.

I want to leave you with the 20/20/20 rule. You should take a break every 20 minutes and look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This will give your eyes a break from staring at your computer screen.

Did that happen?

One responsibility of a coder is to use the appropriate code to ensure the facility receives maximum reimbursement for services provided. A coder can only use information the provider has documented. Coders can become frustrated by the lack of documentation. “If it is not documented, it never happened!” has been drilled into every coder’s brain.

I work for an IHS facility. The provider has to document his exam included 8 or more systems or body areas to bill a preventative code. The exception is if the provider documents at least 7 of the 11 elements of his exam. Modifier 52 must be used to document reduced services if he doesn’t have these documented.

The amount reimbursed to the facility is 50% of the allowed amount. Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage allows $129.58 for a preventative code for a woman 18-39 years old. We have a provider that does around 50 well woman exams a week. I would say at least half of these are women from 18-39 years old. He would not document enough to avoid using the modifier.

A coder met with him to let him know he needed to do a more thorough exam. He had been doing the exam but failing to document everything. I am not sure what the clinic lost due to his lack of documentation. But twenty-five exams being reimbursed at fifty percent is over $1600 per week.

Coders need to work with the providers to make sure “I know it happened because it was documented!”

Click to access medicare-advantage-fee-schedule.pdf

Live…Laugh….Love….Code

I worked for the same company for 24 years. I suddenly found myself unemployed. I had always wanted to be ???? when I grew up. But I had chosen to work while raising 3 children instead of going to college to become ????.

And work I did! I was working 60 hours a week and missing out on so much of my life and my children’s lives. My job was always on my mind. I constantly worried about it when I was not there.

I had to figure out what I was going to do before my unemployment benefits ran out. I started searching for jobs that were available. I found many jobs available as a Medical Coder. I researched to find the salary and what was required to become one.

I found the pay to be very good. I remember the surprise when I learned I could earn more in a 40 hour week with only 3 years of experience than I had been earning at the job I did have. I felt robbed!

My next step was to find a college to make my new dream a reality. I found many schools that offer training to become a Certified Medical Coder. I did my research and found Community Care College in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It was the ONLY choice for me.

I took online classes while working as a Medical Records Clerk. It was the most difficult thing I had ever done! My persistence paid off! I had finished my core classes in 15 months and passed my certification test thru the AAPC. I started my new career as a Certified Coder less than 2 months later!

I work 40 hours a week and now have time to LIVE!
I do not worry about work after I go home. My family did not know I knew how to LAUGH!
I LOVE to CODE! It is the better than I had even dared to dream!