Be sure to update your coding resources !!

It’s that time again and I shouldn’t have to reminde everyone but it’s time again to order your new coding books for 2008. We all know how important it is (and should be) to purchase new copies of the ICD-9-CM Manual, CPT Manual and HCPCS Level II Manual every year, and keep updated CCI unbundling material (usually updated quarterly with important changes) for billing and coding staff members. But it’s amazing how many offices I go in to that still have outdated coding books in their offices.

Also make sure your office is diligent about getting and reading your carrier’s Medicare newsletters. Medicare reimbursement is not set in stone at the beginning of each year – it changes as the year progresses and if you are not on top of these changes, you could revenues through billing error and failure to bill new allowed services.

For ambulatory service centers, HcPro reminds us that Medicare will begin using a new reference book, the APC Manual, that will be necessary to add to the list for 2008. It is a good reference for APCs (Ambulatory Payment Classifications), which Medicare will begin using for ASC payments on January 1, 2008.