AMA Bookstore News, May 8, 2012
CPT® 2013 Professional Edition
Correctly interpreting and reporting medical procedures and services begins with CPT® 2013 Professional Edition. Straight from the American Medical Association (AMA), this is the only CPT® codebook with the official CPT coding rules and guidelines developed by the CPT Editorial Panel. Covers hundreds of code, guideline and text changes.
- Improved! A revised, enhanced and expanded index—aids you in locating codes related to a specific procedure, service, anatomic site, condition, synonym, eponym, or abbreviation. An expansion of the pathology and laboratory index entries to include analytes and the elimination of redundancy throughout the rest of the index result in an index that is clearer and quicker to search.
- More! Anatomical and procedural illustrations—help improve coding accuracy and understanding of the anatomy and procedures being discussed. Five new illustrations provide more information for those coding from the Cardiovascular System subsection of Surgery.
- New! Appendix of multianalyte assays with algorithmic analyses—puts you ahead of the curve by informing you of existing tests that have yet to meet all of the necessary requirements to be placed among the Category I codes
- New! Background information on the evolution of molecular pathology—delivers a concise explanation behind the rapid expansion that has been occurring in the molecular pathology section of the code set so that you can better apply the codes and descriptions within this growing subsection
- Available September 2012! An earlier publication date—gets this official and trusted resource in your hands sooner so you can prepare for 2013
- Updated citations to CPT® Assistant, Clinical Examples in Radiology, and CPT® Changes—give you immediate information to popular AMA resources that can enhance your understanding of the CPT code set
- Summary of additions, deletions and revisions—provides a quick reference to 2013 changes without having to refer to previous editions
- Fourteen appendixes—offer you quick reference to additional information and resources that cover such topics as modifiers, clinical examples, add-on codes, vascular families
Reimbursement Management
Useful to both the seasoned professional and the newest addition to the medical practice, Reimbursement Management helps users become familiar with the reimbursement process and build confidence when handling reimbursement issues.
This book covers what "ought to be taught in medical school." It provides practical guidelines and useful links. It helps simplify the increasingly complex world of insurance and reimbursement.
Heather Huang, MD
Rush University Medical Center
Key features:
- Insurance basics—help you understand the types of insurance plans and providers, methods of reimbursement, credentialing and more
- Compliance programs—teach you how to develop effective plans for staying in compliance
- HIPAA regulations—give an understanding of the rules and standards for the medical practice
- Benchmarking and monitoring reimbursement—to improve collection and reimbursement performance
- Appendixes—provide valuable information and links to organizations that keep you informed
- eBook now available!—Get lifetime access to Reimbursement Management! The downloadable e-book provides on-the-go access on any electronic device that supports the ePub format, such as a PC, Mac, iPad, iPod Touch, iPhone, Nook and Sony Reader.
The product showcase featured in AMA Bookstore News changes with each edition. This offer is only valid until June 4, 2012.
Understanding the coding reimbursement process is vital to today's medical practice. The continuous addition of new rules and regulations only increases the complexity. With the right tools you can ensure that your practice navigates this process with ease and confidence.
Here is a tip that can get you started: Know your patients' insurance plans. Insurance companies sell different types of individual and group plans with varying degrees of coverage, referral restrictions, and payment schedules which can change from year to year. As a consequence, your patient may not know or understand what their health plan covers and will look to you to help them navigate this complex issue.
For more on insurance plans and other aspects of the payment process, including strategies for payer contracting, back office processes and revenue cycle management, check out this month's Product Showcase featuring Reimbursement Management.
AMA Coding Online provides the AMA's best-selling coding, billing and payment resources in web-based formats. These user-friendly online products provide you instant access to the latest data changes from the source of CPT®—the AMA.
Products include:
CodeManager® Online: Elite—The AMA's premier coding and payment tool. Features and benefits include:
- Monthly updates to essential medical coding references:
- CPT® Professional Edition
- ICD-9-CM Volumes 1, 2 and 3
- HCPCS Level II
- Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary
- Essential Medicare data and tools
- RBRVS DataManager Online
- RBRVS payment calculator
- Medicare's physician fee schedule rules and regulations
- LCDs
- NCCI validator
- Simple search capabilities
- Date-of-service searching
- "Go To Code" field
- Code mapping
- Custom code lists
- Choose the version that's right for you! Also available in Standard and Professional levels.
CPT® Assistant Online—This authoritative newsletter is the voice of CPT. Monthly updates and searchable content dating back to 1990 give you the data you need to appeal insurance denials, validate coding to auditors, train staff and answer day-to-day coding questions.
CPT® Changes Online—Research critical code changes dating back to 2000. Based on the criteria you set, this invaluable library instantly searches each edition of the AMA's best-selling CPT® Changes: An Insider's View for the official AMA interpretations and rationales for every new, revised and deleted CPT code and guideline change.
RBRVS DataManager Online—Accurately calculate and report claims based on the Medicare Physician Payment Schedule. This powerful product includes more than 3,200 AMA exclusive CPT vignettes with pre-/intra-/and post-service data, proprietary information to the assignment of RVUs, as well as a rationale for many code valuations to help you better understand the Resource-Based Relative Value System (RBRVS).
Clinical Examples in Radiology Online—The easiest way radiology coders can improve claims reporting and payment accuracy. Co-published by the AMA and the American College of Radiology, this newsletter was developed to help coding professionals understand the practical application of CPT codes with regard to radiology coding.
You've probably heard by now that a new compliance date for ICD-10-CM has been proposed that would postpone implementation from October 1, 2013 to October 1, 2014. The proposed rule for this date change was published in the Federal Register on April 17. The comment period for the proposed rule is set to close on May 17.
At last month's AHIMA ICD-10 Summit, the group director of the CMS Office of E-Health Standards and Services Denise Buenning stressed that the delay to the implementation date should not be seen as a suggestion for health care providers to delay their own learning and transition processes.
ICD-10 will affect diagnosis and inpatient procedure coding for everyone covered by HIPAA, not just those who submit Medicare or Medicaid claims.
We asked coding expert and AMA ICD-10-CM Workshop speaker Robin Linker, CHCA, CHCAS, CPC-I, CPC-H, CCS-P, MCS-P, CPC-P, CHC, her opinion on the delay.
"We've gained an additional year if the proposed rule for ICD-10 implementation stands. The additional time is desperately needed by physicians and most health care venues. But delaying transition preparation any longer than 2012 could seriously hinder readiness in 2014. The year prior to 2014 should be dedicated to fine tuning any final steps to readiness and should include learning time for a deeper understanding of the ICD-10 code set.
My greatest concern is for those who will wait until the last minute to start their transition and training. The possibility of a practice's revenue stream becoming paralyzed is a true reality. Months of payment delays would be inevitable."
All of the resources needed to begin learning about implementation and coding for ICD-10-CM are available from the AMA. No delay. Take advantage of hands-on learning with AMA's one-day ICD-10-CM Workshops on proper coding. Or learn on your own with valuable ICD-10 resources and codebooks published by the AMA and available at a discount price.
State managed-care statutes require that health plans administer the appeals and grievance processes under specific processes and rules. Appealing claims can be burdensome, but ignoring inappropriate denials and allowing incorrect payments can spell disaster for a medical practice.
Learn more about appeals and reviews, as well as other reimbursement essentials with Reimbursement Management.
Order today and save 30% off the print or eBook!
Question: A laboratory offers a test that includes multiple different analytes for which analyte-specific codes exist. The laboratory, however, provides a single result that is derived by aggregate analysis of the individual results. There is no current CPT code for the aggregate analysis. Should the laboratory report the individual codes that comprise the tests that went into the aggregate analysis?
Answer: No. The laboratory must only report tests that are specifically ordered and reported. In the situation described above, because only an aggregate result is reported and because there is no valid CPT code, the appropriate code to report is the relevant unlisted code.
Want more coding Q&A? Subscribe to CPT® Assistant Newsletter today!
Registration is open for the 2013 CPT® and RBRVS Annual Symposium. Sessions will define and explain major changes in CPT and the Medicare Physician Payment Schedule for 2013. Each presentation will demonstrate the development of coding policy, highlighting changes from the point the service description was developed or edited by CPT, through its evaluation by the AMA/Specialty Society Relative Value Scale Update Committee (RUC). Presenters will also explain how the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will implement payment policies and how contractor medical directors (CMDs) will cover and reimburse for the service in 2013.
Topics highly relevant to physician practices, and with the potential to influence coding procedure and policy in the future, will be selected for review and discussion. In addition, the Symposium will provide insightful coding guidelines and strategies to help you ensure accurate and efficient claims submission.
The topics* discussed will include:
- E/M – Focus on CPT Changes
- Neurology
- Qualified Health Care Professional Terminology
- Cardiothoracic Surgery
- Psychotherapy
- Pathology
- Cardiology
- Gastroenterology
- Ophthalmology
- Radiology
- Interventional Radiology/Vascular Surgery
- Pulmonary/Sleep Medicine
- Allergy
- Contractor Medical Director – Q&A on Common Coding/Claims Issues
*Topics, speakers, times and presentation handouts are subject to change without prior notification.
Register online or call the AMA's Unified Service Center at (800) 621-8335 and mention priority code EVE when registering.
Did you miss our first ICD-10-CM Workshop of the year? Don’t worry. From now until September, the AMA will be offering a one-day workshop each and every month.
Don’t delay. Register and learn how to implement and code for this new, highly specific code set.
AMA's ICD-10-CM Workshops feature subject matter experts Robin Linker and Susan Garrison. Here Robin describes the benefits of attending one of our upcoming workshops.
"These workshops are interactive, encouraging attendee participation. Although there is a fair amount of lecture, the information and tools presented will assist attendees by engaging them in hands-on exercises and instructor-led examples.
During the AMA ICD-10 Workshops, we will review and utilize the excellent resources and tools that are included in the attendee materials. This information will provide not only a starting point but a thorough step-by-step process for attendees to take back to the office and conduct a successful transition to and the necessary preparation for ICD-10 readiness.
The AMA, Susan, and I aim to provide a high quality and well balanced program. And what separates this program from many others is that it has been carefully thought through and designed with the physician and support staff in mind. Who better to understand physicians and their practices' needs than the AMA."
New! Digital Catalog
Our catalog is now available in an updated and easy-to-use digital format.
- Browse products with more ease, using the new flip-book format
- Browse sections using the Table of Contents (located on Page 3) and click page numbers to view
- Use the Search feature to quickly locate content, product names, or item numbers
- Click to view full product descriptions and special features right from the catalog
- Add products to your cart directly from product pages
- efresh your Shopping Cart page when you're done shopping to see all your products.
