Baby Your Ob-Gyn Coding Practices Now to Ensure a Healthy 2018

This year’s annual updates to the ICD-10-CM and PCS codes will have special implications for ob-gyn practices and coders in 2018. From tubal pregnancy without intrauterine pregnancy to maternal care for abnormalities of the fetal heart rate or rhythm, important additions and revisions go into effect in October – will your practice be ready?

In order to receive the appropriate reimbursement for provided services, ICD-10-CM diagnoses must be correctly applied and correlated with the appropriate documentation. Ob-gyn practice coders – and physicians! – must know the current ICD-10-CM and PCS diagnosis and procedure guidelines that have implications for obstetrics and gynecology.

ICD-10-CM Ob-Gyn Codes to See Almost 100 Changes

Important new, revised and deleted codes in both ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS code sets go into effect on October 1, 2017 – less than two months away. In ob-gyn in particular, there are 83 new codes in ICD-10-CM relating to ob-gyn, maternity care and delivery, and neoplasm. Six more conversions and one revision apply to ob-gyn services as well. In addition, there are over 300 PCS codes in the obstetrics section for 2018.

ICD-10 ob-gyn documentation requirements will change, and your practice will likely need to make updates to your evaluation and management (E/M), wellness and medical necessity documentation and coding. Better understanding of the CPT E/M rules and good clinical documentation goes hand in hand with correct, clean claims and better overall revenue returns, patient satisfaction and employee buy-in.

Key Concepts for Ob-Gyn Coding

Here are some key concepts for the ICD-10-CM diagnosis updates for the ob-gyn office and ICD-10-PCS updates for hospitals that come with coding and billing for these services:

• Correct diagnoses for E/M and ob-gyn procedures
• Official guidelines for diagnosis of hospital vs. office/outpatient
• Understanding the ob global package
• Diagnosis changes and how they will affect how payers implement and adjudicate based on the CDC’s current release
• Appropriate use of electronic and web-based coding software
• What the future has in store for coding ob-gyn

Strategize Now for Clean 2018 Ob-Gyn Claims

To make sure your ob-gyn coding practices are ready for the new year, join pro coder Lori-Lynne Webb for ProfEdOnDemand’s “2018 ICD-10-CM and PCS Updates for Ob/Gyn” webinar. Lori-Lynn will provide useful coding tools and strategies to help implement the correct processes used for documentation for critical and basic E/M and wellness clinical medical record documentation for ob-gyn practices. Let this coding compliance expert show you how to create a better work-flow and increase your ob-gyn practice’s revenues as a result.