Spinal Fusion Part 4 - CPT Assistant Review

Instructor

Beth Martilik, MA, RHIA, CDIP, CCS 

Description

This course provides a comprehensive exploration of CPT coding references related to spinal fusion procedures. Spinal fusion is a complex and evolving field in healthcare, and accurate coding is essential for proper billing and reimbursement. This course aims to equip medical coders and professionals with the knowledge and resources necessary to accurately identify and code various aspects of spinal fusion procedures.

Included Lessons:

• Introduction
• Coding References Related to Spinal Fusion

Key Takeaways

• Identification of Spinal Fusion Types: Develop the ability to identify the specific type of spinal fusion being performed based on surgical documentation, considering interbody and posterolateral fusion methods.
• Proficiency in Surgical Approaches: Attain proficiency in recognizing and coding various surgical approaches used in spinal fusion, such as percutaneous, endoscopic, and open techniques.
• Understanding Bone Graft Products: Gain a clear understanding of bone graft materials, including autografts, allografts, morselized, and structural grafts, and learn how to code them accurately.
• Mastery of Instrumentation Usage: Master the coding for spinal instrumentation, both posterior and anterior, understanding their role and coding implications in spinal fusion procedures.
• Accurate Discectomy and Decompression Coding: Learn to accurately distinguish between discectomy and decompression procedures and code them appropriately, ensuring compliance and proper reimbursement.
• Recognition of Exploration in Spinal Fusion: Recognize when exploration should be separately coded and when it is inherent to the primary procedure, ensuring precise coding in spinal fusion cases.
• Operating Microscope Usage Expertise: Develop expertise in coding for procedures involving the use of an operating microscope as an additional component in spinal fusion cases.
• Vertebral Corpectomy Understanding: Gain a deep understanding of vertebral corpectomy procedures in cervical spine surgeries and differentiate between codes for arthrodesis with and without vertebral corpectomy.
• Informed Use of Coding References: Stay informed and make effective use of resources like CPT Assistant and Coding Clinic for HCPCS to access the latest coding guidance for spinal fusion procedures.
• Commitment to Accurate and Compliant Coding: Ensure accurate and compliant coding to support proper billing and reimbursement, aligning with coding guidelines and staying updated on changes in coding practices within spinal fusion.

Benefits of Taking this Course

• Specialized Skills
• Improved Coding Accuracy
• Career Advancement

FAQs

About our Medical Coding Courses

HIAlearn, powered by Health Information Associates (HIA)—a leader in medical coding and auditing for more than three decades—offers a comprehensive online education platform for medical coders. With a catalog of over 200 medical coding courses accepted by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) for Continuing Education Units (CEUs) and a selection approved by the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC), HIAlearn caters to both beginners and experienced medical coders seeking to enhance their skills. The platform provides an array of training plans tailored to meet individual learning needs, from mastering challenging coding procedures to understanding broad conceptual frameworks within the coding world. Courses are available across various coding types including CPT, E/M, ICD-10-CM, ICD-10-PCS, and are designed to cater to different coder levels and coding specialties such as inpatient, outpatient, profee, and CDI. Additionally, HIAlearn offers a Coding Updates bundle to ensure coders are up-to-date with the annual changes in ICD-10-CM, ICD-10-PCS, CPT, and IPPS. Beyond individual learning, HIAlearn supports organizations with group discounts, promoting enhanced coding accuracy, efficiency, and compliance across teams.