Medical Coding for Cardiology

Medical coding for cardiologists entails a specialized set of skills that are vital when applying the diverse, and highly precise, diagnoses and procedures that define this type of practice. Within the cardiology specialty field, there exists a determined need for heightened specificity and qualified documentation with respect to the subsequent effects of any treatment/procedure and the patient’s status and condition. These demands call for an experienced, certified cardiology coding specialist.
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The three areas in which the ICD-10 has called for change that relates specifically to the practice of cardiology include changes in definitions, the need for increased specificity, and refinements and negations with regard to terminology. For Example:

  • The revised timeframe defining an AMI (acute myocardial infarction)
  • The negation of the concept of benign or malignant relative to hypertension and the need to document for causal relationship and type
  • The increased specificity of terminology in documenting CHF (congestive heart failure)
  • New terminology concepts such as “underdosing”
  • Terminology differences and increased specificity with regard to atherosclerotic heart disease with angina pectoris
  • Increased specificity in documenting cardiomyopathy, arrhythmias and dysrhythmia, and heart valve disease

Skilled coders with definitive experience in cardiology documentation and coding applications readily recognize, and accurately interpret, the characteristics of each visit or procedure:

  • Clinical relevance of an office visit: Initial consultation, routine check-up, occurrence or event documentation, cardiac monitoring and testing, or clearance for surgery
  • Ability to read and condense physician office and operative notes to appropriately summarize the visit, or procedure, and create an effective synopsis
  • Provide thorough documentation of test results and related diagnosis that links all relative documentation forming an exact interconnection between all services and procedures. This is essential in that failure to provide supportive documentation that correctly corresponds to the chain of services leaves the practice exposed to reimbursement denial and potential liability.
  • Accurate attribution of combination codes

PDN’s certified cardiology coding specialists are adept in the areas that can make the difference in your office. It is important that cardiology coders be knowledgeable of the wide and diverse scope of cardiac care including heart defects and congenital anomalies, congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, valvular disease including stenosis, insufficiencies, atrial fibrillation, regurgitation, etc., cardiac electrophysiology, and all intricacies of the circulatory system. Our coder’s knowledge base also encompasses exceptional abilities in the areas of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, coding of surgical procedures, ICD-10 and ICD-10-CM proficiency, a thorough understanding of HIPAA, experienced with EMR (electronic medical records), and EM documentation. With a strong attention to detail and attributes that highlight accuracy and timeliness, our cardiology coding specialists consistently provide a full range of services that are complete, compliant, and will increase your practice revenues while preventing backlogs and claim denials.