BMI: New code choices could support higher coding, but don't assume you need -22

This year's fit-in fifth-digit diagnosis codes as antidote to BMI help you document a persevering's condition better, especially when the long-suffering's BMI might lead to else complex risk factors for the anesthesiologist to touch. However, having documentation of a southerly BMI does not automatically lead to greater degree payments. Watch two areas prior to shameless you can automatically add modifier 22 (Increased procedural services) attributable to BMI and potentially score a 20-30 percent higher pay with a view to the procedure.

Not all morbid fatness means modifier 22

A patient is taken to exist morbidly obese when his or her BMI is 40 or greater degree of. Just-in BMI codes for this year include:

V85.41 -- BMI 40.0-44.9, ripened V85.42 BMI 45.0-49.9, of age V85.43 -- BMI 50.0-59.9, adult V85.44 -- BMI 60.0-69.9, full grown V85.45 -- BMI 70 and to boot, adult While morbid obesity can be a proper reason to report modifier 22, cheat not assume that you should unceasingly add the modifier just because the sufferer is morbidly obese. Extra time does not at all times mean more money Modifier 22 is with regard to extra procedural work and even though morbid obesity might lead to additional work, it's not enough in itself. Unless time is forcible or the intensity of the conduct is increased owing to obesity, hereafter modifier 22 shouldn't be added. Here's the arrest: CPT doesn't provide specific line of motion on how much time and/or percentage of increased time or labor the provider must document to worthiness modifier 22. However, the rule of the thumb is your provider grape-juice spend at least 50 percent additional time and/or put in at minutest 50 percent more effort than legitimate for you to add modifier 22. There should have ~ing documentation of at least a 50 percent increase in work and/or time to maintain tge use of modifier 22. Document: One fully convinced-shot way to demonstrate a deed's increased nature is to liken the actual time, effort or position to your anesthesiologist's typical time and stretch for that particular procedure. A catalogue like "The procedure required 90 minutes to clean, instead of the usual 35-45 minutes" be possible to be useful. Remind your anesthesia providers to clearly document the reason for the increased time and effort in the patient's record. As these claims normally enjoin manual review or an appeal in class to get additional payment, be enduring the operative note is detailed and precise to support the medical necessity and reasons with a view to the use of modifier 22. An extra letter from the doctor to not heedless the case and the reasons towards requesting more payment that is written in layman's provisions will help to appeal the claim. For further on this and for other specialty-particular articles to assist your anesthesia coding, sign up with a view to a good medical coding resource like Coding Institute.