Medical Coding Blog

Can You Bill a Family Meeting Without the Patient Present?

by

Billing family or caregiver meetings without the patient in 2026: Medicare E/M limits, caregiver training codes, advance care planning, and payer tips.

Anesthesia Coding Basics: Base Units, Time, and Modifiers

by

How anesthesia is coded and paid in 2026: base units, time units, modifiers AA, QK, QX, QY, and QZ, physical status, and documentation tips.

Billing Respiratory Pathogen Panels: 87631-87633

by

How to bill respiratory pathogen panels in 2026: 87631 vs. 87632 and 87633, Medicare coverage limits, why panels cannot be split, and payer policy tips.

Can You Bring Notes in Your Code Books to the CCS Exam?

by

AHIMA code book rules for the CCS in 2026: which books are required, what handwritten notes are allowed, and why tabs and sticky notes are not.

Wound and Ulcer Coding: Pressure, Diabetic, and Debridement

by

Wound vs. ulcer in ICD-10-CM, pressure ulcer staging, diabetic foot ulcers, and choosing debridement codes by depth. Updated for 2026.

ICD-10-PCS Basics: The Seven Characters

by

A beginner’s guide to building FY 2027 ICD-10-PCS codes: the seven characters, root operations, body part, approach, device, qualifier, and study tips.

Sepsis Coding in ICD-10-CM: Sepsis, Severe Sepsis, and Shock

by

FY 2027 rules for sepsis coding: A41.9, R65.20, R65.21, urosepsis, localized infections, postprocedural sepsis, and negative blood cultures.

Obstetric Coding Basics: ICD-10-CM Chapter 15 Rules

by

Core FY 2027 ICD-10-CM Chapter 15 rules for OB coding: sequencing, trimesters, Z3A weeks, incidental pregnancy, O80, Z37, and the CPT 2027 changes.

Clinical Doc Guides

⚊