RadNews
August 2014

IN THIS ISSUE:
Wounded Warrior Project Run
ICD-10 Update & Quiz
Client Login from NationalRad.com
New from NationalRad & More!

NationalRad Receives Wounded Warrior Project Badge

We were honored to recieve this special badge from Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) for participation in a WWP VIRTUAL RUN early this year. We hosted our first ever WWP Virtual Run at the American Association of Orthopaedic Executives (AAOE) 2014 Annual Conference in Washington, DC in June.

We wear this badge proudly and say thanks to those who give and have given so much for our country.

ICD-10 Update

According to The Center's for Medicare & Medicaid Services' ROAD TO 10, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued a rule on July 31, 2014 finalizing October 1, 2015 as the new compliance date by which the transition to ICD-10 must be made. While 14 months to prepare seems far off, there is much to be done to prepare in a short period of time. There are significant changes in store, and we recommend utilzing the ROADTO10.ORG resources to learn more.

ICD-10 Code Structure

The ICD-10 codes include three (3) to seven (7) characters. The first three characters indicate a heading of code categories that may be further subdivided by the fourth (4th), fifth (5th) and sixth (6th) characters, which are intended to provide detail on etiology, anatomical site and severity. The seventh (7th) character is used situationally to provide data about the characteristic of the encounter.

The seventh character is used, for example, to code injuries and fractures. For injuries, the seventh character can indicate initial encounter, subsequent encounter or sequela. For fractures, the seventh character can indicate initial encounter for closed fracture, initial encounter for open fracture, subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing, subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing, subsequent encounter for fracture with nonunion, subsequent encounter for fracture with malunion or sequela.

To learn more about ICD-10 coding and get a jumpstart on your transition, please visit ROADTO10.ORG'S ICD-10 BASICS.

Test Your ICD-10 Knowledge: Take the NationalRad ICD-10 Pop Quiz

Question 1: True or False? Proper ICD-10 coding of a pre-operative chest x-ray includes the diagnosis of the surgery to be performed.

Question 2: What does laterality mean in terms of ICD-10, and how will it affect your practice? Instead of "knee pain", headaches, or low back pain with radiculopathy, - they now have to specify where the pain is, e.g. medial knee pain, frontal headaches, low back pain with left lower extremity radiculopathy, etc.

Question 3: Which of the following sets of diagnoses would be coded correctly under the new ICD-10 coding system?
     A. Knee pain / headaches / low back pain with radiculopathy
     B. Medial knee pain / frontal headaches / low back pain with left lower extremity radiculopathy

Good luck, and stay tuned for next month's edition of RadNews for the answers and explanations!

Tip: Access Client Login from NationalRad.com

Did you know that you can use the Client Login button on NATIONALRAD.COM to access your Referring Physician Portal?

From any page of the website, click the blue Client Login button in the upper right-hand corner to access the login page.

New from NationalRad: Upcoming Lectures
Connect with Your Radiologists at an Upcoming Meeting!

23RD ANNUAL CURRENT ISSUES OF MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING IN ORTHOPAEDICS AND SPORTS MEDICINE, September 9, 2014, San Francisco, CA

+ MR of Muscle: Endomysium to Muscle Fascia - WILLIAM B. MORRISON, MD

+ Lower Extremity Osteomyelitis Including Diabetic Pedal Infection - WILLIAM B. MORRISON, MD

To learn more about these topics, please contact us at INFO@NATIONALRAD.COM.

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