If you have ever looked at a seasoned coder’s manuals, you may notice something immediately — tabs everywhere, sticky notes, highlights, and handwritten reminders in the margins. And if I’m being honest… my books are full of notes. Sometimes I even catch myself wondering:“Did I add too much?” But for me, those notes serve an important purpose.…

As we begin a new week in anesthesia coding, I wanted to ask a question. Which area of anesthesia coding are you currently struggling with? Is it: The truth is — every coder has areas that challenge them. Even experienced anesthesia coders run into cases that make them pause and ask: “Wait… what exactly happened in…

American Society of Anesthesiologists http://www.asahq.org/ https://www.asahq.org/standards-and-practice-parameters American Association of Nurse Anesthetist http://www.aana.com/ American Academy of Anesthesia Assistants http://www.anesthetist.org/ CMS Anesthesiologist Center (links to NCCI and CMS On-line Anesthesia Guidelines, Chapter 12 Section 50) https://www.cms.gov/center/anesth.asp

Orthopedic Cases for Anesthesia Coders Scenario 1: Total Knee Replacement Clinical Scenario A 72-year-old patient with severe osteoarthritis undergoes a total knee arthroplasty. The anesthesiologist provides spinal anesthesia with sedation.The procedure lasts 2 hours and 10 minutes. The patient has the following conditions: The anesthesiologist personally performs the anesthesia service. Questions Scenario 2: Shoulder Arthroscopy with Rotator Cuff…

Even after decades in healthcare, I still occasionally catch myself thinking: “Am I really qualified to be teaching this?” “What if someone asks a question I don’t know?” “Do I really belong in this space?” That voice has a name: imposter syndrome. And if you work in medical coding, auditing, compliance, or revenue cycle management,…

Put your skills to the test! Review the scenarios below and choose the best answer based on anesthesia coding guidelines. Question 1 A patient undergoes a screening colonoscopy. The anesthesia provider administers monitored anesthesia care. Which ASA anesthesia code is most appropriate?A. 00811B. 00812C. 00813D. 00790 Question 2 An anesthesiologist medically directs one CRNA during…

Common Documentation Gaps Auditors See in Anesthesia Records As winter fades and spring begins, many of us start thinking about spring cleaning—clearing out clutter, organizing what matters, and making sure everything is in its proper place. The same concept applies to anesthesia documentation. For anesthesia coders, auditors, and compliance professionals, spring is a great time…

To Register for any upcoming Webinars, you will go to aapc.com. Choose the training and Events then click on Local Chapter Events. There you will be able to find the webinars and register. When you click on Local Chapter Events it will bring up Find a Chapter where you can select your state Then you…