Welcome to the Chart Talk Blog — a place for conversations about anesthesia coding, auditing, documentation, compliance, anatomy, and the real-world challenges coding professionals encounter every day. Explore recent articles, educational series, coding discussions, and practical insights designed to help us continue learning together.
Latest from Chart Talk
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What Is the ONE Resource You Wish You Had as an Anesthesia Coder?
One of the things I’ve learned during my journey in anesthesia coding is that no matter how many years of experience we have, there is always something that makes us pause and ask ourselves… “Am I making the right coding decision?” Anesthesia coding is unlike many other specialties. We aren’t simply assigning CPT® or ICD-10-CM…
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When Every Cardiac Procedure Isn’t the Same: Is ASA 00563 Being Undercoded?
Understanding Hypothermic Circulatory Arrest and Correct Cardiac Anesthesia Code Selection Don’t Leave Base Units on the Table Cardiac anesthesia coding is one of the most specialized areas of anesthesia coding, and one of the most common opportunities identified during audits is the undercoding of ASA 00563. Many coders automatically assign ASA 00562 whenever cardiopulmonary bypass…
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Featured in AAPC The Magazine: Journey into Anesthesia Coding
Hey everyone! The August edition of AAPC The Magazine is officially out, and I’m excited to share that my article is featured on page 52! If you’re interested in learning more about my journey into anesthesia coding and reading my perspective on some of the unique nuances that make anesthesia coding such a fascinating specialty, I’d love for you to…
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When 00630 Isn’t Enough: Is ASA 00670 Being Undercoded?
Don’t Leave Base Units on the Table One of the most common opportunities I encounter during anesthesia coding audits is the undercoding of ASA 00670. Too often, coders default to ASA 00630 for spinal procedures without taking a closer look at the operative report. While 00630 is appropriate for many lumbar spine surgeries, it is not always the correct choice—especially when…
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CPT 34530 | ASA 01260
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The CPT Code Decision Tree
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Documentation Standards for Doppler Services
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Happy 4th of July!
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Renal Transplantation
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Heart/Lung Transplantation