The update section is designed to provide you with the latest news and product information related to the  (HCPCS) classification system. 

HCPCS newsletter is now available.

The 2nd Quarter, 2001 edition of the AHA Coding Clinic for HCPCS newsletter is now available.

The AHA Coding Clinic for HCPCS is published on a quarterly basis and will bring you information related to APCs and HCPCS coding. In this issue you will find:

• The Chargemaster
• PET Scans
  
• Correct Coding Initiative edits
• Ask the Editor
• Let’s talk about modifiers
• For your information
• Request for HCPCS coding advice

August 9: Coding for APCs For those working in hospital ambulatory care, freestanding ASCs, and other facilities affected by APCs, this seminar grounds you in a working knowledge of the status of APC methods one year after implementation. For additional details, visit www.ahima.org and click on AHIMA Catalogue.

NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Jacqueline Harvey, AHA, (202) 626-2963
Kendy Freeman, CodeCorrect, (509) 575- 3600


NEW SERVICE TO HELP HOSPITALS MEET
NEW OUTPATIENT CODING REQUIREMENTS


WASHINGTON (October 2, 2001) – The American Hospital Association (AHA) has selected CodeCorrect to provide an online tool that provides hospitals with much-needed help in coding for new medical devices and drugs under the Medicare outpatient payment system implemented in August 2000.

Under the new outpatient payment system, Medicare will pay for certain medical devices that had been recently introduced and weren’t used to calculate fixed fees paid for outpatient procedures.

Through the new online service, hospital personnel can look up Ambulatory Payment Classifications (APC) pass-through items, access program memoranda in their entirety and receive e-mail notifications of changes that directly impact reimbursement. The AHA chose CodeCorrect because of their expertise in this area and ability to track changes and provide up-to-the-date information in a user-friendly format.

The service is available to AHA members at a special rate. For additional information, visit www.AHACoding.com or contact Jim Te Winkle, director of product development, at 312-893-6838 or via e-mail at jtewinkle@healthforum.com.

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About AHA
The American Hospital Association (AHA) is a not-for-profit association of health care provider organizations and individuals that are committed to the health improvement of their communities. The AHA is the national advocate for its members, which includes more than 4,800 hospitals, health care systems, networks, and other providers of care, and 37,000 individuals. Founded in 1898, the AHA provides education for health care leaders and is a source of information on health care issues and trends. For more information, visit the AHA Web site at www.aha.org.
About CodeCorrect
CodeCorrect, Inc. is an established medical Application Service Provider (ASP) specializing in
coding, compliance and consulting solutions for physician offices, hospitals, ancillary care
providers, Surgical Centers, billing and coding companies nationwide. Since 1998, CodeCorrect has provided healthcare professionals the most accurate and current coding information available, saving valuable time and resources, reducing claim denials, helping avoid unnecessary rebilling costs, and assuring appropriate reimbursements. CodeCorrect's Internet based approach gives its customers a distinct competitive advantage. CodeCorrect requires no software, installation or special hardware. It is the only browser based application that provides a user-friendly approach to the current manual methods and is as easy to use as surfing the Internet. Additional information is available by contacting CodeCorrect at www.CodeCorrect.com or by calling 877-937-3600.