Cardiology is one of the most puzzling practices in the healthcare field. According to a study, heart diseases lead to about 655,000 deaths in the US every year, which means 1 in 4 deaths is caused by cardiovascular disease.nnAfter ICD-10, the importance of documentation, compliance, billing, coding, and auditing in cardiology has increased more than ever.nnDue to this, the medical billers and coders have to become even more knowledgeable about cardiology billing and coding as there are constant changes, many complications, and tiresome methods. nnMany cardiology healthcare practitioners and organizations often report several denials due to errors in cardiology billing and coding. nnAs a result, cardiologists who practice should be familiar with cardiology billing practices. Read on to learn about the essential tips related to cardiology billing and coding. n

n
• n
  

  Thorough and Proper Documentation is Critical

  n

n

nIn cardiology billing and coding, thorough documentation is the key. If there are issues in the documentation, it can result in coding errors and billing. Inaccurate and incomplete documentation can lead to claim denials and slower reimbursements, leading to discrepancies in the revenue cycle. nnHoles in the documentation can lead to potential errors and problems. For example, if you had to adjust the usual methods for a heart patient, you have to document it to avoid denials from the healthcare insurance companies. n

n
• n
  

  Don’t Forget to Use Combination Codes

  n

n

nIf there are two medical conditions present for a patient, it is recommended to use the codes for both diseases. Combination codes can help you in this case. For example, if a patient has acute kidney failure with heart failure, codes for both medical conditions will be used. nnIt is vital to use the combination codes because you have to get your reimbursements according to your diagnosis procedures. You will get accurate payments for your practice if you use the combination codes properly. n

n
• n
  

  Reduce the Human Errors as much as Possible

  n

n

nHuman errors are the leading cause of claim rejections in healthcare practice. And, as there are many complex codes and procedures in cardiology billing, human errors are bound to happen. A code consists of up to 7 letters and numbers, increasing the room for mistakes. nnAnd, as you get used to entering the CPT and ICD-10 codes, you might get lazy while adding them or put them in documentation without checking them. You can avoid it by double-checking the cardiology codes and doing a proper audit of the documentation. n

n
• n
  

  Be Aware of the Changes in Cardiology Coding

  n

n

nHealthcare providers have to stay updated with the coding standards in cardiology billing because ICD-10 CM, HCPCS, CPT, and PCS frequently change the codes and guidelines. So, the current coding standards may become outdated after new changes are issued in the coding system. nnKeep yourself updated with the CMS website and AHA (American Heart Association) by subscribing to them. Also, keep checking cardiology coding with the state and local coding regulatory authorities. Don’t forget the alphabetical and tabular indexes because sometimes the codes may appear correct in the alphabetical index, but disqualifiers may occur in the tabular index. n

n
• n
  

  Regular Audits

  n

n

nAuditing your healthcare practice regularly will help you identify discrepancies in the revenue cycle of your practice. It allows you to understand communication gaps between physicians, nurses, billers, and coders. nnAny errors in the procedures and processes of a healthcare practice can lead to denied claims and slower reimbursements. That’s why regular audits allow you to optimize your healthcare practice to provide the best care for the patients. n

How Can You Optimize Your Cardiology Billing and Coding?

nYou still may face some difficulty with cardiology billing and coding because cardiology is one of the most complex healthcare fields. It requires utmost attention at each step of the practice. nnProviding care to the patients while maintaining a healthy revenue cycle system is critical for every healthcare provider. But the rules, regulations, and compliances hinder the performance of a healthcare practitioner or organization. nnSo, how to have an accurate cardiology billing and coding system?nnIt is best to outsource your billing and coding operations to a medical billing company. MED-Miles is a renowned medical billing company providing medical billing services to several healthcare providers in the US. We can help you to have an accurate billing system after doing a thorough audit of your healthcare business. nnAlso, we provide medical billing solutions customized for a healthcare provider’s practice. So, if you are struggling with the billing and coding of cardiology practice, we can help you optimize your cardiology billing and coding system.