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Challenges in Vascular Surgery 2010: Coding & Reimbursement for Vascular Surgeons

April 16-17, 2010   |   Hotel Sax   |   Chicago, Illinois

Registration Program Overview Learning Objectives Who Should Attend? CME Credit

NEW! E&M Coding Optional Workshop Program Agendas Faculty Faculty Disclosure Hotel Reservations

Registration   

Click here to register for Challenges in Vascular Surgery 2010: Coding & Reimbursement for Vascular Surgeons.

Click here to register for E&M Coding for Vascular Surgeons (optional workshop).

You also can register for both courses by downloading the registration form. Return the completed form via mail to Society for Vascular Surgery®, 38678 Eagle Way, Chicago, IL 60678-1386 or via fax to 312-334-2320 (credit card only).

View the cancellation policy.

NEW! E&M Coding for Vascular Surgeons (Optional Workshop)    Friday, April 16, 9:00 am - Noon Please note: There is an additional fee to attend E&M Coding for Vascular Surgeons. Workshop Overview Evaluation and management (E&M) codes continue to be misunderstood and misused by physicians. Medicare and private payors have responded by targeting E&M services for audit. This workshop focuses on coding and documentation rules for choosing a correct E&M category and level of service, specifically for the vascular surgeon. Medicare's elimination of consultation codes and how this will impact coding, revenues and your private payors will be discussed. Learning Objectives Upon completion of the following programs, participants should be able to: Describe the coding and documentation rules for key E&M categories. Discuss how Medicare changes to the consultation category will affect vascular surgeons. Understand the documentation requirements for the history, exam and medical decision-making components of an E&M service. Discuss the correct use of E&M modifiers in vascular surgery. Continuing Medical Education Credit The Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The Society for Vascular Surgery designates this educational activity for a maximum of 2.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. AAPC Continuing Education Unit Credit This optional workshop has prior approval of the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) for 3 Continuing Education Units. Granting of prior approval in no way constitutes endorsement by the Academy of the program, content or the program sponsor.

Coding and Reimbursement and E&M Highlights

Friday, April 16, 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Coding for Open Surgical and Endovascular Therapies

Saturday, April 17, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm

Program Overview   

This program is intended for those who seek to improve and expand their knowledge of accurate coding and reimbursement for vascular surgery. The program covers important topics such as 2010 coding and reimbursement updates, interventional procedures, the global surgical package definition and use of modifiers, operative note dictation, component coding, and bypass surgery. 2010 coding changes including the elimination of consultation codes, changes to AV graft coding, changes in PQRI and future changes in component coding also will be discussed.  

Learning Objectives   

Upon completion, participants should be able to:

1. Discuss the 2010 CPT and Medicare changes.
2. Demonstrate the application of modifiers for streamlined reimbursement.
3. Define the Global Surgical Package and how it impacts billing and reimbursement.
4. Explain the difference between incident-to and direct billing.
5. Understand the principals of component-coding.
6. Discuss the correct coding for key vascular surgery procedures.
7. Discuss the correct coding for key endovascular procedures.

Who Should Attend?   

These courses are designed for vascular surgeons and their office staff to include practice managers, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, surgery schedulers, coders, billing and any other office staff members who seek to improve and expand their knowledge of accurate coding and reimbursement for vascular surgery. Team attendance is encouraged.

Continuing Medical Education (CME) Credit   

The Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The Society for Vascular Surgery designates this educational activity for a maximum of 11 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

AAPC Continuing Education Unit Credit

This course has prior approval of the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) for 11 Continuing Education Units. Granting of prior approval in no way constitutes endorsement by the Academy of the program, content or the program sponsor.

Program Agendas   

Program is subject to change.

E&M Coding for Vascular Surgeons Agenda (Optional Workshop)

Friday, April 16 | 9:00 am - Noon

Please note: There is an additional fee to attend E&M Coding for Vascular Surgeons.

8:00 am - 9:00 am	Registration (breakfast on your own)
9:00 am - 9:30 am	E&M Coding Overview Medicare, Private Payors and the Focus on E&M Audits: What are They Looking for and What Makes a Vascular Surgeon (or a Practice) an Audit Target? Who Makes the Rules for E&M Coding? Medicare, Local Medicare Carriers and Private Payors. How They Differ (and Why!) EMR and E&M Coding: How It Can Optimize Your E&M Revenues
9:30 am - 10:30 am	The Process of Choosing an E&M Code: What to Think About Before You Check Off That E&M Code for Billing! What Determines an E&M Category Consults: 2010 Changes and What They Mean for Coding and Your Bottom Line New vs. Established Patients. What if Your Partner or Physician Assistant Saw the Patient Two Years Ago? Initial Hospital Codes. The New Go-to Code for All First Visit Inpatients Category Scenarios. Which One Would You Select?
10:30 am - 10:45 am	Break
10:45 am - Noon	The Three Key Components of an E&M Level – Matching Your Documentation to the Right Level Capitalizing on Your Health History Rorm Using the 1995 Exam or the 1997? What’s the Best Bet for Vascular Surgeons? What Exam Elements “Count” and How Many Do I Need for a Level Four Visit? Use and Abuse of 99211. Make Sure Your Practice is Using It Correctly! What Part of My Assessment and Plan Translates into Medical Decision-making and What Distinguishes Low from High Decision Making? How Does Medical Necessity Relate to Decision Making? What’s the Difference Between a Level Four and Five?Billing Based on Time. When Can this be Used and What Needs to be Documented? E&M Modifiers Modifier 25: When Can You Report Both a Procedure (Like a Debridement) and an E&M Code? Modifier 24: Learn Why Use/Overuse of this Modifier Can Make You an Audit target Modifier 57: What to Do About Denials When Using this Modifier E&M Scenarios: Putting It All Together

Coding and Reimbursement and E&M Highlights Agenda

Friday, April 16 | 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Noon	Registration and Snack
1:00 pm - 1:45 pm	Coding and Reimbursement Essentials Coding vs. Reimbursement: How Do They Differ and How Does this Impact Coding? Bundling and CCI Edits in Vascular Surgery: What are They and How You Can Correctly Override a CCI Edit? Medicare’s Payment System and How It Impacts Other Payors Fees Monitoring Your Payments: Making Sure Payors are Paying You Correctly 2010 Updates Medicare Fee Schedule CMS Audit Targets and Risk Areas for Vascular Surgeons “Must-have” Coding and Reimbursement Resources Question and Answer Session
1:45 pm - 2:30 pm	Evaluation and Management (E&M) Highlights for 2010 2010 Change in Consultation Coding: How Will It Impact Your Coding and Your Bottom Line? E&M Modifiers: Why Using These Can Make You an Audit Target Modifier 24: Billing E&M Visits During the Post-op Period Modifier 25: Billing an E&M Visit with a Procedure Wound Care Coding and E&M: Are They Billable Together? Modifier 57: Decision for Surgery Question and Answer Session
2:30 pm - 2:45 pm	Break
2:45 pm - 4:30 pm	Global Surgical Package: What’s Included? Applying Surgical Modifiers to Optimize Reimbursement Dos and Don’ts of Modifier Usage Reimbursement and Global Period Impact Spinal Exposure – What Should the Vascular Surgeon Report? Dissecting the Open and Endovascular Operative Note: Documentation Imperatives Question and Answer Session
4:30 pm - 5:00 pm	Non-Physician Practitioner Billing Incident-to vs. Direct Billing Payment and Policy Essentials Shared Billing: Are You in Compliance? Question and Answer Session

Coding for Open Surgical and Endovascular Therapies Agenda

Saturday, April 17 | 8:00 am - 4:30 pm

7:30 am - 8:00 am	Registration and Breakfast
8:00 am - 8:15 am	Wound Care Coding for Physicians Question and Answer Session
8:15 am - 9:45 am	Coding for Bypass Grafts and Associated Procedures Lower Extremity Bypass Upper Extremity Bypass Question and Answer Session
9:45 am -10:45 am	Endovascular Coding Component Coding for Diagnostic Angiography, Catheterization, Angioplasty, Atherectomy and Stenting Thrombolytic Therapy and Mechanical Thrombectomy Question and Answer Session
10:45 am - 11:00 am	Break
11:00 am - 12:15 pm	Endovascular AAA Repair Coding Thoracic Endovascular Repair Coding Question and Answer Session
12:15 pm - 1:00 pm	Lunch
1:00 pm - 2:30 pm	Carotid Stenting: Coding and Facility Requirements Vena Cava Filters Accurate Coding for Hemodialysis Access Question and Answer Session
2:30 pm - 2:45 pm	Break
2:45 pm - 4:00 pm	Open and Endovascular Treatments for Venous Insufficiency Essentials of Vascular Lab Coding Update on PQRI, Quality Measures, and Patient Centered Medical Home Question and Answer Session
4:00 pm - 4:30 pm	Complex Question and Answer Session

Faculty   

Sean P. Roddy, MD, Course Director, is the CPT Advisor for the Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) and serves as Chair of the SVS Health Policy Committee. He has lectured nationally on billing and coding issues. He is a practicing vascular and endovascular surgeon with The Vascular Group in Albany , N.Y.

Robert M. Zwolak, MD, PhD, is a vascular surgeon and professor of surgery at Dartmouth Medical School and Chief of Surgery at the White River Junction VA Medical Center. He has extensive surgical case coding expertise. He is a member of the American College of Surgeons Coding and Reimbursement Committee and served two terms on the American Medical Association/Specialty Society Relative Value Update Committee (RUC). He completed a term on the CMS Ambulatory Payment Commission Panel. He maintains a busy clinical practice in open and interventional vascular surgery at the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. He is President-elect of SVS.

Teri Romano, RN, MBA, CPC, of Karen Zupko & Associates, is an instructor for coding and reimbursement workshops sponsored by several national medical specialty societies. She also provides customized coding and reimbursement courses to physician and hospital groups as well as chart review and surgical operative note review to assist physician groups in their compliance activities. Romano has worked extensively with surgeons and hospitals in the development of neurovascular, stroke and vascular centers. She recently completed two nationwide studies to develop baseline criteria for neurovascular and vascular center development. Romano received a bachelor of science degree in nursing from the University of Illinois and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Chicago.

Faculty Disclosure   

Disclosure statements have been requested from the faculty and will be made available at the conference. All faculty presenters are also expected to disclose to participants any discussions of off-label and/or investigational uses of pharmaceutical products and/or medical devices during their presentations.

SVS Staff Disclosure

Disclosure statements have been requested from all SVS staff members. SVS staff members have nothing to disclose. 

Hotel Reservations   

The Hotel Sax Chicago is pleased to host Challenges in Vascular Surgery 2010: Coding & Reimbursement for Vascular Surgeons. The Hotel Sax is a premier luxury hotel located downtown Chicago and provides intriguing settings and exciting spaces while being steps away from world-renowned dining, shopping and theater.   

A block of guest rooms has been reserved for attendees of the SVS Coding Course. The special group rate of $229* single/double, is available on a first-come, first-served basis until April 15, 2010 or until the block sells out, whichever comes first. The conference rate is available for hotel stays from April 12-20. Call the hotel toll-free at 877-569-3742 to make your reservations. Be sure to identify yourself as part of the SVS Coding Course. 

* Subject to applicable state, local and occupancy tax, currently at 15.4%.

Hotel Address
Hotel Sax Chicago
333 N. Dearborn
Chicago, IL  60654

• Reservations may be made by calling the hotel toll-free at 877-569-3742.
• Reservations must be guaranteed with a major credit card (American Express, Diners Club, Visa, or MasterCard).
• Cancellations will be accepted 72 hours prior to arrival.
• Check-in time is 3:00 pm; check-out time is Noon, after Noon additional charges will apply.
• This four-star, four-diamond property was voted as one of the top 136 new hotels of 2008 by Conde Nast Traveler. The hotel features the Crimson lounge, decorated with tufted red leather couches. Directly across the parking lot is the famous House of Blues Club, Smith & Wollensky Restaurant and Harry Caray’s restaurant.  Hotel guests are able to post charges at each of these three venues directly to their hotel room.

Cancellation Policy   

Requests for refunds/cancellations must be received in writing by Friday, April 2, 2010. No refunds will be given after that date. Refunds will be subject to a $50 cancellation fee.

SVS reserves the right to cancel or postpone courses due to unforeseen circumstances. In this event, a full registration refund will be given, but SVS is not responsible for any related charges or expenses to participants, including fees assessed by hotels, airlines, or travel agencies.

Questions

Please call 800-258-7188 or email education@vascularsociety.org if you have questions.

Please note: We cannot control the temperature in the meeting rooms, so please dress accordingly.