Anesthesia

What’s New in 2022: Get Ahead of Coding, Billing, and Compliance Changes

7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.
Registration and Continental Breakfast

8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
CPT Update 2022: Prepare Your Anesthesia Practice
Kelly Dennis, MBA, ACS-AN, CANPC, CHCA, CPC, CPC-I
Get your first look at the six new anesthesia services for image-guided spinal procedures and other changes that will go into effect January 1, 2022. This session will also prepare you for the topics covered during the rest of the conference.

9:10 a.m. – 10:10 a.m.
Breaking News: Final Physician Fee Schedule 2022
Julia Kyles, CPC
Discover what Medicare has in store for practices in 2022, including the services it will and will not cover, new policies it will roll out, and the conversion factor for anesthesia.

10:10 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Networking and Refreshments Break

10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Advanced Billing Concepts: Field Avoidance, Unusual Positioning, Anesthesia Teams, and More
Marcy Garuccio, ACS-AN, CANPC, CPMA, CPC
Gain clarity on advanced billing concepts that puzzle anesthesia practices and stall claims. Make sure you understand the latest guidance for field avoidance and unusual positioning, how to report teams, and finish up with the guidelines for teaching services.

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Lunch (provided)

12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
COVID-19 Cleanup: Getting Back to Business as Usual
Daniel J. Crane, MBA
As the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency approaches, medical practices must prepare for a return to normal operations, and that includes winding down the use of flexibilities and waivers that were allowed during the emergency. This session will walk you through your post-pandemic to-do list so you aren’t caught off guard when the emergency ends.

1:40 p.m. – 2:40 p.m.
A Primer for Coders on the Latest Techniques and Technology
Marcy Garuccio, ACS-AN, CANPC, CPMA, CPC
Anesthesia techniques and technology change constantly, but coders usually don’t know about the changes until they show up in a chart. By the end of this session, you’ll be caught up on the latest terminology and have tips for improving communication with your anesthesiologists and CRNAs so you aren’t surprised by mystery terms.

2:40 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Networking and Refreshments Break

3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Privacy and Security Update: Keep Up With the Growing Risk
Kim Clayson
Medical practices today face some harsh realities: greater scrutiny of HIPAA compliance, tough new privacy and security regulations that every practice is expected to meet, and an HHS initiative that has already snared several doctors—one solo-physician practice paid $100,000 after one patient complained! This session will bring you up to date on HIPAA and other rules that are designed to protect practices and patients from privacy and security risks.

4:10 p.m. – 5:10 p.m.
Q&A With the Experts
Now is your chance to ask all your questions of our expert speakers.

Orthopedics

What’s New in 2022: Get Ahead of Coding, Billing, and Compliance Changes

7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.
Registration and Continental Breakfast

8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Get the Jump on 2022 Ortho Coding and Billing Changes
Margie Scalley Vaught, CPC, COC, CPC-I, CCS-P, MCS-P, ACS-EM, ACS-OR
Take a first look at CPT and ICD-10 code changes, the impact on ortho practices, and how to respond. Medicare physician fee schedule updates will also be addressed.

9:10 a.m. – 10:10 a.m.
Ortho Office Operations Under the Microscope
Margie Scalley Vaught, CPC, COC, CPC-I, CCS-P, MCS-P, ACS-EM, ACS-OR
Ensure that high-volume procedures such as arthrocentesis are documented, coded, and billed appropriately for full payment. Examine modifier -25 issues in light of the 2021 office E/M guidelines.

10:10 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Networking and Refreshments Break

10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Ortho Coding Gatekeepers: Who Are They and What Can Be Done About Them
Margie Scalley Vaught, CPC, COC, CPC-I, CCS-P, MCS-P, ACS-EM, ACS-OR
What are your options when benefit managers and clinical appropriateness companies get involved in coverage decisions? Learn strategies to address these gatekeepers and win.

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Lunch (provided)

12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Solidify Your Spine Coding Skills
(Part 1)
Alison Kuley, CPC
Ensure that you are up to date on coding discectomy, fusion, instrumentation and grafting, corpectomy, osteotomy, and other essential spine procedures with this unique session combining anatomic details, coding guidance, and documentation examples.

1:40 p.m. – 2:40 p.m.
Solidify Your Spine Coding Skills
(Part 2)
Alison Kuley, CPC
Continue learning how to code spine procedures during this session that combines anatomic details, coding guidance, and documentation examples.

2:40 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Networking and Refreshments Break

3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Demystify Foot and Ankle DME Coding
Michael G. Warshaw, DPM, CPC
Learn the essentials of how to document, code, and bill DME supplies compliantly, including the detailed written order and proof of delivery. You’ll learn how to navigate DME coverage determinations and how to quickly identify the code specific to your DME device, then work through case scenarios to see how it all fits together.

4:10 p.m. – 5:10 p.m.
Coder’s Round Table
Back by popular demand! Veteran orthopedic coders share their best strategies to handle denied claims, payer misbehavior, office E/M quandaries, pandemic year coding challenges, and more.

Pain Management

What’s New in 2022: Get Ahead of Coding, Billing, and Compliance Changes

7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.
Registration and Continental Breakfast

8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
CPT Update 2022: Prepare Your Pain Practice
Marcy Garuccio, ACS-AN, CANPC, CPMA, CPC
Get your first look at the new treatment for chronic low back pain and other changes that will go into effect January 1, 2022. This session will also prepare you for the topics covered during the rest of the conference.

9:10 a.m. – 10:10 a.m.
Advanced Techniques and Technology for Pain Management
Amy Turner, RN, BSN, MMHC, CPC, CHC, CHIAP
Get the latest news on pain management procedures, including more details about the new service for chronic low back pain from the CPT 2022 preview session. You’ll also learn about complex services such as stimulators, sacroiliac joint injection RFA, genicular blocks and destruction, and investigational procedures.

10:10 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Networking and Refreshments Break

10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Anti-Kickback/Stark Physician Self-Referral Update: Are the New Rules Good News for Your Practice?
Kim Clayson
The COVID-19 pandemic didn’t halt the release of new compliance laws. CMS and the HHS Office of Inspector General released extensive updates to the Anti-Kickback Statute and the Stark physician self-referral rules. Practices that fall afoul of these rules face massive fines and penalties. Our expert will provide you with the key details contained in the hundreds of pages of regulations that you need to know and how the changes might benefit your practice.

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Lunch (provided)

12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Catch Up With Paravertebral Facet Joint Nerve Blocks and RFA
Amy Turner, RN, BSN, MMHC, CPC, CHC, CHIAP
These top pain management services remain on the top of auditors’ watch lists. This session will show you how to protect your revenue with a review of audit findings and the changes Medicare administrative contractors have made to their policies.

1:40 p.m. – 2:40 p.m.
Breaking News: Final Physician Fee Schedule 2022
Julia Kyles, CPC
Discover what Medicare has in store for practices in 2022, including the services it will and will not cover, new policies it will roll out, the conversion factor for your pain management services, and the impact on your revenue.

2:40 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Networking and Refreshments Break

3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
COVID-19 Cleanup: Getting Back to Business as Usual
Daniel J. Crane, MBA
As the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency approaches, medical practices must prepare for a return to normal operations, and that includes winding down the use of flexibilities and waivers that were allowed during the emergency. This session will walk you through your post-pandemic to-do list so you aren’t caught off guard when the emergency ends.

4:10 p.m. – 5:10 p.m.
Q&A With the Experts
Now is your chance to ask all your questions of our expert speakers.

Track: Anesthesia

7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.
Registration and Continental Breakfast

8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Skin in the Game: Integumentary System Services and Burn Treatments
Kelly Dennis, MBA, ACS-AN, CANPC, CHCA, CPC, CPC-I
Discover how to report anesthesia services for integumentary procedures including plastic surgery and breast reconstruction. You’ll also review the rules for burn excisions and debridement.

9:10 a.m. – 10:10 a.m.
Anesthesia for Interventional Radiology
Doris V. Branker, CHC, CPC, CIRCC, CPMA, CPC-I, CANPC, CEMC
As the complexity of services performed in the interventional radiology suite has increased, so has the need for an anesthesia provider. Back by popular demand and updated to include new procedures, this session will guide you through the challenges of reporting anesthesia services for a number of interventional radiology procedures.

10:10 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Networking and Refreshments Break

10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Stay Ahead of Coding and Billing Rules for OB-GYN and Pediatric Anesthesia Services
Kelly Dennis, MBA, ACS-AN, CANPC, CHCA, CPC, CPC-I
This popular session will review the rules for anesthesia services for labor and delivery, plus information on how to bill services for pediatric patients. Come with your questions for this anesthesia expert and leave with solid answers.

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Lunch (provided)

12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Anti-Kickback/Stark Physician Self-Referral Update: Are the New Rules Good News for Your Practice?
Kim Clayson
The COVID-19 pandemic didn’t halt the release of new compliance laws. CMS and the HHS Office of Inspector General released extensive updates to the Anti-Kickback Statute and the Stark physician self-referral rules. Practices that fall afoul of these rules face massive fines and penalties. Our expert will provide you with the key details contained in the hundreds of pages of regulations that you need to know and how the changes might benefit your practice.

1:40 p.m. – 2:40 p.m.
Make the Most of the ASA Crosswalk and Relative Value Guide
Pamela Linton, CPC, CANPC
Anesthesia coders have extra reference guides at their disposal to help them accurately code and bill their services. In this session, you’ll learn how to get the most out of these manuals and how to request corrections and succeed.

2:40 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Networking and Refreshments Break

3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
ICD-10-CM: Get Caught Up on the 2022 Changes to Protect Your Claims
Jillian Harrington, MHA, CPC, CPC-I, CPC-P, CCS, CCS-P, CEMC, MHP
Dive into the ICD-10-CM code and guideline changes that took effect October 1, 2021, and rescue your claims from denials. At the end of this session, you will be conversant in the relevant coding and guideline changes, know how to code to the highest degree of specificity, and show clinicians how to make sure their documentation meets the new coding guidelines.

4:10 p.m. – 5:10 p.m.
Q&A With the Experts
Now is your chance to ask all your questions of our expert speakers.

5:10 p.m.
Adjourn Day 1

Track: Orthopedics

7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.
Registration and Continental Breakfast

8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Step Up Your Foot and Toe Procedure Coding
Michael G. Warshaw, DPM, CPC
Learn anatomy, documentation, and coding essentials for frequent foot and toe procedures, including bunionectomy, midfoot arthrodesis, hammertoe, Morton’s neuroma, and LisFranc fracture repair.

9:10 a.m. – 10:10 a.m.
Take the Pressure Off Ankle, Tibia, and Fibula Coding
Margie Scalley Vaught, CPC, COC, CPC-I, CCS-P, MCS-P, ACS-EM, ACS-OR
Sharpen your coding knowledge of such procedures as ankle scopes and fusion, malleolar and pilon/plafond fractures.

10:10 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Networking and Refreshments Break

10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Necessary Knee Knowledge for Coders
Margie Scalley Vaught, CPC, COC, CPC-I, CCS-P, MCS-P, ACS-EM, ACS-OR
Cement your understanding of knee arthroplasty scenarios, including conversion from a hemi to total knee replacement, and refresh your understanding of arthroscopic as well as open knee repair coding, including meniscal procedures, ligament reconstruction, OATs, and synovectomy.

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Lunch (provided)

12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Demystify NCCI/MUE Policies
Jillian Harrington, MHA, CPC, CPC-I, CPC-P, CCS, CCS-P, CEMC, MHP
Gain an understanding of how National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI) procedure-to-procedure edits work, how they are developed, and when it’s appropriate to override and appeal when they lead to claim denials. Also learn about medically unlikely edits (MUEs) and add-on code edits and how they impact your claims, as well as when and how to use NCCI-related modifiers including the X-modifiers.

1:40 p.m. – 2:40 p.m.
Get Familiar With Femur Coding
Margie Scalley Vaught, CPC, COC, CPC-I, CCS-P, MCS-P, ACS-EM, ACS-OR
Learn the ins and outs of coding a variety of distal, shaft, and proximal femur repairs, including insertion/removal of fracture fixation.

2:40 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Networking and Refreshments Break

3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Essential Hip and Pelvis Repair Coding
Margie Scalley Vaught, CPC, COC, CPC-I, CCS-P, MCS-P, ACS-EM, ACS-OR
Learn how to navigate common hip replacement scenarios, including two-step revision arthroplasty, uncover coding for the various types of pelvic and hip fractures, and gain tips to navigate payer policies for femoral acetabular impingement procedures.

4:10 p.m. – 5:10 p.m.
ASC Coding for Ortho Procedures
Alison Kuley, CPC
Make sure you know the basics of ASC coding and billing, including ASC-specific modifier usage, now that payer policies are expanding the list of procedures performed in that setting.

5:10 p.m.
Adjourn Day 1

Track: Pain Management

7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.
Registration and Continental Breakfast

8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Private Payer Policies for Pain Practices
Amy Turner, RN, BSN, MMHC, CPC, CHC, CHIAP
Dig into payer policies for common pain procedures and unearth the solutions to denials that bury your bottom line. You’ll leave this session ready to tackle precertification requirements and mitigate denials.

9:10 a.m. – 10:10 a.m.
Privacy and Security Update: Keep Up With the Growing Risk
Kim Clayson
Medical practices today face some harsh realities: greater scrutiny of HIPAA compliance, tough new privacy and security regulations that every practice is expected to meet, and an HHS initiative that has already snared several doctors—one solo-physician practice paid $100,000 after one patient complained! This session will bring you up to date on HIPAA and other rules that are designed to protect practices and patients from privacy and security risks.

10:10 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Networking and Refreshments Break

10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Master Coding for Head, Neck, and Shoulder Pain
Amy Turner, RN, BSN, MMHC, CPC, CHC, CHIAP
Take it from the top and master diagnosis and procedure coding for treatments to relieve pain of the head, neck, and shoulders, including migraines and whiplash.

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Lunch (provided)

12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
E/M 2021 for Pain Management (Part 1)
Doris V. Branker, CHC, CPC, CIRCC, CPMA, CPC-I, CANPC, CEMC
Attend this specialty-specific session to make sure you have achieved fluency in the new documentation and coding method for these vital visits and haven’t missed any updates to the guidelines. At the end of the session, you’ll be able to:

• Apply the rules for medical decision-making
• Explain the definitions of terms such as independent historian, appropriate source, and external
• Accurately calculate time based on pre-, intra-, and post-encounter services
• Ensure split/shared visits are reported appropriately

1:40 p.m. – 2:40 p.m.
E/M 2021 for Pain Management (Part 2)
Doris V. Branker, CHC, CPC, CIRCC, CPMA, CPC-I, CANPC, CEMC
Attend this specialty-specific session to make sure you have achieved fluency in the new documentation and coding method for these vital visits and haven’t missed any updates to the guidelines. In this second half of the session, you’ll walk through a few notes to make sure you can spot the difference between a note that will stand up to an audit and a note that will result in an overpayment demand.

2:40 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Networking and Refreshments Break

3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Telehealth/Telecommunications for Pain Management: Prepare for Audits
Amy Turner, RN, BSN, MMHC, CPC, CHC, CHIAP
Telehealth became a literal lifeline for patients and practices during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Tune in to this session for the current information on telehealth services that your pain management practice needs to know, including when you can expect the rules to return to normal and how to prepare for audits by the HHS Office of Inspector General.

4:10 p.m. – 5:10 p.m.
Q&A With the Experts
Now is your chance to ask all your questions of our expert speakers.

5:10 p.m.
Adjourn Day 1

Track: Anesthesia

7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.
Continental Breakfast

8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Get Ahead of Denials: Master Coding for Anesthesia for Spine Procedures and New Image Guidance Codes
Kelly Dennis, MBA, ACS-AN, CANPC, CHCA, CPC, CPC-I
Cervical with the patient in the sitting position, intrathoracic with one lung ventilation and spinal instrumentation—these are just a selection of the spinal procedures that may cross your desk. Plus, there will be six new codes for percutaneous image-guided procedures. When this session ends, you’ll be able to review and code charts for a wide range of these services, cut your denial rate, and prepare staff to report the new codes.

9:10 a.m. – 10:10 a.m.
Life Support for Anesthesia Providers
Doris V. Branker, CHC, CPC, CIRCC, CPMA, CPC-I, CANPC, CEMC
Medicare data shows that anesthesiologists’ utilization of 25 codes for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), also known as extracorporeal life support (ECLS), has increased every year since the codes were created, but the requirements for the codes are almost as complicated as the service. This session will bring you up to speed on ECMO/ECLS, including the procedures you may report on the same day. In addition, you’ll learn how to code when the anesthesia provider performs anesthesia services for these procedures.

10:10 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Networking and Refreshments Break

10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Learn to Document and Code Chronic Pain Management for Anesthesia Practices
Amy Turner, RN, BSN, MMHC, CPC, CHC, CHIAP
Brush up on the rules for documenting and coding interventional pain management services performed for patients with chronic pain. This session will focus on utilization guidelines, diagnosis requirements, and how to protect these services from denials.

11:40 a.m. – 12:40 p.m.
Q&A With the Experts
Now is your chance to ask all your questions of our expert speakers.

12:40 p.m.
Adjourn

Track: Orthopedics

7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.
Continental Breakfast

8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
FY2022 ICD-10-CM: Key Changes and Trends
Jillian Harrington, MHA, CPC, CPC-I, CPC-P, CCS, CCS-P, CEMC, MHP
Gain an overview of key diagnosis code changes to ensure you are accurately assigning ICD-10-CM codes to avoid any related denials.

9:10 a.m. – 10:10 a.m.
Square Up Your Shoulder Coding
Margie Scalley Vaught, CPC, COC, CPC-I, CCS-P, MCS-P, ACS-EM, ACS-OR
Demystify complex Medicare bundling rules for shoulder arthroscopy, learn how to code various shoulder arthroplasty procedures, and ensure proper documentation and coding of rotator cuff repair and reconstruction.

10:10 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Networking and Refreshments Break

10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Take a Swing at Elbow and Forearm Procedure Coding
Margie Scalley Vaught, CPC, COC, CPC-I, CCS-P, MCS-P, ACS-EM, ACS-OR
Clear up collateral ligament confusion, and compliantly code cubital tunnel release, elbow scopes, fracture repair, and arthroplasty.

11:40 a.m. – 12:40 p.m.
Get a Grip on Wrist, Hand, and Finger Coding
Margie Scalley Vaught, CPC, COC, CPC-I, CCS-P, MCS-P, ACS-EM, ACS-OR
Learn up-to-date coding guidance on coding the various new carpal tunnel repair techniques, as well as acute and chronic tendon injuries and how to code the often-complex repairs.

12:40 p.m.
Adjourn

Track: Pain Management

7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.
Continental Breakfast

8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Make the Most of Modifiers
Melissa Billman
Modifiers are the final piece of your pain management claims. At the end of this session, you’ll know when to append modifiers to office visits and procedures and have a set of new tips for resolving denials.

9:10 a.m. – 10:10 a.m.
Advance Your Practice Management Skills & Improve Your Practice’s Bottom Line
Daniel J. Crane, MBA
Come to this session and become a practice management professional. Learn how to make sense of spreadsheets, spot areas where you’re losing revenue, and shore up your practice’s bottom line.

10:10 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Networking and Refreshments Break

10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
ICD-10-CM: Get Caught Up on the 2022 Changes to Protect Your Claims
Jillian Harrington, MHA, CPC, CPC-I, CPC-P, CCS, CCS-P, CEMC, MHP
Dive into the ICD-10-CM code and guideline changes that took effect October 1, 2021, and rescue your claims from denials. At the end of this session, you will be conversant in the relevant coding and guideline changes, know how to code to the highest degree of specificity, and show clinicians how to make sure their documentation meets the new coding guidelines.

11:40 a.m. – 12:40 p.m.
Q&A With the Experts
Now is your chance to ask all your questions of our expert speakers.

12:40 p.m.
Adjourn