Each month The Surgical Pathology Coding Newsletter will dissect one of the specimens defined in CPT.  Pathology coders looking for a resource will find the Newsletter informative and thought-provoking.  Articles get down to the nitty gritty of common pitfalls coders experience and clarify the intent behind the coding system.  It is a monthly chance to improve your coding skills and open a dialogue between pathologists and coders.   

The Surgical Pathology Coding Newsletter is an e-mail document that you will receive on the first day of every month.  Subscriptions are $25.00 for six months.  Is it worth six dollars and change to receive an in-depth discussion about a particular specimen each month from a seasoned professional?  Compared to other resources available on the market, this newsletter is a bargain and it is one that pathology coders will find invaluable for their practice.  The Newsletter does not discuss other aspects of laboratory practice or quote verbatim from vague sources found easily on the internet.  It is one professional’s opinion earned from years of experience.

Surgical pathology is limited to six codes that define 175 specific specimens.  As CPT clearly states, the unit of service is the specimen.  Aside from that, CPT offers little other instruction.  It is the tissue submitted to the laboratory that determines what code is applicable to define the services rendered.  The Newsletter deals with real issues based on common pathological practice and reporting standards.  Published guidance from AMA, CAP, CMS and other sources are cited and provided but the Newsletter is not limited to boilerplate.  Articles are meant to inform and clarify, not just to repeat what a coder already knows.

I have studied and applied each specimen code over the years and I have written down  my field-tested observations in a clear, structured format that exhausts what each code describes.  The Newsletter is the summary of many years spent discussing surgical pathology coding with pathologists and payers while adhering to the highest standards of accuracy and accountability.

If you find yourself confused by surgical pathology coding and the issues it entails, unit of service, bundling and unbundling, upcoding and downcoding, excision vs. resection, you will find The Surgical Pathology Coding Newsletter a useful tool in gaining a better understanding of this challenging specialty.  A six month subscription for $25.00 is a low risk investment in your career that will provide added value to your laboratory’s business and compliance operations.

Subscribe now and start thinking about surgical pathology coding with greater understanding in a clearer light.  Publication begins April 1, 2011.

Sincerely,

Matthew King, CPC, CCS-P, CPMA

Please don’t hesitate to call: 504-388-5788.         E-mail: whaleheadking@gmail.com