Pediatric and Neonatal critical care—now specified as "inpatient" with clear-cut, age-specific reporting guidelines, just follow our coding tips for easy, correct coding.

New! Learn the one fact you need to know—and find in the anesthesia record—to be able to report the new OB anesthesia for external cephalic version (ECV) code separately.

And, if you code for pain management, you’ll want to know about the new rule for using 01996 (daily pain management) instead of an E/M code for this service. Look for the easy to understand guidelines under "Daily Pain Management" in the Anesthesia chapter and at codes 62318 and 62319.

You’ve heard about the major revisions to Central Venous Access codes: Five new code categories and 27 new codes plus all new guidelines and code terminology.

We’ve added another of our trademark "Understanding" sections to help you understand the codes, guidelines and even the terminology! (What is the difference between the central venous access catheter and central venous access device mentioned in the codes? We explain so you can decide which code applies to your situation.)

Coding Tesios (2 separate catheters inserted in the same vein through separate accesses) has never been clear-cut but study the Coding Notes at new codes 36565-36566 and see how easy it can be to code these procedures.

And, learn when you can use both new imaging codes, 76937 and 75998, at the same encounter. We also explain when only one of the codes can be used and the key criteria you need to look for to report ultrasonic imaging.

Adjacent Tissue Transfer, z-plasty, w-plasty, rotation flaps, and more—In the past, you’ve coded by the size of the defect remaining after the lesion is excised. A major guideline change for 2004 will definitely improve reimbursement because you can code based on the total area of both the lesion defect and the flap defect. Simply add the areas of both defects together. Learn how to calculate the area of each defect with an example we provide and then notice how these procedures can move up one or more levels with the new guidelines.

Do you have difficulty coding for hand tendon surgery? We’ve added a new table, Hand Flexor and Extensor Tendons, that lists the names of these tendons to help you choose between codes.

Bronchoscopy code revisions for 2004 can be tricky to distinguish from each other. What is the difference among bronchial or endobroncial biopsies, transbronchial lung biopsies, and transbronchial biopsies of the trachea, mainstem and/or lobar bronchus? Learn how to choose the right code: Look these terms up in Terms Defined, then read the procedure examples.

Coding for Ambulatory Phlebectomy? New and revised codes are explained so you can distinguish between the new stab phlebectomy codes and the excision of varicose vein clusters’ code. With clear-cut guidelines that help you choose the correct code every time.

DRIL procedure for hemodialysis access, sonohysterograpy, continuous lumbar plexus nerve infusions, fluoroscopic guidance for central venous access, ultrasonic guidance for central venous access, revisions to the 25 and 57 modifiers to reflect deletion of all stars in the Surgery section, using modifier –63 with central venous access codes.