EXCLUSIVE: Missing in Action: Addendums to the Record

If physician documentation is missing or does not support the level or evaluation and management (E&M) service billed, surgery performed, or durable medical equipment (DME) issued, an addendum should be requested from the physician. A valid addendum must be received before the claim is submitted.

Reporting our lead story during this of Talk Ten Tuesdays will be Terry Fletcher, nationally recognized professional physician coder and auditor. Fletcher reports on the need to know how to correctly make these changes, but also, to know the difference between a "late entry" and an addendum to a medical record – and how Medicare's Program Integrity Manual relates it to reimbursement, compliance, and best practices.

The podcast also feature these other segments:

• CDI Report: Robert Kopec, MD, reports on when physician queries are appropriate during the current coronavirus pandemic. Dr. Kopec is the medical director of infection prevention and control at Morton Plant Mease in Florida.
  
  
• The Coding Report: Laurie Johnson has an update on major MS-DRG adjustments found in the proposed IPPS rule.
  
  
• News Desk: Timothy Powell, compliance expert and ICD10monitor national correspondent, anchors the Talk Ten Tuesdays News Desk.
  
  
• TalkBack: Erica Remer, MD, founder and president of Erica Remer, MD, Inc. and Talk Ten Tuesdays co-host, returns to the broadcast to report on another thought-provoking topic that has captured her attention.