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The following pointers instruct you on how to use key functionality within SelectCoder. If you are unable to find the answer you need, please contact Customer Service at 1-800-650-6787.

Code Search

Quickly look up information about a CPT®, HCPCS, ICD-9-CM, ICD-10-CM or Modifier codes using the CODE SEARCH tool at the top of each page. Type in a code, part of a code, or a keyword you’d find in the code description and hit “SEARCH” for list of code choices. If you have entered an exact code, you’ll be taken directly to the respective code detail page.

You can also browse to an individual code by clicking the “Browse Codes” link to the right of search button. Use the plus sign to the right of each code section to open up all available subsections within the coding topic. You may click on any code category and see specific code choices from within the range or continue to expand the browse tree until you reach a singular code type. Once you click on it, you will be taken directly to that code’s detail page.

Code Details

Full code details can be viewed for CPT, ICD, HCPCS and Modifier codes.

Code numbers, descriptions and related codes are found at the top of each code detail page. These include: code number, code description, relevant icons to provide you with quick information on required coding and/or payment indicators, as well as a link to VIEW RELATED CODEs to show you codes from within the same family and/or codes numerically close to the one you are viewing. You can navigate to any related code by clicking its link.

Clinical details are found in the left hand side of any code detail page. These can include: Definition, Illustration, Documentation Finder (CPT only), Sample Operative Reports.

Coding and Billing Details are found in the center of any code detail page. These can include: Code Conventions (ICD), Coding & Billing Tips, Fees & RVUs, Guidelines, NCD and/or LCD policies, CCI edits, HCPCS, ICD, CPT, MODIFIER and/or ASA Crosslinks, PQRS indicators. (SelectCoder Professional or Expert level subscription access required to view many of these references.). Click on the links and/or the SHOW hyperlink to the right of the column heading to view the information and/or data.

Instructional references are found in the right hand side of any code detail page. These can include: Utilization data to identify denial risk, DecisionHealth article knowledgebase of Ask the Expert Q&As, Coder’s Tip Sheets and Best Practice Articles, DecisionHealth Training Presentations for building better understanding of key coding principles related to the code, and AMA CPT® Assistant articles. (SelectCoder Professional or Expert level subscription, and/or add-on access required to view many of these references.). Click on the headlines to view the information and/or data.

‘Bookmark’ an article or code for later reference

Mark specific articles or codes to save time having to search for them later by clicking on the STAR or ADD TO FAVORITES command below the article or in the right column on the code detail page. The star will turn gold and the article will be placed on your MY FAVORITES page for later reference.

You can see all saved codes and articles on the MY FAVORITES page accessible from the site navigation bar at the top of any SelectCoder screen.

Select a code for billing

Use the BILL PAD function of SelectCoder to keep a list of codes found during your code searches that you wish to bill.

Do this by clicking the “ADD TO BILL PAD” icon to the right of the code descriptor from any Code Detail page. Codes will be placed on the electronic Bill Pad in the order you add them. But, you have the ability to re-sort the codes on the Bill Pad by using the up and down ARROWS to the right of each code on the Bill Pad. Should you decide to eliminate a code from your Bill Pad, simply click the X next to the code on the Bill Pad to delete it.

Once you’ve finalized your code choices, use the commands at the bottom of the Bill Pad to PRINT, EXPORT or SAVE the codes for use in your billing system or routing to the billing department.

To view the codes on your Bill Pad from anywhere within the SelectCoder application, click on the BILL PAD tab on the site navigation bar at the top of the screen.

Create a code information sheet to share with payers, doctors or staff

You can print out a comprehensive code info sheet that includes the RBRVS RVUs, local fees, payment status, billing indicators and lay description to share with payers or staff.

To do this, access the Code Detail page using the Code Search function, and click “PRINT CODE ICON” to the right of the code descriptor and print the sheet.

Identify the ICD-10-CM equivalent to an ICD-9-CM code

SelectCoder integrates the CMS GEMS to give you exact, approximate and/or combination matches for ICD does. You can map ICD-9 to ICD-10 codes and ICD-10 to ICD-9 codes. Find mappings listed in the right hand column of ICD-9 and ICD-10 code detail pages. Each code in the list is hyperlinked, allowing you to go directly to the code’s detail page for specifics on its use.

Alternatively, directly from the SelectCoder HOMEPAGE you’ll find the MAP CODES Quick Tool. Enter an ICD-9 code into the blank filed and click the MAP CODE button. You will be presented with mapping details that show you the TYPE OF MATCH (exact, approximate or combination), EQUIVALENT ICD-10 code or codes, and RELATED CODES that show you the full code category that the equivalent codes is a part of. The later will help you to quickly see, in many cases, more specific options that can be supported with proper documentation.

Due to the greater specificity in ICD-10 codes and the general lack of specificity among ICD-9 codes, it’s important to recognize that CMS GEMS are only a starting place for correct code choice in ICD-10.

Determine which CPT and/or HCPCS codes can be used on the same claim

Medicare Correct Coding Initiative (CCI) edits are cross-indexed on every applicable CPT and HCPCS Code Detail Page. Click on SHOW to the right of the CCI Edits header to view the full list of all bundling pairings.

SelectCoder will default to the current fiscal quarter in displaying CCI edits. To view edits from any of three prior quarters, change the Quarter by using the drop down box found above the search field in the CODE SEARCH box at the top of the page.

Some CCI edit lists contain hundreds, even thousands of code pairings. To ease your ability to identify edits, use the CCI VALIDATION Quick Tool box on the right side of your Code Detail Page. Enter the code your viewing plus the other codes you wish to bill with it and hit Validate. You will be presented with all applicable CCI rules, specifying which can be unbroken by modifiers and which can not.

Alternatively, directly from the SelectCoder HOMEPAGE you’ll find the VALIDATE CODES Quick Tool. Simply enter up to 40 codes you’re considering placing on the same claim for the same patient on the same day. Click the VALIDATE BUTTON to be presented with all applicable CCI rules, specifying which can be unbroken by modifiers and which can not.

Customize Fees and Local Coverage Determination to your practice location

SelectCoder presents fees specific to a user’s geographic location. To see the Fees and RVUs for a CPT or HCPCS code on your Code Detail screen you must CHOOSE LOCATION from the dropdown in the upper right hand corner of the code detail page. All GPCI locations are listed in alphabetical order. Once you have selected a location, SelectCoder will store the location and use it for all future visits to correctly calculate your fees. You can, however, change the GPCI as often as you wish (including during the same user session).

The Fees presented are from the Medicare Fee Schedule. To understand what your private payers will reimburse for the code, you can adjust the dollar amounts being presented by using the Conversion Factor or % of Medicare box located just to the right of the fee display area. Many payer contracts are based on one of these two adjustments of what Medicare has chosen to pay.

The CHOOSE LOCATION dropdown is also used to determine which Carrier Local Coverage Determination policies to present on your Code Detail Page. You may change the location as often as you wish to see LCDs for multiple locations.

Add your own note to a code for later reference

While DecisionHealth has many tried, true and tested coding and billing tips offered directly on code detail pages, we know you have pointers of your own that help you to code more accurately. From payer preferences and practice policy reminders, to dos and don’ts you’ve collected over the years, use the USER NOTE section in the center of a Code Detail page to add customized guidance.

Locate a code, and find the “USER NOTE” or “GROUP NOTE” header in the center of the Code Detail Page.

Click on ADD (or Edit) NOTE and a text box will appear allowing you to add any text you would like to appear on your Code Detail page. You can even format the text for added emphasis!

  • USER NOTE — this is only visible to the individual user.
  • GROUP NOTE — text entered here will be visible to all users on a multi-user account. Only the Administrator of the account can add and/or edit the Group Note.

All Notes will be retained during the lifetime of the subscription. When code year updates are made to SelectCoder your notes will be automatically saved and moved on to the new year’s code set (no need to re-enter)!

You can VIEW ALL notes by clicking on the MY NOTES tab in the top navigation bar of any SelectCoder page. There you will see each code, it’s descriptor and the note you’ve appended to it. Simply click on the code or descriptor to be taken directly to the code detail page where you can add more notes to the code by clicking EDIT NOTE.

DecisionHealth does NOT review user or group notes for accuracy or appropriateness.

Calculate the date a patient’s global billing period ends

Easily know the last calendar date of a code’s restricted global billing period by simply entering in the date of service (M/D/YR) in the Global Period Calculator on any CPT code detail page. Find the Global Period Calculator on the right hand side of the Code Detail page. The Global Period Calculator reads the code’s specific global period as set by Medicare (ex. 30 days) and uses it to calculate that many calendar days from the date you have entered.

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