Highlighting a Practical Approach to Coding Education with an emphasis on POCUS

Dillon Casey, MD
Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Emergency Medicine
Joseph Byouk, MD
Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Emergency Medicine
Joshua Guttman, MD, FRCPC, FAAEM, FACEP
Emory University

The following helped write/update the curriculum itself:

Jacob Schoeneck, MD
Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Emergency Medicine
Yue Jay Lin, MD
Mount Sinai

We’re excited to introduce a two-part curriculum designed to enhance understanding of coding and billing essentials for residents, fellows, and attendings, with a special focus on Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS). The first installment, featured in this newsletter, delves into Coding Fundamentals, providing a comprehensive overview of key topics:

• CPT (Current Procedural Terminology) basics
• Navigating CMS and the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule
• Differentiating Technical and Professional Components
• POCUS-specific CPT codes, modifiers, and exam types
• The Relative Value Scale Update Committee (RUC) process and RVU assignment

The curriculum also includes an appendix featuring POCUS-specific CPT codes for easy reference. Our goal is to demystify coding and equip clinicians with the tools they need to optimize documentation and reimbursement for POCUS services.

Stay tuned for Part 2: Billing Essentials, which will be featured in an upcoming newsletter. For the complete file and detailed content, explore this month’s resources.