Advanced Specialty Coding Virtual Summit: Orthopedics

November 13–15, 2023

Get the Latest Guidance for Accurate Orthopedic Coding, Billing & Compliance 

The 2023 Orthopedics Virtual Summit is the can’t-miss event of the year for Orthopedic coders 

Join the nation’s top orthopedic coding trainers November 13 –15, 2023, and get tips and tools on proper coding and billing of your most common orthopedic procedures, improving documentation, and reducing audit risk, as well as a look at the main compliance risks that threaten your practice. 

In 2023, we’re bringing the Advanced Specialty Coding, Compliance and Reimbursement Symposium to YOU! We are redefining our specialty coding education—and we can’t wait to share it with you. Get ready for a virtual experience unlike any other! 

Here’s just a sampling of what we have in store for you in 2023: 

• Expert guidance on how to properly code common orthopedic procedures, including shoulder, hip, knee, wrist, hand, and finger procedures. 
• Strengthen your grasp of spine surgical procedures, including osteotomy, spinal augmentation, grafts, instrumentation, arthrodesis, and much more! 
• Get guidance on proper coding of foot and ankle procedures from a podiatrist who’s also a coding expert. 
• Gain insight into how to troubleshoot costly ortho office procedure coding errors to reduce denials and ensure proper payment. 
• Walk away with tips to overcome the latest coding challenges, including how to take control of private payers that aren’t meeting their obligations.  
• Expert advice: Get answers to your pressing coding, billing, and compliance questions during the Q&A sessions each day. 
• Get your entire team trained without sacrificing productivity and without spending thousands of dollars. 
• Reduced expenses. No travel time and no travel costs—participate from the comfort of your own happy place! 
• Great networking opportunities and more engaging sessions—ask questions, get clarification, and be part of the conversation. 
• Access to the on-demand recording for 60 days after live event so that you can relisten and browse content at your own pace. 
• Extra! Add-on a specialty – Pain Management, Anesthesia, and/or Billing & Compliance Virtual Summit – and attend sessions from multiple tracks spanned over time.

At DecisionHealth, we are committed to delivering you the highest standard of training excellence, provided by nationally recognized industry experts, in an interactive virtual environment that promises more value and flexibility at an extremely affordable price.

Advanced Specialty Coding Virtual Summit: Orthopedics

Agenda

*All Times are Eastern

Main Conference Day 1 — Monday, November 13, 2023

12:00 p.m. – 12:45 p.m.
Solve Stubborn Shoulder Coding Concerns
Margie Scalley Vaught, CPC, COC, CPC-I, CCS-P, MSC-P, ACS-EM, ACS-OR
Learn how to properly document and code shoulder procedures including extensive debridement, labral repairs, rotator cuff reconstruction with biomaterial, patches and grafts, remplissage, and biceps tenodesis with a total shoulder. Also get strategies to address the latest payer policy hurdles for shoulder surgeries.

12:55 p.m. – 1:40 p.m.
Scope Out Solutions to Common Hip Coding Hitches
Margie Scalley Vaught, CPC, COC, CPC-I, CCS-P, MSC-P, ACS-EM, ACS-OR
Stay up to date with payer policies and CPT coding guidelines for procedures such as femoral acetabular impingement and other types of arthroscopic repairs, single- and two-stage total hip revisions, poly liner replacements, pelvic fractures, and instrumentation issues.

1:40 p.m. – 1:55 p.m.
Networking Break

1:55 p.m. – 2:40 p.m.
Who’s the Boss? Take Control of Private Payers That Don’t Meet Their Obligations
Doris V. Branker, CHC, CPC, CIRCC, CPMA, CPC-I, CANPC, CEMC
Practices struggle to meet all the obligations in their contracts with commercial payers, and getting an insurance company to hold up its end of the contract can seem like an impossible task. But your orthopedic practice doesn’t have to be doomed to slow claims processing, ignored deadlines, and missed payments. Discover what levers you have to take control of the situation, and learn why you shouldn’t just accept what a payer hands out. Get real-world examples and best practices to get paid.

2:50 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Q&A Session With the Speakers
Doris V. Branker, CHC, CPC, CIRCC, CPMA, CPC-I, CANPC, CEMC
Margie Scalley Vaught, CPC, COC, CPC-I, CCS-P, MSC-P, ACS-EM, ACS-OR
Bring your most pressing and challenging questions and our expert speakers will answer them during this session. BONUS: Have a tough scenario or complicated question you’ve been struggling with? Submit your scenario and/or question ahead of time to Laura Evans at LEvans@decisionhealth.com by July 1, 2023.

3:15 p.m.
Day 1 Concludes

Main Conference Day 2 — Tuesday, November 14, 2023

12:00 p.m. – 12:45 p.m.
Cement Your Knowledge of Knee Procedure Coding
Margie Scalley Vaught, CPC, COC, CPC-I, CCS-P, MSC-P, ACS-EM, ACS-OR
Lock in your understanding of how to code open and arthroscopic knee procedures, including synovectomy, ACL reconstruction, osteochondral allografts and autografts, as well as patellofemoral arthroplasty and revision total arthroplasty involving the use of temporary spacers.

12:55 p.m. – 1:40 p.m.
Get a Grip on Coding Complex Wrist, Hand, and Finger Procedures
Jessyka Burke, BSHA, CPC, COSC, CASCC
Learn to code the most typical hand and wrist repairs, such as carpal tunnel release, release of Dupuytrens Contracture, finger tendon injuries, and fractures. Then examine coding for more complicated hand procedures and discuss coding scenarios for them.  

1:40 p.m. – 1:55 p.m.
Networking Break

1:55 p.m. – 2:40 p.m.
Troubleshoot Costly Ortho Office Procedure Coding Errors
Edward Leone, CPC, CPC-P, COSC, CRC, CPMA
Cut office procedure denials by correcting common problem areas such as billing dosages for injected drug codes, coding imaging procedures, and other diagnostic tests appropriately, and managing commercial payer policies for issues like modifier 25 use and viscosupplementation injections. 

2:50 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Q&A Session With the Speakers
Margie Scalley Vaught, CPC, COC, CPC-I, CCS-P, MSC-P, ACS-EM, ACS-OR
Jessyka Burke, BSHA, CPC, COSC, CASCC
Edward Leone, CPC, CPC-P, COSC, CRC, CPMA
Bring your most pressing and challenging questions and our expert speakers will answer them during this session. 
Submit your scenario and/or question ahead of time to Laura Evans at LEvans@decisionhealth.com by July 1, 2023.

3:25 p.m. – 3:55 p.m.
Cocktail/Favorite Beverage Virtual Reception
Laura Evans (Moderator)
Bring your drink and your biggest issue with a carrier/payer, and let’s spill the tea!

3:55 p.m.
Day 2 Concludes

Main Conference Day 3 — Wednesday, November 15, 2023

12:00 p.m. – 12:45 p.m.
Get Your Spine Coding Straight, Part 1: Musculoskeletal Codes
Alison Kuley, CPC
Gain an understanding of how to code essential spinal surgeries including osteotomy, spinal augmentation, grafts, instrumentation, and arthrodesis. Also learn when these procedures may be separately reported, and how they should be documented in the operative note.  

12:55 p.m. – 1:40 p.m.
Get Your Spine Coding Straight, Part 2: Nervous System Codes
Alison Kuley, CPC
Strengthen your grasp of spine surgical procedures among the 60000 codes, beginning with understanding the various approaches, and how to select the codes for procedures such as laminotomy, facetectomy, foraminotomy, and discectomy. In addition, examine bundling rules and how these codes may be reported with codes from the musculoskeletal section.

1:40 p.m. – 1:55 p.m.  
Networking Break

1:55 p.m. – 2:40 p.m.
Firm Up Your Foot and Ankle Coding
Michael G. Warshaw, DPM, CPC, COSC, CPODCS, CSFAC, CMSCS
Learn the fundamentals of both bony and soft tissue repairs and how they are coded, including bunionectomy, hammertoe correction, neuroma excision, ankle fracture reduction, tendon repair, and release. Basic anatomy will be covered as it relates to code selection and payer bundling policies.

2:50 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Q&A Session With the Speakers
Alison Kuley, CPC
Michael G. Warshaw, DPM, CPC, COSC, CPODCS, CSFAC, CMSCS
Bring your most pressing and challenging questions and our expert speakers will answer them during this session.
Submit your scenario and/or question ahead of time to Laura Evans at LEvans@decisionhealth.com by July 1, 2023.

3:15 p.m.
Conference Concludes

— Agenda subject to change —

Advanced Specialty Coding Virtual Summit: Orthopedics

Speakers

	Doris V. Branker, CHC, CPC, CIRCC, CPMA, CPC-I, CANPC, CEMC, is principal consultant and owner of DB Healthcare Consulting & Education. She is a multispecialty coding, reimbursement, practice management, and compliance consultant. Branker’s specialty areas include evaluation and management, anesthesia, pain management, critical care medicine, interventional radiology, and cardiology. She shares free educational content in her specialty areas on her YouTube page Doris Thecoder.
	Jessyka Burke, BSHA, CPC, COSC, CASCC, is a coding and billing specialist at Cascade Orthopaedics’ MultiCare Cascade Surgical Center in Auburn, Washington. With 26 years of experience in the business of healthcare reimbursement, Burke worked her way up from being a receptionist at an orthopedic clinic to serving as lead coding and billing specialist/physician and staff educator for a private orthopedic surgery practice. She is also a coding consultant and education assistant for the Ozark Coding Alliance and billing consultant for Rehab PhysioWorks in Kent, Washington. With coding and billing experience in both hospital facilities and physician private practice settings, Burke has experience coding not only orthopedics but also pain management, PM&R, ASC facilities, PT, OT, massage therapy, podiatry, and ENT, among other specialties. She is currently working toward a master’s degree in public health communications and leadership.
	Alison Kuley, CPC, is on staff at National Medical Billing Services, where she works closely with her clients to make sure they understand what is needed to code cases accurately. Prior to that, she managed the revenue cycle staff at Litchfield Hills (Connecticut) Orthopedics. She has been a certified professional coder for more than a decade and is a noted expert in the field of spine coding. A member of the North American Spine Society Coding Committee, she is a regular speaker at conferences around the country. With her extensive experience, Kuley is an expert in process, procedures, and reimbursement methodologies for the complex and ever-changing specialty of orthopedics and spine.
	Edward Leone, CPC, CPC-P, COSC, CRC, CPMA, is the revenue cycle manager for Connecticut Orthopaedic Specialists in Hamden, Connecticut. Leone has been a medical coder, biller, compliance consultant, and educator for more than 12 years. He has audited evaluation and management, office procedures, and surgeries for multispecialty practices focusing on orthopedics.
	Margie Scalley Vaught, CPC, COC, CPC-I, CCS-P, MCS-P, ACS-EM, ACS-OR, has more than 30 years of experience in the healthcare arena, including more than 20 years in orthopedic coding, billing, and reimbursement. Vaught frequently performs internal audits, provides education and training to physicians and office staff, and helps clinics establish billing and compliance policies. She is an advisor on orthopedic coding to the Board of Medical Specialty Coding & Compliance, and she helped develop the Advanced Orthopedic Coding credentialing exam. Vaught has contributed many articles to the AAOS Bulletin and has served as technical advisor to the DecisionHealth publications Medical Practice Coding Pro and the Orthopedic Coder’s Pink Sheet.
	Michael G. Warshaw, DPM, CPC, COSC, CPODCS, CSFAC, CMSCS, is a practicing podiatrist and certified medical coder who speaks nationwide on foot and ankle coding as well as durable medical equipment coding and compliance, among other topics. Dr. Warshaw is the author of numerous articles as well as the 2020 Podiatry Manual, published by the American College of Podiatric Medicine. In addition, he specializes in forensic medical coding and has served as an auditor and expert witness in civil and criminal healthcare cases across the United States.

Advanced Specialty Coding Virtual Summit: Orthopedics

Pricing

Group pricing is as follows:

• 2-10 attendees = each attendee receives 10% discount off retail price
• 11-15 attendees = each attendee receives 15% discount off retail price
• 16-20 attendees = each attendee receives 20% discount off retail price
• 21 or more attendees = each attendees receive 25% discount off retail price

Discounts will appear in your cart.

Advanced Specialty Coding Virtual Summit: Orthopedics

Continuing Education

AAPC
This program has the prior approval of AAPC for 8 continuing education hours. Granting of prior approval in no way constitutes endorsement by AAPC of the program content or the program sponsor.

AHIMA
This program has been approved for 8 continuing education unit(s) (CEUs) for use in fulfilling the continuing education requirements of the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). Granting of Approved CEUs from AHIMA does not constitute endorsement of the program content or its program provider.

BMSC
This program is preapproved by the Board of Medical Specialty Coding & Compliance (BMSC) for 7 CEUs towards the maintenance of the ACS, SCP and CCP-P credentials.

Advanced Specialty Coding Virtual Summit: Orthopedics

Sponsors

DecisionHealth delivers the most credible content attracting medical practice decision makers. DecisionHealth delivers the most credible content attracting medical practice decision makers.

Reach hundreds of medical practice professionals looking for solutions to their unique challenges! Capitalize on this opportunity by exhibiting onsite and generate new leads and sales for your company.

For information on sponsorship opportunities, please contact Regina Dexter at rdexter@decisionhealth.com or (800) 727-5257 x6061.

Advanced Specialty Coding Virtual Summit: Orthopedics

Location

At DecisionHealth, we are committed to delivering you the highest standard of training excellence, provided by nationally recognized industry experts, in an interactive virtual environment that promises more value and flexibility at an extremely affordable price.

 We aim to provide you with:

• More flexibility to attend sessions from multiple tracks spanned over time, and the ability to browse content at your own pace.
• Opportunity to get your entire team trained without sacrificing productivity and without spending thousands of dollars.
• Reduced expenses. No travel time and no travel costs – participate from the comfort of your own happy place!
• Great networking opportunities and more engaging sessions – ask questions, get clarification and be part of the conversation.

We look forward to seeing you virtually!