GSD for Orthopaedic Surgery gets a facelift

Matthew Twetten

By Matthew Twetten New look, updated contents Published annually by the AAOS since 1991, the GSD was conceived as a tool to help orthopaedic surgeons and their office staff code and bill providers appropriately for the services they render. The guide is edited by members of the AAOS Coding, Coverage, and Reimbursement Committee, c haired by Blair C. Filler, MD.

CPT coding updates for 2010—Part 1

Mary LeGrand, RN, MA, CCS-P, CPC

Focus on tumor codes Each year brings with it several new orthopaedic-related CPT codes and guideline changes. Both are significant and physicians, managers, and coding staff should pay attention to the guidelines for each section so that they are able to incorporate these instructions into daily coding practices. The 2010 Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) Manual includes several new or revised sections pertinent to orthopaedic surgery.

“Loss of chance” doctrine in medical liability

S. Jay Jayasankar, MD; Sarah Elisabeth Curi, JD, MPH

In two landmark decisions in 2008, the Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) of Massachusetts ruled that state law permits recovery for a “loss of chance” in medical malpractice cases. As a result, Massachusetts plaintiffs may now receive compensation for a reduction, resulting from a doctor’s negligence, in their “chance” for a more favorable outcome, even if that chance is less than 50 percent.

Informed consent: More than just a signature

Thomas B. Fleeter, MD

Take advantage of the opportunity to build a relationship When asked to define informed consent, many orthopaedic surgeons may instead reply, “I’ll know it when I see it.” Despite the many articles on the issue, widespread misunderstanding of what constitutes informed consent and how to provide it still exists.