News

Why Federally Funded Research Is Important to Maternal-Fetal Medicine

By Kristen A. Cagino, MD As physicians, we recognize that medical practice is built on a foundation of research. Discovering new therapies, navigating a global pandemic, and identifying the safest, evidence-based management strategy for complex conditions all rely on rigorous, well-designed... Continue Reading

May is Preeclampsia Awareness Month

When I was a medical student, the disease process of preeclampsia was one of the things that sparked my interest in the field of obstetrics. Today, I am passionate about teaching patients and their families about preeclampsia because it is one of the most common conditions I manage. What Is... Continue Reading

Large Study Finds IV Iron Treatment During Pregnancy Safe and Effective for Anemia

Media Contact:Karen Addis, APRkaren@addispr.com+1 (301) 787-2394 One of the Largest Studies of its Kind Finds Early Intervention with Iron Delivered Intravenously During Pregnancy is a Safe and Effective Treatment for Anemia Denver, Colo. ― Anemia during pregnancy is a common occurrence and... Continue Reading

New Study Finds High Concentrations of Plastics in the Placentae of Infants Born Prematurely

Media Contact:Karen Addis, APRkaren@addispr.com+1 (301) 787-2394 New Study Finds High Concentrations of Plastics in the Placentae of Infants Born Prematurely Denver, Colo. ― Microplastics, which are less than 5 millimeters, and nanoplastics, which are invisible to the naked eye, are widespread... Continue Reading

People Who Use Cannabis Early in Pregnancy Are At Increased Risk of Poor Pregnancy Outcomes

San Francisco, Calif. ― As more states legalize marijuana for recreational use, researchers are looking into the potential health effects of cannabis use during pregnancy. In a new study to be presented today at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine’s (SMFM) annual meeting, The Pregnancy... Continue Reading

Updated ICD-10 Indications for The Performance Of A Fetal Echocardiogram

In the November 2021 issue of the American Journal of Perinatology, ICD-10 indications for Fetal Echocardiogram and Detailed First Trimester Obstetric Ultrasound were published. The abstract was authored by the SMFM Coding Committee and is based on indications published by AIUM and other national... Continue Reading

Billing Scenarios for imaging and aneuploidy screening in the first trimester

The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) Coding Committee: Vanita Jain, MD; Amie Hollard, MD; Steve Rad MD; Trish Malisch, CCS-P, CPC; Fadi Bsat, MD. Testing for chromosome abnormalities should be an informed patient choice, based on information from a medical provider accounting for the... Continue Reading

Coding for the “new” First Trimester Detailed Diagnostic Obstetric Ultrasound

Vanita Jain MD & Fadi Bsat MD for the SMFM Coding Committee and the Division of Practice Management In 2020, the AIUM Practice Parameter for the Performance of Detailed Diagnostic Obstetric Ultrasound Examinations Between 12 weeks 0 days and 13 weeks 6 days was developed in collaboration with... Continue Reading

Report umbilical cord and certain placental issues that occur in the antepartum period

The International Classification of Disease, 10th edition (ICD-10-CM), has a specific code category for umbilical cord complications (O69). However, the use of codes from this category is limited to the labor and delivery period. Using codes from this category during the antepartum period,... Continue Reading

Coding for Placenta Accreta Spectrum

Placenta accreta is defined as an abnormal invasion of all or part of the placenta into the myometrial wall of the uterus. Placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) is the more current terminology to refer to the range of abnormal placental invasion that includes placenta accreta, increta and percreta. ... Continue Reading

Descriptions and Required Components for CPT 76805, 76815 and 76816 ultrasound procedures

Recently, our membership has had questions regarding the appropriate use and required components of CPT codes 76805, 76816 and 76815. This coding tip reviews the components of each imaging study, as well as provides some clinical scenarios of appropriate use: It is important to distinguish,... Continue Reading

How to report two different types of multi-fetal reductions and their respective approach

A recent question was asked on the correct way to report an Umbilical Cord Occlusion via the Radio Frequency Ablation approach”. Below you will find two examples of multi-fetal reductions, their approach and correct coding guidance for billing purposes. Types of Fetal Reductions and... Continue Reading