Master HCPCS Level II & Modifiers with AMCI’s Expert Guidance!

Welcome, welcome, welcome coders to week

nine. This week we will be diving into

hickpicks level two and modifiers. This

is a crucial step before we tackle CPT

coding in week 10. So get ready to learn

how to code for medical supplies,

equipment,

transportation, and also learning to

master those essential two character

modifiers. Okay, before we go any

further, I got to introduce my team. So

just want to just shout them out really

quickly. They are our instructors who

dedicate themselves each week to making

sure that they are here to support you.

I'mma call them by name. Miss Dolly, Mr.

Sandep, Miss Bianca, Miss

Meals. Did I forget anyone? No. And our

interns. There are too many to name, but

they are wearing the blue badges and

they're here to answer your questions.

just um encourage you and keep you

going. All right. Now, I got a

disclaimer. The disclaimer is if you're

not familiar with CPT coding, we highly

highly recommend that you watch our

beginners lectures. There is a link that

we will share with you at the end of

this discussion.

And these are the two that you need to

watch. CPT coding for beginners parts

one and

two. Also, what's going on at AMCI that

pertains to you? Well, the Chun class

videos will begin May 26 in the Discord.

You can find them there. This is for the

gold and platinum members. And

essentially we're going to apply to

practice what you've already chunded. So

make sure you get at least integumentary

done this week, next week,

muscularkeeletal, and keep going because

we are going to show you how chun is

effective when you take your exam. So

it's not it's something you don't want

to miss. If you can't make it, you can

watch the

playbacks also.

Starting next week, you will be able to

participate in our interactive medical

terminology anatomy in Discord. It's for

all members. You don't want to miss that

either. This is one of our most um

popular classes. People love to come.

You're going to learn medical

terminology, anatomy in a fun way. Yes.

through games. All right, speaking of

games, we brought back AMCI game night

and we did it starting last week. It was

incredible. We played Jeopardy hangman

and we learned a lot. So, come and join

us. It's 7:30 p.m. Eastern Standard. So,

make sure you're there. It's in Discord

and it's for all

members. Also just want to point out the

books for weeks 9 through 16. We're

going to use Hickpix level two CPT 2025

if you have it. If you're testing in

2025, you should have it. Also, your

stepbystep by Bucks and also the MCG

manual. We'll begin assigning homework

out of the MCG manual next week.

Goals of the presentation for week nine.

Number one, we're going to review

Hickpix level two coding as well as

modifiers. And we're going to apply what

we've learned to practice. And finally,

hopefully we'll move you one step closer

to medical coding mastery.

Now let's talk facts about Hickpix level

two codes. Number one, Hickpix codes are

used for supplies,

equipment,

procedures and

services. And remember these are level

two codes. Do not confuse hickpick codes

with CPT codes because CPT codes are

Hickpix level one

codes. I'mma let that

marinade. Just a moment. Just for a

moment. Now, hpix is maintained by the

center for Medicare and Medicaid

services or

CMS and specifically these codes are

used to report supplies, drugs,

transportation services,

etc. And we're going to get more into

it. And again, these are um these are

level two codes. And the types of level

two codes that are in the HickPix manual

are permanent codes. The permanent

national codes are five characters

long and they also have temporary

codes. And Hickpix level two codes are

updated quarterly. And if you wanted to

know, this is what a hickpix level two

code looks like. It's five characters

long and it begins with a letter. All

hickpicks codes

do. And as I've stated before,

CMS maintains hickpicks level two codes.

In other words, they're responsible for

these codes. And CMS mandates using

hickpicks level two codes when you have

Medicare and Medicaid patients, but

often will be coding for Medicare

patients. And when the documentation

states that this is a Medicaid or

Medicare patient, you must use hickpicks

level two codes in lie of or instead of

CPT codes. Yes. So you don't have to

guess. When a patient's 75 years of age,

you don't guess that they have Medicare.

Make sure the documentation states that

they have Medicare. And you'll see

procedures like

colonoscopies, breast exams, or

immunizations. Those three are more

common on your exam. When you see that

and the patient has Medicare, make sure

you use a HickPix level two code if it's

available. And I did say I did mention

that Hickpix's level two codes are

procedure codes. They are. So you won't

see the more invasive procedures. You'll

see um procedures like scopes,

colonoscopies, anoscopies,

sigmoidoscopies. So scopes, that's

common. And also, Hickpic's level two

codes are supply codes, medical

transportation codes. Yeah. So, you'll

be coding for drugs, biologicals,

um medical transportations like

ambulance,

um

orthotics, prosthetics, durable medical

equipment, and more. Essentially,

anything not in the CPT manual, you'll

typically find in Hickpix level

two. Now, all Hickpix level two manuals

are not the same. They are not. um

previously I don't know about 2025 or

thereafter opt 360 does not have

illustrations they may have it now so

let me know type in the chat but um some

of them do we are currently going to be

using this AMA version and their

illustrations are phenomenal however all

Hickpix level two manuals have an index

and tabular list. So, it's pretty much

situated like the ICD10 CM manual. All

right. Also, there is a table of drugs,

not the same as ICD10 CM. We will review

it and um modifiers are also classified

a little differently and we will review

that as well.

So, make sure that you learn your

individual Hickpix level two manual and

go ahead and type in the chat. Let me

know what type of manual you have. All

right? Which publisher do you have? Do

you have Optum? Do you have AMA? Do you

have AAPC? Do you have AHEA? Let me

know. All right.

But most Hickpix level two manuals have

the following. They'll have an

introduction. Most have anatomical

illustrations. Some don't, but most do.

You'll have an index to service. You'll

have a tabular list. And you'll have

appendices. In this AMA version, we have

appendix A. That's where the table of

drugs and biologicals are. Appendix B,

you have your hickpix level two

modifiers. C, list of abbreviations. D,

place of service. E, payment status

indicators. If you are studying for your

facility exams, specifically your CCS.

This is gold. Make friends with appendix

E. This is how you code outpatient

facilities with those status indicators.

Appendix F, ASC payment indicators.

You'll need to know that as well. And

this is for facility coders. Appendix G,

column one and column two for correct

coding edits. You don't review these

when you are coding

for professional you for those exams,

but you'll need to know it in the real

world. So, if you're taking your CCSP,