The Heart Rhythm Society is the leading coding resource for heart rhythm procedures and services. Questions? Please e-mail coding@HRSonline.org.

• Pre-order your copy of the Heart Rhythm Society's Coding Guide for Heart Rhythm Procedures and Services, 2009 — a must-have tool for any EP Lab or any physician performing heart rhythm procedures and services. The 2009 edition will be updated with 20 new CPT codes for device monitoring services and will feature a pull-out guide to these changes. Pre-order today! (Note: 2008 edition available at 50% discount.) Details and order forms »
• CMS’ Evaluation & Management Services Guide (08/14/2008) — The July 2008 version of the Evaluation & Management Services Guide, which provides evaluation and management services information about medical record documentation, International Classification of Diseases and Current Procedural Terminology codes, and key elements of service, is now available. Download the Guide (PDF, 270K)
• CMS Releases Evaluation Report of Entire Three-Year RAC Demonstration (7/16/2008 ) — CMS recently released its final report on the Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) three-year demonstration, which ended on March 28, 2008. CMS reported at the conclusion of the demonstration that the RAC succeeded in correcting more than $1.03 billion in improper Medicare payments. At a meeting with CMS staff in April, Society leadership disagreed with the RAC's determinations for ICD procedures, and has subsequently developed a list of conditions that warrant inpatient admission status to assist members in preparation for the arrival of the permanent RAC Program. Learn more »
• Member Advisory-Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) Program (04/24/2008) — This advisory notice will highlight aspects of the RAC program Heart Rhythm Society members need to be aware of, describe the Heart Rhythm Society’s outreach and education strategies, and assist members with planning for its implementation. Learn more »
• Medicare Claims Review Program — This educational booklet (PDF, 740K) provides an overview of several initiatives(including MR, MUEs, RAC, NCCI Edits, CERT) implemented by CMS to prevent improper Medicare payments before a claim is processed or an attempt is made to recoup improper payments after a claim has been processed.
• CMS Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System Fact Sheet — This fact sheet (PDF, 360K) from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) provides general information about the hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System, ambulatory payment classifications, and how payment rates are set.
• CMS Inpatient Prospective System Payment Fact Sheet — This fact sheet  (PDF, 3M) provides general information about the hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System and how payment rates are set.
• MedPAC Releases review and Analysis of Cost Effectiveness of ICDs — The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), which advises U.S. Congress on issues affecting the Medicare program, published a review and analysis of cost-effectiveness analyses of ICD's. Learn more » 
• AHA and CMS Establish Clearinghouse to Enhance Understanding of HCPCS Coding — In a joint effort to improve billing and data quality, the American Hospital Association (AHA) and CMS) have established an AHA clearinghouse to handle coding questions on established Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) usage. Learn more » 
• Codes for Remote Monitoring of ICDs — The AMA's CPT® Editorial Pannel decided that remote monitoring services should be reported using the codes 93741 or 93743. Learn more » 
• RUC and CPT Process — In 1992, the AMA created a new process where specialty societies can develop relative value recommendations for new and revised codes. This fact sheet (PDF, 980K) explains the RVS Update Committee (RUC) and Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) processes.
• National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI) — The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) developed the National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI) to promote national correct coding methodologies and to control improper coding leading to inappropriate payment in Part B claims.Learn more »
• National Provider Identifier (NPI) Standard — The NPI is a unique identification number for covered health care providers, as required by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Administrative Simplification Standard. Learn more »