Adjustments to payment rates

Changes or modifications to the base payment rates to allow for differences in providers’ situations that affect their costs of giving medical services. These adjustments are to accommodate differences in local prices for products and services, delivery of specialized types of care, or atypical characteristics of beneficiaries.

Adjuvant technique

Additional technique(s) that may be required at the time a bypass graft is created to improve patency of the lower extremity autogenous or synthetic bypass graft or fistula. Use of CPT codes 35685 and 35686 are add-on codes and should be reported with a code for the primary procedure performed.

Administration

Policies, procedures, and management of functions related to the operation of an insurance plan by the insurance company after it becomes effective. In some situations, the insurance claims processing and payment may be administered by a separate entity.

Administrative code sets

1. Code sets that characterize a general business situation, rather than a medical condition or service. 2. Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), a phrase that refers to nonclinical or nonmedical code sets. Compare with medical code sets.

Administrative data

Information that is collected, processed, and stored in automated information systems. Administrative data include enrollment or eligibility information, claims information, and managed care encounters. The claims and encounters may be for hospital and other facility services, professional services, prescription drug services, laboratory services, and so on.