9 chapters across the catalog
Protesters surrounded Bill Gates' vehicle outside 10 Downing Street, chanting for his arrest while he met with Boris Johnson. The discussion includes a biographical anecdote about Gates' childhood and his mother's role in his early career at Microsoft.
New ICD-10 billing codes have been established for COVID-19 treatments, including specific codes for booster doses administered into muscle or subcutaneous tissue. In Germany, a man was reportedly caught getting 90 COVID-19 vaccinations to sell the resulting legitimate vaccine cards to others. The discussion highlights the financial incentives for medical administrators to promote specific procedures.
ICD-10 Code Z28.20, Insurance Tracking of Unvaccinated Patients
A new medical billing code, ICD-10 Z28.20, has been introduced to track patients who decide not to be immunized for unspecified reasons. This code allows insurance companies and healthcare providers to flag individuals in their permanent records. The hosts express concern that this data will be used to marginalize or penalize those who refuse the COVID-19 vaccine.
Redesigning the $10 Bill and Alexander Hamilton Debate
The US Treasury Department released a video featuring Deputy Secretary Sarah Bloom Raskin discussing the inclusion of a woman on the redesigned $10 note by 2020. The hosts debate whether Alexander Hamilton (a proponent of big central government) or Andrew Jackson (on the $20) should be removed. They speculate that Harriet Tubman is the likely candidate for the new currency.
During the Miss America Q&A, Miss Colorado suggested that comedian Ellen DeGeneres should be the woman featured on the $10 bill. She cited DeGeneres's platform of tolerance, equality, and kindness as the primary reasons for the honor. The answer was met with ridicule by some observers who viewed it as a superficial response to a significant historical and political question.
A series of shootings and projectile attacks on Interstate 10 in Phoenix is being framed by the media as domestic terrorism. The hosts critique the "shouting" style of NBC reporters and Bill Maher's use of random radio callers to characterize the entire Republican base as dangerous.
The transition to ICD-10 medical coding introduces thousands of highly specific and bizarre diagnostic codes. Examples include "Sucked into jet engine, subsequent encounter," "Struck by duck," and "Problems in relationship with in-laws." The hosts argue that these codes transform medical profiles into comprehensive personal dossiers that track social behavior and lifestyle rather than just physical health.
Physician Reimbursement, Search Engines, and Medicaid Compliance
Doctors must implement ICD-10 codes by October 15th to remain eligible for Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements. While some argue that doctors won't use the more obscure codes, the hosts point out that specialized search engines now allow physicians to quickly attach multiple codes to a single visit. This system incentivizes more complex diagnoses to justify higher billing tiers.
ICD-10 Medical Coding Transition, Small Practice Compliance
The transition from ICD-9 to ICD-10 medical coding introduces over 16,000 new subclassifications for diseases and injuries. Small medical practices face significant financial burdens, ranging from $56,000 to over $226,000, to meet the October 1, 2015, compliance deadline, potentially driving them toward large corporate HMO structures.
