Physician documentation drives quality measures, but physicians often don’t understand the link between the two. James Fee, MD, CCS, CCDS, Kristi Stanton, RHIT, CCS, CPC, CIRCC, and Jane Bonewell, RHIT, offer suggestions for ways to educate providers and improve documentation.
Coders use different codes to report traumatic and pathologic fractures. Robert S. Gold, MD, and Kristi Stanton, RHIT, CCS, CPC, CIRCC, highlight the differences in coding for the two etiologies of fractures in both ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM.
Coders now incorporate consideration of medical necessity when coding for inpatient admissions. Glenn Krauss, BBA, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, CPUR, FCS, PCS, CCDS, C-CDI , explains the importance of understanding the concept of medical necessity as it relates to coding.
Improper ICD-9-CM code assignment led to incorrect grouping of claims to MS-DRG 857 (postoperative or posttraumatic infections with operating room procedure with complications and comorbidities), according to Recovery Auditors. CMS released the findings in the July 2014 Medicare Quarterly Provider Compliance Newsletter .
Q: We know that we can look at the radiology report to get some specifics about a fracture. When it comes to an open fracture in ICD-10-CM, can you determine the Gustilo-Anderson classification, whether it's I, II, IIIA, IIIB, or IIIC, based on a description of the wound? Or does the physician actually have to document, “It's a Gustilo type I" or "type III”?
