COVID-19 patients who were hospitalized as inpatients cost significantly more than those treated in an outpatient setting, according to data from the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
In part one of this two-part series, Allen Frady, RN, BSN, CCS, CRC, CCDS, gives tips to CDI and coding teams on how to help improve healthcare quality scores by reviewing CMS star rating calculations, department challenges, physician education, and more.
Sarah Nehring, RHIT, CCS, CCDS, writes that ICD-10-CM codes for immunodeficiencies are CCs for inpatient admissions and can impact severity of illness and risk of mortality calculations, which is why they are important for coders to frequently review. Note : To access this free article, make sure you first register here if you do not have a paid subscription.
CMS recently added six codes to the list of services that may be reported with HCPCS modifier -CS (cost-sharing), which requires Medicare to cover beneficiary cost-sharing during office visits and other encounters for the duration of the COVID-19 public health emergency.
Shannon McCall, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, CPC, CPC-I, CEMC, CRC, CCDS, CCDS-O, analyzes confusing E/M guidelines for time-based visits and prolonged services provided before or after a face-to face encounter.
Coding for traumatic fractures is based on details about the broken bone and the event that caused the injury. Review ICD-10-CM codes and guidelines for reporting different types of traumatic fractures. Note : To access this free article, make sure you first register here if you do not have a paid subscription.
Supporting accurate Hierarchical Condition Category (HCC) capture is essential to success under the growing number of risk-adjusted payment models. With their strong knowledge of coding and documentation guidelines and insight into emerging trends, coders are a key part of that strategy.
Q: We had a patient admitted with a negative COVID-19 test, but after being retested the patient had a positive COVID-19 result. Should we query the provider whether COVID-19 was POA?
Audrey Howard, RHIA, and Susan Belley, RHIA, CPHQ , write that since acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is included as a common respiratory manifestation of COVID-19 in the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting , it is essential to understand the syndrome for accurate and complete inpatient reporting. Note : To access this free article, make sure you first register here if you do not have a paid subscription.
