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?
It’s important for inpatient coders to frequently review hospital-acquired conditions (HAC) and present on admission (POA) indicators and the rules governing their assignment in order to ensure proper reimbursement. Part one of a two-part series will review POA indicators in particular.
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.
CPT neurology codes describe advanced techniques to evaluate and treat conditions of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. This article details CPT coding for three procedural services used to assess neurological symptoms: electroencephalogram, electromyography, and auditory-evoked potentials testing.
Our coding experts answer questions about CPT documentation and coding for psychotherapy services, ICD-10-CM reporting for knee injuries, conducting chargemaster audits, and more.
Though the adoption of outpatient CDI has been growing steadily over the years, it’s not always easy to prove the return on investment for such efforts.
Arthroscopic surgical procedures involve the insertion of a small scope into the interior of a joint, allowing the physician to view the joint without making a large incision through the skin. Review CPT coding for arthroscopic procedures of the hip and knee joints.
Audit defense is a key strategy to ensure coding and billing compliance and defend earned revenue. It’s more important than ever as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to drain hospital resources, but with HIM departments already stretched thin, it’s also more difficult than ever.
Facilities that are not leveraging CDI efforts for denials management and tracking denials as a key performance indicator (KPI) should consider doing so. Denials are the framework for identifying gaps in provider documentation and are a surefire approach to tailoring physician education that is meaningful.