The Surviving Sepsis Campaign recently published new pediatric sepsis guidelines in Pediatric Critical Care Medicine . This update includes information on a two-phase process for septic shock and guidelines for therapy start times.
Sharme Brodie, RN, CCDS, CCDS-O, covers the guidance published in the Fourth Quarter 2019 issue of Coding Clinic , which includes updates for atrial fibrillations, pressure-induced deep tissue damage, and more.
Q: We are seeing more fundoplication surgeries and esophageal sphincter augmentation procedures for patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease at our hospital. Do you have any tips for our coders when reporting these procedures in ICD-10-PCS?
Adrienne Commeree, CPC, CPMA, CCS, CEMC, CPIP , reviews instructional notes and reporting guidance for ICD-10-CM codes in Chapter 3 of the manual, which includes codes for diseases of the blood and blood-forming organs and certain disorders involving the immune mechanism. Note : To access this free article, make sure you first register here if you do not have a paid subscription.
William E. Haik, MD, FCCP, CDIP , details guideline changes regarding the diagnosis and treatment of adults with community-acquired pneumonia and provides criteria to clinically validate a diagnosis of Gram-negative and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) pneumonia.
ICD-10-CM/PCS coding for severe and potentially fatal heart conditions such as aortic valve stenosis (AVS), heart failure (HF), and atrial fibrillation (AF) requires an in-depth understanding of anatomical terminology and clinical indications. Coders need to be able to select the most specific codes based on reported symptoms and the severity of the disease.
Prior to 1983, Medicare reimbursed based on actual charges that inpatient healthcare facilities billed (often referred to as “fee-for-service” payments). The more tests, procedures, and services ordered by physicians, the more an organization was paid. This created the potential for unnecessary or excessive services, contributing to rising healthcare costs and the possibility of depleting Medicare funds.
Like other services covered by Medicare, observation must be reasonable and necessary or, in other words, medically necessary. The physician must document that they assessed patient risk to determine that the patient would benefit from observation services.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is monitoring the rapid spread of a novel 2019 coronavirus, formally named COVID-19, first identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. On January 30, the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee of the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 outbreak a public health emergency of international concern due to its sustained person-to-person spread within countries and across continental borders.
To enhance efforts to combat the opioid crisis in America, CMS policy allows for a new benefit under Medicare Part B concerning Opioid Treatment Programs.
