The fiscal year (FY) 2020 ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, released shortly after the FY 2020 ICD-10-CM code release, provide instructions for healthcare professionals on how to appropriately report complex diagnoses. Since FY 2020 is in full swing, now is the time to review these updates if your inpatient coding team hasn’t already.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released an important report in November 2019 on antibiotic-resistant threats in the United States. This comprehensive look at the serious problem of antibiotic resistance has compelling individual stories, great graphics, and actions that healthcare institutions can take to help deal with the issue. The report is free to download. I recommend it for professionals who work in documentation and coding as the information can be applied immediately in your work environments.
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.
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.
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.
While the premise for quality programs is largely the same across the board, there are many programs and measures that fall under the “quality” banner. From readmissions to present on admission (POA) and patient safety indicators (PSI), CDI programs have a myriad of potential options in terms of record review focus.
Julian Everett, RN, BSN, CDIP , says that 2020 should be the year when more CDI programs and inpatient coding teams ponder the idea of expanding into reviewing obstetrics. In this article, Everett details key areas to consider when starting these reviews, including hiring staff that have experience in obstetrics, conducting case sample assessments, and providing education on coding guidelines.
Sarah Nehring, CCS, CCDS , writes that because of the complexity and frequency of ischemic stroke admissions, inpatient coders should review clinical criteria and ICD-10-CM reporting regularly for this diagnosis to ensure accurate coding and reimbursement. Note : To access this free article, make sure you first register here if you do not have a paid subscription.
CMS recently published Special Edition MLN Matters article 20004 regarding changes to new technology add-on payments (NTAP) under the IPPS that are meant to increase access to innovative antibiotics for hospital inpatients.
