A May report from the Office of Inspector General (OIG) found that some physician practices were at the root of basic coding errors that caused federal overpayments. Although the Essence audit was small, the findings have significant implications for physician coders.
Healthcare organizations and providers are experiencing a shift in outpatient reimbursement: from fee-for-service to Alternative Payment Models and value-based reimbursement based on quality outcomes.
Diagnosis coding for skin ulcers can be particularly confusing as different kinds of ulcers have their own etiology and associated ICD-10-CM code. Review ICD-10-CM coding and reporting for venous, pressure, and diabetic skin ulcers. Note : To access this free article, make sure you first register here if you do not have a paid subscription.
Sarah Nehring, CCS, CCDS, says that from the inpatient coding and CDI perspective, sepsis can be one of the trickiest diagnoses. In this article, she reviews 10 things coders wish physicians knew about sepsis documentation and coding.
Peggy Blue, MPH, CCS, CCS-P, CPC, CEMC , writes that due to the frequency of diagnoses and treatments for breast cancer, it’s more important than ever for inpatient coders to make sure they are reporting these diagnoses and procedures with the utmost accuracy. Note : To access this free article, make sure you first register here if you do not have a paid subscription.
Many outpatient CDI professionals stepped into their roles blind—not knowing where to begin or how to tell if they were successful. However, as programs mature, they need to be able to track their progress for a number of reasons, including focusing physician education and justifying continued funding from organizational leadership.
The spread of acute flaccid myelitis (AFM), a serious, paralysis-inducing syndrome, is beginning to alarm epidemiologists who have yet to identify its cause. Recognize the first signs of AFM and learn how to report the condition using ICD-10-CM codes. Note : To access this free article, make sure you first register here if you do not have a paid subscription.
The endocrine system is an intricate collection of hormone-producing glands that help to control mood, metabolism, tissue function, and sexual development. This article breaks down endocrine anatomy and ICD-10-CM guidelines for reporting diabetes mellitus and Cushing’s disease. Note : To access this free article, make sure you first register here if you do not have a paid subscription.
Kay Piper, RHIA, CDIP, CCS, details the process of submitting ICD-10-CM codes to the ICD-10 Coordination and Maintenance Committee meeting by sharing the experience a medical coding educator and a CDI physician adviser had when submitting a proposal for the March 2018 meeting.
A transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is an interventional cardiology procedure that has proven to be an important life-saving cardiac intervention frequently seen by inpatient coders. In this article, Stephen Houlahan, RN, MSN, MBA, CCDS, reviews TAVR history, clinical background, and documentation and reimbursement methodologies to ensure proper education and compliance for facilities.
