The rate of most hospital-acquired conditions (HAC) continued to decline from 2014 to 2016, according to the latest national scorecard released by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
Cheryl Manchenton, RN, BSN, CCDS , details the recent updates to patient safety indicator (PSI) 90 and says that these changes are the reason why it’s more important than ever to ensure that PSI metrics are complete and accurate.
Chris Simons, MS, RHIA , outlines tasks that generally fall within the CDI department’s realm and writes that to ensure that inpatient CDI specialists can thoroughly complete these tasks, they must have strong clinical skills and a working knowledge of ICD-10-CM and MS-DRG assignment. Note : To access this free article, make sure you first register here if you do not have a paid subscription.
Adriane Martin, DO, FACOS, CCDS , reviews some of the ICD-10-CM/PCS code and CC/MCC updates that made the final cut in the fiscal year 2019 IPPS final rule.
Patients determined to have a tubo-ovarian abscess (TOA) require immediate and aggressive surgical therapy. Lori-Lynne A. Webb, CPC, CCS-P, CCP, CHDA, COBGC , reviews clinical documentation and ICD-10-CM coding for TOAs as well as CPT coding for surgical interventions used to treat them.
Before radiation therapy can be administered, several steps must be taken prepare the patient for treatment. Review CPT coding and documentation for the first two steps in the process: the initial consultation and preparation for radiation treatment. Note : To access this free article, make sure you first register here if you do not have a paid subscription.
A retrospective study recently published in the Journal of Pediatric Surgery found that 59% of reviewed cases across four institutions contained discrepancies between operative dictation and CPT coding for pediatric abdominal surgeries.
Modifier -25 is frequently a target of payer and Office of Inspector General audits. Susan E. Garrison, CHCA, CPC, CPC-H, reviews CMS and NCCI guidance for reporting modifier -25.
Creating a query and knowing when to query can be complicated, and there are a number of continued training tactics that prove successful for the coder when trying to improve upon physician query practices. This article looks at a few of the official sources that offer query guidance for coders. Note : To access this free article, make sure you first register here if you do not have a paid subscription.
Q: We recently had a patient admitted for syncope workup. The workups were negative except for incidental findings of acute kidney injury (AKI). The physician documented “AKI likely 2/2 hypovolemia. Treatment focus is to trend creatinine levels and hydration.” Would the AKI or hypovolemia be sequenced as the principal diagnosis?
Cesar M. Limjoco, MD, writes that although different literature has become available on principal diagnosis selection through the years, questions and disputes keep popping up. In this article, he revisits the issue and provides additional insight to code selection for conditions such as acute respiratory failure and congestive heart failure.
Acute heart failure patients in an emergency department's clinical pathway program had a 13.1% lower readmission rate, according to a report published in the American Journal of Emergency Medicine.
Adriane Martin, DO, FACOS, CCDS, reviews Coding Clinic guidance published in the first and second quarters of this year as it pertains to coding guidelines, severity of illness, and MS-DRG assignment for the inpatient setting.
As coders mark the third anniversary this October of the U.S. implementation of ICD-10, its newly minted successor is waiting in the wings, nearly ready for adoption.
Developing an outpatient CDI program isn't just about metrics--departments needs to consider how to engage providers and interact with other teams to be truly effective.
It's been more than three years since CMS introduced a subset of modifiers it wants providers to report instead of modifier -59 (distinct procedural service), but they're still optional as barely any new guidance has been released.
CMS recently released updated guidance on billing intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) after an OIG audit found a 100% error rate in billing certain IMRT planning services.
This month we are pleased to introduce Roger Hettinger , RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, COC, CPC, CPCO, CPB, CPMA, CRC, CEDC, CGSC, CHONC, CIMC, CUC, CGIC, CHC, CRCR, Senior Revenue Cycle Advisor for Axea Solutions, Inc. in Cumming, Georgia.
