Review key policy updates introduced in the 2023 IPPS final rule, including an increase in operating payments, changes to New Technology Add-on Payment designations, MS-DRG updates, and introduction of a birthing-friendly hospital designation. Note : To access this free article, make sure you first register here if you do not have a paid subscription.
Trey La Charité, MD, FACP, SFHM, CCS, CCDS , outlines benefits that come with being a physician advisor and how coding and CDI professionals can reiterate these to physicians who are interested in taking on this role.
Paraneoplastic syndrome is a rare condition that results from an immune system response to a neoplasm. In this article, Sarah Nehring, RHIA, CCS, CCDS , breaks down ICD-10-CM/PCS coding for paraneoplastic syndrome of the nervous system.
Paraneoplastic syndrome is a rare condition that results from an immune system response to a neoplasm. In this article, Sarah Nehring, RHIA, CCS, CCDS , breaks down ICD-10-CM/PCS coding for paraneoplastic syndrome of the nervous system.
A great deal of change has occurred over the past three years in healthcare, and every organization nationally is feeling the financial burden in the wake of COVID-19 and recent natural disasters.
If a urinary tract infection is left untreated, it can spread to other organs and cause sepsis and septic shock. Lori-Lynne A. Webb, CPC, CCS-P, CCP, CHDA, COBGC , breaks down ICD-10-CM coding for this life-threatening diagnosis.
While laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) is not new, the expansion of its use for diagnoses beyond brain tumors can help a new patient population. Shelley C. Safian, PhD, RHIA, HCISPP, CCS-P, COC, CPC-I , describes how LITT is documented and reported in ICD-10-PCS.
The average patient length of stay in hospitals has increased by 19.2% in 2022 compared to 2019 levels, the American Hospital Association said, citing data from Strata Decision Technology. For patients awaiting discharge to post-acute care settings, the increase is nearly 24%.
The 2023 ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting include new reporting guidance for neoplasms, care complications, social determinants of health, and more. Review significant updates to the guidelines, which took effect October 1. Note : To access this free article, make sure you first register here if you do not have a paid subscription.
Healthcare professionals often struggle to define the role of CDI in their organization. Marlene Goodwin-Esola, MSN, RN-C, CV , clarifies the role of CDI specialists and professionals in related disciplines who contribute to documentation improvement efforts.
Clinical quality measures are tools used by healthcare professionals to measure or quantify processes and outcomes. Audrey Howard, RHIA, and Susan Belley, RHIA, CPHQ, describe documentation elements that affect quality metrics and how to incorporate them into an audit workflow.
The principal diagnosis is key to prioritizing subsequent reviews, identifying potential quality measure inclusion, and pinpointing query opportunities. Laurie Prescott, RN, MSN, CCDS, CCDS-O, CDIP, CRC , breaks down guidance for selecting the principal diagnosis.
Vaccinations are simple and effective ways of protecting individuals against harmful diseases. Review ICD-10-CM/PCS coding for vaccines administered during inpatient admission. Note : To access this free article, make sure you first register here if you do not have a paid subscription.
Coded housing instability is linked to higher hospital admission rates for mental disorders, longer inpatient stays, and substantial healthcare costs, according to a study recently published in JAMA Network Open .
Vaccinations are simple and effective ways of protecting individuals against harmful diseases. Review ICD-10-CM/PCS coding for vaccines administered during inpatient admission.
Acute hospital care at home is reimbursed the same as if the patient was physically an inpatient in a hospital, with the same documentation requirements, quality measures, and medical necessity guidelines. Learn how strengthening CDI's role in these programs can help support their success.
While laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) is not new, the expansion of its use for diagnoses beyond brain tumors can help a new patient population. Shelley C. Safian, PhD, RHIA, HCISPP, CCS-P, COC, CPC-I , describes how LITT is documented and reported in ICD-10-PCS.
The severity and length of post-COVID-19 symptoms has been a topic of study almost ever since the pandemic began. In a new study involving patients with significant respiratory disability following hospitalizations for COVID-19, daily supervised pulmonary rehabilitation was associated with significant improvement in exercise tolerance and quality of life.
The terms “admission” and “observation” are often confused. Dawn Valdez, RN, LNC, CCDS, CDIP , distinguishes between these terms and evaluates ICD-10-CM coding for patients who begin in observation and are later admitted to the hospital for more intensive care.
Cardiorenal syndrome refers to acute or chronic dysfunction of the heart or kidneys that causes dysfunction in the other organ. Review ICD-CM coding for heart and kidney failure and the physiological impact that dysfunction in one system has on the rest of the body. Note : To access this free article, make sure you first register here if you do not have a paid subscription.
Quality metrics are complex, and it takes deep knowledge to understand their intricacies. Audrey Howard, RHIA, and Susan Belley, RHIA, CPHQ , describe commonly overlooked documentation elements that can affect quality metrics and outline how to incorporate these elements into an audit workflow.
Lena Wilson, MHI, RHIA, CCS, CCDS , takes a deep dive into the CDI/coding reconciliation process and outlines tips that coders and CDI professionals can apply to improve this process.
ICD-10-CM coding for respiratory illnesses requires a solid understanding of clinical indicators and coding guidelines. Review documentation and guidance for reporting acute respiratory distress syndrome, asthma, and pediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome. Note : To access this free article, make sure you first register here if you do not have a paid subscription.
As the shift to outpatient care has accelerated, likely due to COVID-19, inpatient volumes continue to remain below pre-pandemic levels for hospitals and health systems this year, according to Kaufman Hall’s 2022 State of Healthcare Performance Improvement report.
Coding for newborn services can be complicated due to detailed examinations and therapeutic treatments performed after delivery. Sarah Nehring, RHIA, CCS, CCDS , breaks down ICD-10-CM coding for newborn encounters and reviews new codes for newborn apnea that took effect October 1.
Kathy Shumpert, MSN, RN, CCDS, writes about the evolution of the denials and appeals process at her facility and discusses tactics to improve communications and efficiency.
The terms “admission” and “observation” are often confused. Dawn Valdez, RN, LNC, CCDS, CDIP, distinguishes between these terms and evaluates ICD-10-CM coding for patients who begin in observation and are later admitted to the hospital for more intensive care.
Coding for newborn services can be complicated due to detailed examinations and therapeutic treatments performed after delivery. Sarah Nehring, RHIA, CCS, CCDS , breaks down ICD-10-CM coding for newborn encounters and reviews new codes for newborn apnea that took effect October 1.
Coding and billing professionals must ensure that medical record information is accurate, up to date, and compliant. In this article, Holly Cassano, CPC, CRC , defines late entries, corrections, and addendums, and explains the proper methods used to alter health records while maintaining Medicare compliance.
A recent medical record review published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Network Open found that between October 1, 2021, and January 31, 2022, providers used ICD-10-CM code U09.9 (post-COVID-19 condition, unspecified) to identify a multitude of post-acute conditions brought on by COVID-19.
Social determinants of health ICD-10-CM codes have become more of a hot topic in the CDI world over the past few years. Review guidance for reporting personal circumstances such as income, wealth, and education that impact health and wellbeing.
Pregnancy causes changes to the immune system that increase the risk of infection and sepsis during pregnancy, labor, and the puerperium. Sarah Nehring, BS, RHIT, CCS, CCDS , analyzes ICD-10-CM documentation and coding for sepsis after childbirth.
Stroke, or cerebrovascular accident (CVA), is the fifth leading cause of death in the U.S. and the second leading cause of death worldwide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Unpack clinical documentation and ICD-10-CM coding for various types of CVA. Note : To access this free article, make sure you first register here if you do not have a paid subscription.
A properly calibrated audit tool is key to uncovering educational opportunities for coding and CDI professionals. Dawn Valdez, RN, LNC, CDIP, CCDS, outlines questions for determining an audit focus and for querying providers when documentation is insufficient to support medical necessity.
Coders must be familiar with ICD-10-CM reporting guidelines for common neurological conditions. This article unpacks recent updates to the nervous system chapter of ICD-10-CM including 14 new codes for autonomic conditions and fatigue syndromes. Note : To access this free article, make sure you first register here if you do not have a paid subscription.
A recent review of inpatient medical records published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Network Open from 463 hospitals found significant increases in pregnancy-related complications and maternal death during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Respiratory failure occurs when the body is unable to provide oxygen to or remove carbon dioxide from the body. Alba Kuqi, MD, CCS, CDIP, CCDS, CRCR, CICA, CSCM , breaks down documentation and ICD-10-CM coding for acute and chronic respiratory failure.
Coders must be familiar with ICD-10-CM reporting guidelines for common neurological conditions. This article unpacks recent updates to the nervous system chapter of ICD-10-CM including 14 new codes for autonomic conditions and fatigue syndromes.
Pregnancy causes changes to the immune system that increase the risk of infection and sepsis during pregnancy, labor, and the puerperium. Sarah Nehring, BS, RHIT, CCS, CCDS , analyzes ICD-10-CM documentation and coding for sepsis after childbirth.
Coders must be familiar with updates to the ICD-10-CM/PCS code sets for fiscal year 2023 . Audrey Howard, RHIA , reviews new codes and reporting guidelines for dementia, care complications, and vascular procedures as well as updates to MS-DRGs.
The 2023 ICD-10-PCS code update includes 331 new codes and 64 code deletions that take effect this week. This article takes a close look at new ICD-10-PCS codes and guidelines for amputations, laser ablation, and aortic valve replacements. Note : To access this free article, make sure you first register here if you do not have a paid subscription.
Hospitals and health systems have recently seen some of the worst margins since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Kaufman Hall’s National Hospital Flash report .
