At first glance, codes for insertion, removal, and revision of pacemakers look quite different in ICD-10-PCS. Kimberly J. Carr, RHIT, CCS, CDIP, and Melanie Endicott, MBA/HCM, RHIA, CDIP, CCS, CCS-P, FAHIMA, compare and contrast pacemaker procedure coding in ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-PCS.
For coders, the summer months can be some of the busiest, particularly for those working in areas that attract tourists. Linda Schwab Messmer, RHIT, CCS, and Lori-Lynne A. Webb, CPC, COBGC, CCS-P, CCP, CHDA, review ICD-9-CM codes for common summer injuries and ailments.
Recovery Auditors audit the MS-DRG, principle diagnosis, any secondary diagnoses, and any procedures that affect—or could affect—DRGs. Christina Benjamin, MA, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, reveals the most important documentation pitfalls and coding guidelines challenges related to MS-DRGs under auditor scrutiny.
CMS and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology recently hosted a listening session to gather industry feedback and concerns about health information technology adoption. Read some of the highlights of the session and comments from providers in the field.
The recent ACDIS 2013 ICD-10 Preparation Survey found that 48 % of respondents don’t plan to add coding staff members to meet the challenge of ICD-10 implementation. Meanwhile, 66 % of respondents said they don’t plan to hire additional clinical documentation improvement (CDI) staff.
Healthcare data continues to become the industry’s newest hot commodity. Ralph Wuebker, MD, MBA, and Yvonne Focke, RN, BSN, MBA, explain what information facilities can extract from PEPPER reports.
The clinical documentation specialist role is relatively new, but can be a great place for coders. Lois Mazza, CPC, reveals why coders should consider taking on this role.
The demand for coding labor may increase as much as 20%–40% over the next two years, according to a recent report, The State of H.I.M.: A Study of the Impact of ICD-10, CDI, and CAC Initiatives Within the Health Information Management Community. Trust Healthcare Consulting Services, LLC, which published the report, surveyed more than 300 HIM professionals in all types of healthcare facilities in nearly every state. The majority of participants (84%) were HIM directors.
Facilities may be reluctant to charge for bedside services beyond the room rate because they fear double-dipping. Kimberly Anderwood Hoy, JC, CPC, and William L. Malm, ND, RN, CMAS, discuss what CMS does—and doesn’t—say about charging for ancillary services .
Q: Some of our providers see patients in our local nursing facilities. When these patients are admitted to our hospital, must we retain this documentation in our own records?
These days, the healthcare industry is all about the numbers, especially as pay-for-performance becomes more common. Lawrence L. Sanders, Jr., MD, MBA, and Simone R. Gravesande, RN, BSN , review how APR-DRGs work and why all coders should understand them.
E codes are important in a variety of settings. Pamela L. Owens, PhD, Kathy Vermoch, MPH, Leslie Prellwitz, MBA, CCS, CCS-P, and Suzanne Rogers, RHIA, CCS, CCDS, explain the importance of reporting E codes and why every facility should have an internal coding policy that includes E codes.
Q: What advice can you offer for sequencing pulmonary edema and congestive heart failure when both appear to meet the definition of principal diagnosis?
Hospitals continue to report dramatic increases in Recovery Auditor (RA) activity, according to the latest RAC Trac survey results released June 4. The survey found that the number of medical record requests for survey respondents has increased by 53% in comparison to the cumulative total reported in the third quarter of 2012.
The ideal approach to ICD-10-CM/PCS preparation is capitalizing on the synergistic partnership between clinical documentation improvement and coding professionals. Glenn Krauss, BBA, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, CPUR, C-CDI, CCDS, discusses how organizations can use this dynamic to improve preparations for ICD-10.
Coders may be surprised by the expansion and reorganization of codes for diabetes in ICD-10-CM. Pamela Rand, RD, LDN, Bonnie S. Cassidy, MPA, RHIA, FAHIMA, FHIMSS, and Laura Legg, RHIT, CCS, discuss the differences between coding diabetes in ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM.
CMS has uploaded the latest version of the ICD-10-PCS codes that coders will use for reporting inpatient procedures beginning October 1, 2014. The new files also include the 2014 ICD-10-PCS Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting .
In ICD-10-PCS, root operations precisely identify the purpose, intent, or objective of a procedure. Cynthia L. Stewart, CPC, CPC-H, CPMA, CPC-I, CCS-P, highlights the specific—and often subtle—differences in the definitions of ICD-10-PCS root operations.
