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 .
CMS confirmed in the 2023 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule final rule that it will adopt the framework of the revised AMA E/M guidelines, including payment based on medical decision-making (MDM) or time, effective January 1, 2023. Laura Evans, CPC, explains how the agency will diverge from the AMA on some points, however.
Medicare finalized a care management service for chronic pain management (CPM). Effective January 1, CPM services can be reported by a wide range of providers, including primary care practitioners.
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.
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.
Vaccinations are simple and effective ways of protecting individuals against harmful diseases. Review ICD-10-CM/PCS coding for vaccines administered during inpatient admission.
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.
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.
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.
The 2023 ICD-10-CM update brought many new codes to report injuries sustained from collisions between motorcycles or electric-assisted bicycles and other vehicles, entities, or objects. This article reviews external cause codes and examines the new additions. Note : To access this free article, make sure you first register here if you do not have a paid subscription.
CMS released its 2023 OPPS final rule on November 1. The document finalizes most proposed policies, including a new provider type for rural emergency hospitals (REH), continued coverage of telehealth services, and implementation of new skin substitute HCPCS codes, among other changes, which largely take effect January 1, 2023.
CMS confirmed in the 2023 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule final rule that it will adopt the framework of the revised AMA E/M guidelines, including payment based on medical decision-making (MDM) or time, effective January 1, 2023. Laura Evans, CPC, explains how the agency will diverge from the AMA on some points, however.
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease that causes elevated levels of glucose in the blood. It invades the body in many different ways. Shelley Safian PhD, RHIA, CCS-P, COC, CPC-I describes the types, manifestations, and treatment methods for diabetes mellitus and how to report them accurately in ICD-10-CM.
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.
