On May 11, CMS issued its inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) proposed rule and policy changes for fiscal year (FY) 2021. The proposed rule includes ambitious policy changes showcasing CMS’ commitment to “transform the healthcare delivery system through competition and innovation while providing patients with better value and results.”
For FY 2021, CMS projects the rate increase, together with other proposed changes to IPPS payment policies, will increase IPPS operating payments by approximately 2.5%. Proposed changes in uncompensated care payments, new technology add-on payments, and capital payments will decrease IPPS payments by approximately 0.4%, according to the proposed rule. Therefore, CMS estimates a total increase in overall IPPS payments of approximately 1.6%.
Clinical validation reviews and queries ensure that the documented diagnoses and clinical indicators hold up to inspection. This article gives an overview on processes and templates, top queried diagnoses, and physician engagement to help CDI teams perfect their clinical validation efforts.
Adrienne Commeree, CPC, CPMA, CCS, CEMC, CPIP, details MS-DRG updates found in the fiscal year (FY) 2021 IPPS proposed rule, including the proposed creation of MS-DRG 521 (Hip Replacement with Principal Diagnosis of Hip Fracture with MCC) and MS-DRG 522 (Hip Replacement with Principal Diagnosis of Hip Fracture without MCC). Note : To access this free article, make sure you first register here if you do not have a paid subscription.
Q: How should we report positive COVID-19 cases in ICD-10-CM without respiratory manifestations or any signs or symptoms and no prior suspected exposure?
The following questions were answered by Shannon McCall, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, CPC, CEMC, CRC, CCDS, HCS-D, director of HIM and coding for HCPro in Middleton, Massachusetts, and Yvette DeVay, MHA, CPC, CPMA, CIC, CPC-I, lead instructor for HCPro’s Medicare Boot Camp®—Physician Services Version.
CMS issued the proposed lists of new, revised, and invalidated ICD-10-CM codes May 11 in conjunction with the fiscal year (FY) 2021 Inpatient Prospective Payment System proposed rule. The update will be significantly larger than the FY 2020 ICD-10-CM update if all the proposed changes are finalized.
Read up on new CMS policies that expand COVID-19 care, ramp up diagnostic testing, and loosen restrictions on billing for telehealth services during the public health emergency.
Diagnosis codes for neurologic disorders are widespread throughout the ICD-10-CM manual. In this article, Joel Moorhead, MD, PhD, CPC , breaks down ICD-10-CM code selection for cerebrovascular diseases, transient cerebral ischemic attacks, and peripheral neuropathies.
Even experienced coders have difficulty adhering to CPT reporting guidelines for wound care procedures. Review Medicare’s medical necessity requirements for debridement procedures and CPT coding for wound care services delivered via interactive audio and video. Note : To access this free article, make sure you first register here if you do not have a paid subscription.
All queries, regardless of their origin, are bound to follow the “ Guidelines for Achieving a Compliant Query Practice .” In order to ensure queries stand up to outside scrutiny and are effective, many CDI and inpatient coding leaders have put query audit practices in place for their departments as they bring on new team members.
Adrienne Commeree, CPC, CPMA, CCS, CEMC, CPIP, writes that attention must be paid to coding guidelines and instructional notes for blindness, low vision, and laterality when reporting diseases of the eye and adnexa in Chapter 7 of the ICD-10-CM manual. Note : To access this free article, make sure you first register here if you do not have a paid subscription.
CMS released the fiscal year (FY) 2021 IPPS proposed rule this week, with proposals for the annual ICD-10-CM/PCS code update, the creation of new MS-DRGs, and increases to hospital payment rates.
Pulmonary hypertension is a complex, progressive disease that affects both children and adults, and leads to significant morbidity and mortality. In this article, Amy Sanderson, MD , reviews this disease to help ensure proper inpatient reporting and more precise queries.