The new ICD-10-PCS code set for fiscal year 2025, which includes 371 new codes, will be effective October 1, 2024. With highlights from Terry Tropin, MSHAI, RHIA, CCS-P , inpatient coders can make sense of each new term before they go into effect.
Sepsis is one of the most prevalent diagnoses necessitating hospital admissions in the United States, and unfortunately, sepsis denials are also prevalent and on the rise. John Williams, RN, BSN, CCDS, clarifies how to ensure all indicators and findings of sepsis are present and valid for each inpatient admission.
Q: A physician documented metabolic encephalopathy on a postoperative patient who was sedated on a vent, but because there were not documented responses while on the vent, I was unable to clinically validate the encephalopathy while the patient was sedated on the vent. How would a coder query this diagnosis for validity?
HIPAA has protocols for when patients’ protected health information can be used for research and marketing. This means you must understand privacy rule limitations and your organization’s policies and procedures before releasing any PHI in these situations. Note : To access this free article, make sure you first register here if you do not have a paid subscription.
Q: Is it appropriate to code metabolic encephalopathy related to alcohol withdrawal or alcohol withdrawal delirium? And if so, how do you successfully defend against denials?
It can be especially challenging to thoroughly document rendered services in the emergency department due to the unique needs of the setting. Hamilton Lempert, MD, CEDC, reviews several areas of critical care coding that may trip up clinicians and coders. Note : To access this free article, make sure you first register here if you do not have a paid subscription.
The concept of expanding clinical documentation integrity (CDI) programs into the outpatient setting is not new but the COVID-19 pandemic threw a wrench into a lot of organizations’ expansion plans. Now it might be time for organizations to revisit the idea. Review the steps to expand into outpatient CDI.
CMS finalized many behavioral health requirements related to social determinants of health risk assessments, care management services, and more with the 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule final rule. With all these changes where do providers start?
Without proof that services rendered were medically necessary, third-party payers are unlikely to approve claims for reimbursement. With tips from Shelley C. Safian, PhD, RHIA, CCS-P, COC, COC-I , medical coding professionals can use ICD-10-CM codes to prove medical necessity. Note : To access this free article, make sure you first register here if you do not have a paid subscription.
Most facilities find acute respiratory failure to be a commonly denied diagnosis. Sharme Brodie, RN, CCDS, CCDS-O, explores when the circumstances of admission and the focus of care support the condition for coding.
A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that administration of piperacillin-tazobactam among patients with suspected sepsis was associated with a higher mortality rate and increased duration of organ dysfunction compared with cefepime administration.
The best technical security in the world cannot prevent breaches of protected health information if people are careless. Coders, billers, and HIM professionals should then learn to protect confidential health information by following proper security procedures and creating effective passwords.
Q: A patient presents with a chief complaint of thoracic intrinsic spinal cord lesion causing back pain, left lower extremity sciatic-type pain, and foot drop. An MRI of the thoracic spine revealed a T11-T12 spinal cord lesion consistent with a cavernous malformation. Which ICD-10-CM codes would be reported?
It is important for both coders and providers to understand that they can report critical care along with other services such as ED E/M and CPR. Hamilton Lempert, MD, FACEP, CEDC, answers questions about the proper ways to do so, as well as the importance of doing so. Note: To access this free article, make sure you first register here if you do not have a paid subscription.
Medical decision-making (MDM) documentation has gained increased importance in recent years to justify a visit’s medical necessity. Review CMS’ MDM table and guidelines to take the guesswork out of your coding.
Q: A specialty society's fact sheet offers guidance for determining E/M level when an ICD-10-CM social determinant of health code affected the diagnosis or treatment. What is Medicare's policy on this?
