Author: Butler, Mary

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: June 2017

In many ways ICD-10 coding professionals share a lot in common with college students preparing to spend a semester abroad. Both spend invaluable hours in a classroom learning the nuances and permutations of a new language, as well as months of practicing their new skills in workshops with....

Author: Fernandez, Valerie

Source: Journal of AHIMA | Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes

Publication Date: June 2017

A Hierarchical Condition Category (HCC) is defined as a risk adjustment model that is used to calculate risk scores to predict future healthcare costs. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) CMS-HCC model is used to predict healthcare spending for Medicare Advantage Pl....

Author: AHIMA Staff

Source: AHIMA newsletter

Publication Date: May 2017

Monthly newsletter containing practical news for coding, reimbursement, and healthcare compliance

Author: Barnette, Erin; Endicott, Melanie; Ericson, Cheryl E; Wieczorek, Michelle M.

Source: AHIMA practice brief | Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: May 2017

In order to effectively discuss clinical documentation improvement (CDI) opportunities in physician practices, it is important to first understand the drivers and goals of a physician practice CDI program. Historically, diagnosis codes have had little impact in regard to physician practice paym....

Author: Ward, Maria

Source: Journal of AHIMA | Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes

Publication Date: May 2017

Coding respiratory cases can sometimes lead to coding professionals getting bogged down in the circle of sequencing instructions, inclusions, and exclusions. This article will help readers gain a better understanding of the differences in the diagnoses that all come with a majority of the....

Author: AHIMA

Source: AHIMA toolkit

Publication Date: April 2017

Author: Bowman, Sue E

Source: AHIMA testimony and comments

Publication Date: April 06, 2017

Author: Bowman, Sue E

Source: AHIMA testimony and comments

Publication Date: April 06, 2017

Author: Tomak, Tracey

Source: CodeWrite | AHIMA newsletter article

Publication Date: April 2017

In August of 2000, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) introduced the Ambulatory Payment Classifications (APCs) under the Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS). The objective of the APC payment system was to control costs and increase efficiencies for outpatient ser....

Author: Martin, Ginny

Source: AHIMA newsletter article | CodeWrite

Publication Date: April 2017

If you were asked to assign a code for a diagnosis or procedure, you probably wouldn’t have a problem doing that. Our coding classes explained how to assign an ICD-10-CM code by first looking up the correct term in the Alphabetic Index, verifying the code in the Tabular List, and fol....

Author: AHIMA Staff

Source: AHIMA newsletter

Publication Date: April 2017

Monthly newsletter containing practical news for coding, reimbursement, and healthcare compliance

Author: Handlon, Lauree

Source: CodeWrite | AHIMA newsletter article

Publication Date: April 2017

In this edition of the "Coding and Quality Measures Brief," we will examine the technical specifications and the coding opportunities specific to outpatient measure eight (OP-8) for MRI lumbar spine for low back pain.


The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has....

Author: Bowman, Sue E

Source: Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes | Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: April 2017

For 2017, there are new CPT category III codes describing procedures involving cardiac contractility modulation systems and implantable counterpulsation ventricular assistance devices. These emerging technologies are currently undergoing clinical trials. These codes are scheduled to sunset....

Author: Reed, Andretta

Source: Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes | Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: April 2017

This article highlights pneumonia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) code selections and proper sequencing based on healthcare provider documentation, ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, and ICD-10-CM conventions. As additional coding guidance continues to....

Author: Huey, Kim

Source: Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes | Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: March 2017

The 2017 update to the CPT code set brings fewer new codes than in previous years but more guideline changes and clarifications, as well as revisions in code description. One Appendix is deleted and a new one is created. There are a total of 149 new CPT codes, 498 revised codes, and 81 del....

Author: Alakrawi, Zahraa M; Watzlaf, Valerie J.M.; Nemchik, Scot; Sheridan, Patty Thierry

Source: Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes | Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: March 2017

To quantify the impact of ICD-10-CM/PCS (ICD-10) on coding productivity, Ciox Health, in partnership with the University of Pittsburgh’s Department of Health Information Management, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, conducted a previous study published in the August 2016....

Author: AHIMA Staff

Source: AHIMA newsletter

Publication Date: March 2017

Monthly newsletter containing practical news for coding, reimbursement, and healthcare compliance

Author: AHIMA Long Term Care CDI Workgroup

Source: AHIMA Task Force

Publication Date: February 2017

These tips focus on the language and/or wording that will garner greater details and specificity of the coded data for a given diagnosis, condition, and disease. In addition to the focus on coded data, these tips also include information to reflect quality care, frequency of documentation requirements, and documentation sources. These tips are meant to provide guidance in recognizing gaps in the clinical documentation.

Author: Gibbs, Sally

Source: Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes | Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: February 2017

How does a healthcare system with 24 hospitals, 40 physician offices, and 50 free-standing ambulatory surgery centers that spans from the entire state of California to just over the Oregon border continue to keep their coding and billing staff current with the latest coding guidelines and....

Author: Comfort, Angie

Source: Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes | Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: February 2017

As last year drew to a close, facilities began the looming task of reviewing the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) final rule to ensure their chargemaster and systems were up-to-date with the 2017 changes. The final rule for calendar year (CY) 2017 was released on Novem....

Author: AHIMA Staff

Source: AHIMA newsletter

Publication Date: February 2017

Monthly newsletter containing practical news for coding, reimbursement, and healthcare compliance

Author: Al-Hablani, Bader

Source: Perspectives in Health Information Management

Publication Date: January 2017

Abstract


Objective: The objective of this study is to discuss and analyze the use of automated SNOMED CT clinical coding in clinical decision support systems (CDSSs) for preventive care. The central question that this study seeks to answer is whether the utilization of SNOMED CT i....

Author: Foley, Dianna

Source: AHIMA newsletter article | CodeWrite

Publication Date: January 2017

The 2017 Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) coding will involve a change regarding moderate (conscious) sedation. Under conscious sedation, patients can purposefully respond to verbal commands. Airway or cardiovascular support is not required, and the patient's own breathing is sufficie....

Author: Drake, Suzanne P

Source: AHIMA newsletter article | CodeWrite

Publication Date: January 2017

This "Coding and Quality Measures Brief" will examine the technical specifications and the coding opportunities specific to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Patient Safety Indicator 11 (PSI 11) for Postoperative Respiratory Failure Rate.


This information....

Author: AHIMA Staff

Source: AHIMA newsletter

Publication Date: January 2017

Monthly newsletter containing practical news for coding, reimbursement, and healthcare compliance