Author: AHIMA Advocacy and Policy Team

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: March 2014

Efforts from the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) in the area of patient-generated health data began in 2011. With mobile health on the rise and the “meaningful use” EHR Incentive Program progressing throughout the US healthcare system, these efforts continue to grow in importance to the future of healthcare and health information.

Author: AHIMA

Source: AHIMA newsletter

Publication Date: March 2014

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

Author: Endicott, Melanie

Source: AHIMA blog post | Journal of AHIMA - website

Publication Date: February 12, 2014

February is American Heart Month, a time when the media is full of information geared toward awareness and prevention of heart disease. According to the Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics—2014 Update report from the American Heart Association:


The total number....

Author: AHIMA

Source: AHIMA newsletter

Publication Date: February 2014

emerging news, educational opportunities, practical information on coding with the new ICD-10-CM/PCS, and preparatory steps for implementation

Author: Endicott, Melanie

Source: Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes

Publication Date: February 2014

On January 1, 2014, the American Medical Association’s Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) was updated with additions, revisions, and deletions. In total, 175 new codes were added, 107 codes were revised, and 47 codes were deleted. In addition, editorial changes and coding guideline addi....

Author: AHIMA Advocacy and Policy Team

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: February 2014

The ICD-9-CM Coordination and Maintenance (C&M) Committee, a public forum on ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM/PCS code updates, met in September 2013. Meetings of this committee are co-chaired by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Coding proposals are presented at these meetings and the public is given the opportunity to comment. No final decisions regarding the adoption of code proposals are made at the meetings, but are made by the director of NCHS and the administrator of CMS.

Author: Bielby, Judy A

Source: CodeWrite | AHIMA newsletter article

Publication Date: February 2014

Objective

Many strains of influenza exist. The coding of influenza is becoming increasingly more specific and special coding guidelines exist for the reporting of influenza due to certain identified influenza viruses. The objective of this article is to examine the classificatio....

Author: Lojewski, Tedi

Source: CodeWrite | AHIMA newsletter article

Publication Date: February 2014

The National Uniform Billing Committee (NUBC) approved 15 new "readmission" patient discharge status codes (81–95) for use with inpatient discharges, effective October 1, 2013. Following up on the November 2013 CodeWrite article on this topic, this article looks at three common myths....

Author: Barta, Ann

Source: Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes

Publication Date: February 2014

Editor’s note: This is the ninth in a series of 10 articles discussing the 31 root operations of ICD-10-PCS.


In this article the Journal of AHIMA continues its 10-part Coding Notes series focusing on the 31 root operations in the Medical and Surgical section of ICD-10-PCS.....

Author: Eramo, Lisa A

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: February 2014

Even with different payment models, Canada and the US are both working to reform healthcare with pay-for-performance and quality measurement reforms. Though using a single payer system, Canada still struggles with many of the same US HIM concerns—coding accuracy, clinical documentation improvement, and proper reimbursement.