Author: Youmans, Karen; Scichilone, Rita A; Dougherty, Michelle

Source: Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes

Publication Date: February 2001

In the October 2000 Journal of AHIMA, we outlined the new home health care prospective payment system (PPS).1 Coding professionals working with home health providers have learned new terms and additional guidelines for reporting. However, confusion remains concerning code assignments, because s....

Author: Youmans, Karen

Source: Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes

Publication Date: January 2001

FRGs, RIC, CMGs, FIM, MDS-PAC, IRF, RPPS, UDSMR...What do these letters mean? They are all part of the inpatient rehabilitation prospective payment system (RPPS). This article will explain the history and key pieces of this system.

A Brief History of PPS

As we know,....

Author: Youmans, Karen

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: March 2004

HIM plays an integral role in an organization’s revenue cycle. That means health information managers have a role to play in revenue cycle management.
Is the following scenario familiar? The CEO is complaining about accounts receivable (AR) climbing to $10 million. The coders a....

Author: Youmans, Karen

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: September 2019

By Karen Youmans, MPA, RHIA, CCS, and Vanessa Youmans, MA, RHIA, CCS, CPC


As healthcare organizations strive for continuous efficiency and sustainability, mergers and acquisitions (M&A)among diverse medical facilities provides organizations new opportunities to reduce costs an....

Author: Yokubaitis, Pamela R.

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: September 2003

Sanctions under the HIPAA regulations mean serious financial consequences for healthcare professionals who release protected health information to others without following proper disclosure protocols. But HIM professionals should not be motivated by fear of financial consequences alone. Ou....

Author: Yoder, Lois M.

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: January 2000

You may want to consider a focused review of how your practice assigns CPT modifier -25, "a significant, separately identifiable Evaluation & Management (E&M) service by the same physician on the same day of the procedure or other service."1 The Health Care Financing Admini....

Author: Yoder, Lois M.

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: June 1999

Good documentation is a must in all settings—but long term care faces some special problems. Improving a long term care documentation program takes education, awareness, vigilance, and attention to detail. Here are some strategies.
It's a fact—when patient loads are hig....

Author: Yaniszewski, Linda

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: January 2011

We all know the state of the economy. Cutting costs has been a mantra in healthcare for years, but recent pressures have been more demanding than ever.

In HIM, the downward pressures in cost conflict with the upward forces in workload. Additional tasks related to recovery audits, IC....

Author: Yaggie, Elaine

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: May 2001

Whether you're new to the HIM profession or a long-time expert, release of information presents perennial challenges-especially in light of HIPAA. This article brings you the basics and the latest updates.
Release of health information has been a hot topic for years. Today, more....

Author: Wright, Amy

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: January 2003

“If you or a loved one has been the victim of nursing home abuse, please call for a free consultation.” This refrain is familiar to Floridians and is quickly moving to other states where laws allow large punitive or damage awards for malpractice lawsuits.


Long-term c....