Author: Becker, Joanne

Source: Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes

Publication Date: February 2003

Sometimes starting small can mean big results. A few months ago, I joined Iowa’s regional HIPAA Strategic National Implementation Process (SNIP) workgroup. The goal of local and regional SNIP workgroups is to create as much collaboration as possible to ensure compliance by all covered ent....

Author: Casey, Patricia E.; Zeisset, Ann M.

Source: Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes

Publication Date: February 2003

Are you up to date with the latest revisions to the heart failure codes? A revision of the heart failure codes, effective October 1, 2002, was originally presented at the May 2001 ICD-9-CM Coordination and Maintenance Committee meeting. At that meeting, representatives from Kaiser Permanente e....

Author: Brouch, Kathy L.

Source: Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes

Publication Date: January 2003

For more information on physician queries, see the "Developing a Physician Query Process" practice brief in the October 2001 Journal of AHIMA and in the FORE Library: HIM Body of Knowledge in the Communities of Practice at www.ahima.org.
Is obtaining an answer to a coding question a daunting t....

Author: O'Hara, Karen

Source: Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes

Publication Date: January 2003

The 2003 Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) includes approximately 428 code changes, so as always, it is important to stay current. To assist you in using the new edition, the following provides a brief summary of the changes for 2003. The complete list of changes can be found in Appendix B....

Author: Zeisset, Ann M.

Source: Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes

Publication Date: November 2002

The ICD-9-CM coding changes and DRG changes for fiscal year 2003 include 106 new diagnosis codes, 41 new V codes, 16 new E codes, 25 new procedure codes, and 19 invalid diagnosis codes. Released in the August 1, 2002, Federal Register, these changes went into effect October 1, 2002, with disch....

Author: Choate, Dana M.; Rudd, Jessica

Source: Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes

Publication Date: November 2002

Faced with a severe coder shortage, Baylor University Medical Center of Dallas, TX, decided to do something radically different. With the support of administration and financial backing of the center, we developed the Coding Education Program (CEP).

The program targets existing empl....

Author: Prophet, Sue

Source: Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes

Publication Date: October 2002

The ICD-9-CM Coordination and Maintenance Committee, cosponsored by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), met on April 18-19, 2002, in Baltimore, MD. Donna Pickett, RHIA, from NCHS, and Patricia Brooks, RHIA, from CMS, co-....

Author: Kostick, Karen M.

Source: Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes

Publication Date: October 2002

Since 1997, AHIMA has offered a Certified Coding Specialist--Physician-based credential (CCS-P) for HIM professionals who are employed in the physician setting. In recent interviews, an office manager, coding manager, coding coordinator, and two physician-based consultants shared their coding....

Author: Stanfill, Mary H

Source: Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes

Publication Date: September 2002

Have you ever had a physician ask if you can put the encounter form on her hand-held computer? Or maybe the physicians in your medical group have been offered free personal digital assistants (PDAs) if they use a certain application and they want you to find out if these devices can expedite c....

Author: Scichilone, Rita A

Source: Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes

Publication Date: July 2002

The future of coding systems in healthcare transactions is brighter than many might think. Because of the rapid changes in healthcare services, technology, and the industry as a whole, there are more coding systems emerging that may affect the work of clinical coding professionals in the futur....