Everyone likes to think physicians are infallible (especially physicians), but accidents do happen, even during surgery. In ICD-9-CM, we can choose between two possible codes for a hemorrhage (998.11...
Ancillary department staff may think they don’t need ICD-10 training, but they’re wrong. Lori Purcell, RHIA, CCS, and Kathy DeVault, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, offer tips for preparing ancillary department staff for ICD-10-CM.
ICD-10-CM coding for diabetes mellitus will look very different from the ICD-9-CM coding . Shelley C. Safian, PhD, CCS-P, CPC-H, CPC-I, AHIMA-Approved ICD-10-CM/PCS Trainer, explains what coders need to know to code diabetes in ICD-10-CM.
The upcoming transition to ICD-10 is a great opportunity to build relationships with physicians. Kathy DeVault, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, Mark N. Dominesey, MBA, RN, CCDS, CDIP, HIT Pro-CP, and Ann Barta, MSA, RHIA, reveal how coders and clinicians can educate each other to make the ICD-10 transition smoother.
Ah, the Fourth of July, picnics, parades, and pryotechnics. What could be better? Well, not having your family and friends end up at Fix ‘Em Up Clinic the next day would be a good start. Alas,...
Coders will see plenty of changes when they start using ICD-10-CM codes. Many codes require more specific information, such as laterality, stage, or encounter.
Curious to know what changes the four cooperating parties made to the ICD-10-CM codes for 2014? You can now find out by downloading the 2014 ICD-10-CM codes from the Centers for Disease Control and...
HHS and the American Medical Association (AMA) seem to be playing a game of chicken when it comes to ICD-10 implementation. Last year, HHS swerved and the implementation date was moved from October 1...
Our patient Betsy returned to Stitch ‘Em Up Hospital today after suffering a ruptured brain aneurysm. Apparently, the previous treatment to restrict blood flow to the aneurysm was unsuccessful. So Dr...
The ideal approach to ICD-10-CM/PCS preparation is capitalizing on the synergistic partnership between clinical documentation improvement and coding professionals. Glenn Krauss, BBA, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, CPUR, C-CDI, CCDS, discusses how organizations can use this dynamic to improve preparations for ICD-10.
Hello Mother, hello Father, Greetings from Camp Murky Water! Camp is very entertaining and they say we’ll have some fun if it stops raining. That better be soon. I just saw a flotilla of ducks take...
CMS released three FAQs about ICD-10 billing, including how to bill encounters that cross the ICD-10 implementation date. That’s October 1, 2014 in case you forgot. And a claim cannot contain both...
Clinical documentation improvement (CDI) initiatives often focus on inpatient documentation to ensure that documentation accurately reflects patient severity. Laura Legg, RHIT, CCS, explains how CDI efforts can also benefit outpatient coding.
In ICD-10-CM, the eyes get their own chapter of codes. No more sharing with the ears, hear that? One of the first things you’ll notice in the chapter on diseases of the eyes is the significant...
Coders may be surprised by the expansion and reorganization of codes for diabetes in ICD-10-CM. Pamela Rand, RD, LDN, Bonnie S. Cassidy, MPA, RHIA, FAHIMA, FHIMSS, and Laura Legg, RHIT, CCS, discuss the differences between coding diabetes in ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM.
Any ICD-10-CM/PCS to-do list wouldn’t be complete without the task of reviewing and revising query templates. Cheryl Robbins, RHIT, CCS, Gloryanne Bryant, RHIA, CCS, CDIP, CCDS, and Sandra L. Macica, MS, RHIA, CCS, provide tips for updating queries for ICD-10.
Everyone is afraid of something. Some people are terrified of spiders. For others, the mere sight of a snake is enough to send them running in the other direction and screaming at the top of their...
More than 8% of the population in the United States (i.e., 25.8 million children and adults) has some form of diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association. In 2007, diabetes was listed as the underlying cause on 71,382 death certificates. It was a contributing factor on an additional 160,022 death certificates.
ICD-10 implementation challenges will vary from organization to organization, depending on size, setting, and patient mix. Factor in physician buy-in and budget woes, and implementation seems overwhelming.
Memorial Day kicked off the summer season and today we are seeing the first summer casualties here at the Fix ‘Em Up Clinic. Apparently not everyone’s holiday celebration went off without a hitch...
