Now that the fiscal year (FY) 2018 IPPS Final Rule , the 2018 ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting , and Coding Clinic , Third Quarter 2017, have been released, let’s continue to process some interesting dynamics that warrant our consideration in documentation and coding compliance.
Appeal writing, like most things in a hospital, is a learned skill. Keeping things simple, both in terms of the arguments constructed and the language used in the letters themselves, will prevent you from creating horrific monstrosities out of minor gremlins.
If you have never participated in the ICD-10 Coordination and Maintenance proceedings, I highly suggest that you make it a goal for the future. I feel very maternal about some of the changes in ICD-10-CM which will be implemented October 1 because I participated in the formative meeting.
Root cause analysis of edits and an understanding of the relationship between the chargemaster and HIM/coding must be supported by overarching principles and best practices for edit management. Processes should be built around the timing of edits, applying edits across payers, and denial management.
As part of the October 2017 OPPS update, CMS will revise its policy on upper eyelid blepharoplasty and blepharoptosis repairs to allow physicians to receive payment for medically necessary blepharoptosis repairs when performed with cosmetic blepharoplasty.
The rise of clinical documentation improvement programs was a game changer for inpatient documentation. Now, the Quality Payment Program and similar systems are creating an opportunity for CDI to expand into the outpatient arena.
Atrial fibrillation is the most common type of heart arrhythmia in the U.S. Peggy Blue, MPH, CCS, CCS-P, CPC, CEMC, writes about common symptoms and treatments as well as proper ICD-10-CM coding for the condition.
Changes to the ICD-10-CM guidelines go into effect October 1, and coders will need to master knowledge of alterations to the general coding guidelines as well as new additions to guidelines on reporting diabetes, substance abuse, and myocardial infarctions. Note: To access this free article, make sure you first register here if you do not have a paid subscription.
Q: When it comes to conditions not related to hypertension, is it sufficient to attribute the diagnosis to another etiology or does the provider need to specifically document that the congestive heart failure (CHF) is not due to hypertension?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one of the Cooperating Parties responsible for the ICD-10-CM codes and guidelines, recently released a 2018 ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting errata. Slight changes were made to the guidelines for diabetes, hypertension, and principal diagnosis selection.
The amount of energy it takes to stay up-to-date on all the relevant payment and coding updates can be overwhelming, and one relatively new solution to this conundrum is the addition of a CDI educator—an individual dedicated to the educational needs of the CDI team and, in some cases, even physicians.
CMS recently released the 2018 IPPS final rule, which featured 2,916 of its now-annual ICD-10-PCS code additions, deletions, and revisions. This article reviews changes to ICD-10-PCS codes including the addition of short-term device characters and various table updates. Note: To access this free article, make sure you first register here if you do not have a paid subscription.
Q: Can you explain where in the clinical documentation it would be acceptable to report from for hierarchical condition category purposes? Would you code from history of present illness, past medical history, active problem list, or the assessment?
The 2018 updates to the CPT Manual released in early September feature a total of 314 code changes. New codes for E/M visits, genetic testing services, and endovascular repairs of aortic aneurysms are among the 172 additions.
Providers in some states may soon discover a big hurdle to clear when seeking to report a set of apheresis services after one Medicare administrative contractor tightened up physician supervision requirements.
Outpatient coding’s impact on reimbursement is evolving as healthcare continues its march toward value-based care. Kim Miller, CPC, CHC , and Kerri Wing, RN, MS , detail how coders play a central role in this shift.
With weeks remaining before the 2018 ICD-10-CM codes are implemented, it is important to review new codes—including myocardial infarction and ophthalmology codes--as well as changes to the coding guidelines and documentation requirements. Note: To access this free article, make sure you first register here if you do not have a paid subscription.
