Q: Is it appropriate to code the type of congestive heart failure (CHF) based on the echocardiogram (echo) results? Coding Clinic, Third Quarter, 2014, p. 5, discusses the use of imaging reports for increased specificity. It states that it is appropriate to use imaging...Read More »
The Wisconsin ACDIS Chapter met Saturday, October 15, at Wheaton Franciscan in Wauwatosa and featured a full day of speakers and networking. The presentations were all given by members of the chapter and were well-received by attendees, who came from across Wisconsin and neighboring states....Read More »
Editor’s Note: The ACDIS Conference is only a little over two months away. Over the coming weeks, we’ll take some time to introduce members to a few of this year’s speakers. ...Read More »
As the coordinator for the Certified Clinical Documentation Specialist (CCDS) exam program, lots of folks ask me for CCDS exam prep tips. But I’m not a CDI professional—I don’t even play one on television—so I asked our CDI Education Director and Boot Camp...Read More »
Physician payment rates will increase 0.24% for 2017 compared to 2016, according to the 2017 Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule, released by CMS on November 3. This increase comes after application of the...Read More »
When coders can rely on the written diagnosis statement from a provider, it may negate all clinical documentation improvement efforts, according to an issue brief released by the Workgroup for...Read More »
A research brief from the University of Michigan's Center for Healthcare Research & Transformation (CHRT) suggests that hospital rankings, ostensibly designed to enlighten healthcare consumers, have morphed into ...Read More »
Q: If a complication is clearly documented as unavoidable or due to a complex situation, should it be coded even if an intervention was done to correct it? My concern is if a complication is unavoidable and has been documented as such, is there a good enough reason to not code...Read More »