Connolly Healthcare, CMS’ recovery audit contractor (RAC) for Region C, announced its first targets for complex review in December 2009. Connolly’s list of 24 DRGs is the first published, so it provides a good preview of what other RACs may target. The reviews were expected to begin in January...Read More »
In 2009, HCPro's Revenue Cycle Institute conducted an in-depth study on recovery audit contractor (RAC) preparedness among healthcare providers. It garnered 717 responses from all four RAC jurisdictions. Respondents hailed from healthcare providers of various sizes: 25% came from hospitals with...Read More »
I’ve received a few phone calls lately from people interested in the CDI profession. They want to know: Who are CDI specialists? Are they qualified to become one? It’s a difficult question to answer. Many hospitals require an RN licensure. Others use nurses in combination with HIM/coding...Read More »
An 89-year-old female is admitted to the hospital from home with a ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). She also has stage 3 chronic kidney disease and refuses catheterization due to risk of dialysis. The patient enacts her living will. She is given appropriate medical therapy,...Read More »
Many CDI specialists struggle with the complication and comorbitity (CC) and major CC (MCC) lists due to their length, complexity, and specific documentation requirements. William Haik, MD, FCCP, director of DRG Review, Inc., in Fort Walton Beach, FL, spoke during the July 23,...Read More »
In less than a year, ACDIS networking groups have grown from one or two in key locations to more than 25 local chapters across the country. They range in formality and official affiliation but share in their mission to bring quality CDI practices to their facilities and share lessons learned...Read More »
The attached is a supplement to the January 2010 issue of CDI Journal. It provides important updates every CDI specialist should know regarding new guidance issued in AHA Coding Clinic for ICD-9-CM, fourth quarter 2009. The source for the article is James Kennedy, MD, CCS, and...Read More »
