On December 7, CMS published a final rule in the Federal Register that will give qualified organizations such as employers and consumer groups access to data to help them identify high quality healthcare providers or create online tools to help consumers make educated healthcare choices...Read More »
Most of the cases that HIM professionals code are straightforward; some are more difficult, and a few just drive them crazy. Consider the benefits of a departmental “coding conference,” which brings the HIM staff, CDI specialists, and other interested persons together on a regular basis to...Read More »
While CDI and coding staff members are well versed in assigning a principal diagnosis, they are often less adept at incorporating the concept of medical necessity into their practices, says Glenn Krauss, BBA, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, CPUR, C-CDI, CCDS. Coders tend to simply code what'...Read More »
Uninsured patients spend less time in the hospital than insured patients, while Medicare patients stay hospitalized longer than any, according to a study published in the December issue of Annals of Family Medicine. The...Read More »
Hospitals reported syncope and collapse (MS-DRG 312) as the top MS-DRG with respect to financial impact due to denials for lack of medical necessity and incorrect coding, according to previously released RACTrac data from the...Read More »
Late effects are considered to be the residual effects after the acute phase of an illness, disease, or injury. There is no time limit as to when a late effect can manifest itself. It can occur directly after the disease or even years...Read More »
