CDI Strategies - Volume 5, Issue 14

Tip: Query to clarify use of the term ’history’

July 7, 2011
Physician Queries, Clinical & Coding

Many cases exist in which CDI specialists need to query physicians to clarify the use of the term “history.” Consider the following situation in which a physician admits a patient with pyelonephritis. The past history states right lower lobe lung carcinoma proximal lesion. ...Read More »
CDI Strategies - Volume 5, Issue 14

Column: Defining 'failed' CDI programs

July 7, 2011
CDI Management

I previously started a conversation on CDI Talk entitled “Failed Programs,” hoping there might be someone willing to divulge an account of how and why their program “failed,” perhaps even how they were able to “save” or “reinvent” it. While the post generated quite a bit of conversation (there...Read More »
CDI Strategies - Volume 5, Issue 14

Q&A: Determine documentation difference between skin graft and debridement

July 7, 2011
Ask ACDIS

Q:  I have been trying to determine whether a skin graft includes debridement. Based on what I have read in the Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting and ...Read More »
CDI Blog - Volume 5, Issue 13

Guest Post: Examine guidelines for medical necessity documentation needs

April 17, 2012
ACDIS Guidance, Denials & Appeals, Quality & Regulatory

by Glenn Krauss, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, CPUR, C-CDI, CCDS

Because most CMS local and national coverage determinations governing medical necessity and limitations of coverage center around outpatient procedures (e.g., lesion removals, cataract surgeries, and blepharoplasty repairs),...Read More »
CDI Strategies - Volume 5, Issue 13

News: ACDIS, AHA comment to CMS on FY 2012 IPPS final rule

June 23, 2011
News

ACDIS submitted comments to CMS regarding recent updates to the ICD-9-CM codes not included in the FY 2012 IPPS rule. You can view the codes on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
CDI Strategies - Volume 5, Issue 13

News: NQF releases update on reportable events list

June 23, 2011
News

In 2002 the National Quality Forum (NQF) created its report Serious Reportable Events in Healthcare. The report identified 27 adverse events that should never occur in hospitals. In 2006, the NQF added one item to the list.

Now, the agency has ratified an updated list of 29...Read More »
CDI Strategies - Volume 5, Issue 13

News: JATA survey shows additional education needed to meet ICD-10 implementation needs

June 23, 2011
News

J.A. Thomas and Associates (JATA) says nearly a quarter of healthcare facilities are not “currently taking steps toward ICD-10 transition” according to survey results released earlier this month. The survey garnered...Read More »
CDI Strategies - Volume 5, Issue 13

Tip: Oregon QIO posts physician query policy

June 23, 2011
Physician Queries, Quality & Regulatory

While the bulk of discussion regarding how to ethically and responsibly submit queries to physicians revolves around releases from the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) releases, don’t discount advice from other potential sources. For example,...Read More »

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