CDI Strategies - Volume 5, Issue 27

News: CMS to make more performance measurement data available to the public

December 22, 2011
News, Quality & Regulatory

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 »
CDI Strategies - Volume 5, Issue 27

Tip: Consider the benefits of inter-departmental coding conferences with ICD-10 on the horizon

December 22, 2011
Clinical & Coding

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 »
CDI Strategies - Volume 5, Issue 27

Q&A: ’Suggestive’ documentation could require clarification

December 22, 2011
Ask ACDIS

Q:Does documentation such as “suggestive of” or “suspicious of” qualify as uncertain...Read More »
CDI Blog - Volume 5, Issue 26

Exploring records for medical necessity

June 25, 2012
Quality & Regulatory, Denials & Appeals

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 »
CDI Strategies - Volume 5, Issue 26

News: Ability to pay drives hospital length of stay

December 8, 2011
News

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 »
CDI Strategies - Volume 5, Issue 26

News: Carefully examine syncope and collapse denials

December 8, 2011
News

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 »
CDI Strategies - Volume 5, Issue 26

Tip: Note disconnect between late effect terminologies in guidelines vs. indices

December 8, 2011
Clinical & Coding

By Jennifer Avery, CCS, CPC, CPC-H, CPC-I

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 »
CDI Blog - Volume 5, Issue 25

Guest Post: Navigating the maze: A few parable reminders for embracing change

June 21, 2012
ACDIS Guidance, CDI Expansion

by Karen Newhouser, RN, BSN, CCM, CCDS

In this age of instantaneous electronic communication, the speed of change is accelerating.

Change brings stress. Not only are we feeling the pressures of a wavering economic situation both here and abroad, we are feeling the...Read More »

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