ACDIS update: ACDIS participates in joint statement on OIG severe malnutrition report

In conjunction with The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (Academy), the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN), and the American Society for Nutrition (ASN), ACDIS recently collaborated on a joint statement in response to the Office of Inspector General (OIG) report, Hospitals Overbilled Medicare $1 Billion by Incorrectly Assigning Severe Malnutrition Diagnosis Codes to Inpatient Hospital Claims.

From that joint statement:

The [Academy, ASPEN, ACDIS, and ASN] continue to be concerned about the lack of transparency around criteria used by both the OIG and CMS auditors in reviewing such claims. Despite efforts, CMS still has been unable to provide us with written policies and procedures for what they consider to be correct criteria for diagnosis and coding of severe malnutrition. Anecdotal reports from our members and review of some CMS auditor reports raise concerns about inappropriate use of criteria such as serum albumin.

To read the statement in its entirety, click here.

In related news, ACDIS will be hosting a representative from the OIG on the September 9 episode of the ACDIS Podcast, to discuss the OIG report on malnutrition. To register for the Podcast and listen live, click here. You can also listen on the go via Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or Spotify, or on the on-demand on the ACDIS website.