ACDIS update: Full ACDIS Code of Ethics PDF available

Until recently, if you downloaded the PDF version of the ACDIS Code of Ethics, you would be getting a copy of values and ethical principles outlined in the Code alone. However, ACDIS also has a number of case examples to accompany each value and principle that weren’t included in the PDF. 

As of now, though, the ACDIS Code of Ethics PDF now includes all the case examples found on the website so you can have the whole thing downloaded and printed for your reference.

For example, ethical principle #4 states that CDI professionals shall “support the reporting of all healthcare data elements required for external reporting purposes completely and accurately, in accordance with regulatory and documentation standards and requirements and applicable official coding conventions, rules, and guidelines.” Ethical principle #7 says that CDI professionals shall facilitate accurate, complete, and consistent clinical documentation within the health record to support coding and reporting of high-quality healthcare data.”

Using the above two principals, one of the case examples asks, “Given the expansion of Medicare Advantage programs and the use of HCC capture in identification of expected financial expenditure for patient care, CDI programs are now focusing on MCC, CC, and HCC capture. Is there an ethical concern related to this program focus?”

By applying the two principals, CDI professionals can come to this answer:

There is no compliance concern related to this practice. Given that the initial scope of most CDI programs is to focus on the highest-impact populations (i.e., those with associated financial impact), and given the focus of CMS on the proper coding and reimbursement of MS-DRG payers, this practice may be practical and appropriate. Best practice is to ensure that the long-term plan for a CDI department is to expand from a purely financial focus to overall accuracy of all provider documentation, regardless of whether reimbursement is affected, within the identified departmental and organizational scope. Regardless of the focus of its department, in line with the Code of Ethics, CDI staff should participate in the creation of compliant query processes and practices to ensure that the practice is compliant with current AHIMA-ACDIS physician query practice briefs, guidelines noted by the Cooperating Parties, CPT rules established by the AMA, and any other official coding rules and guidelines established for use with mandated standard code sets.

To download the updated Code of Ethics PDF, click here.