As of April 1, CMS will allow inpatient-only procedures to be included on inpatient claims similar to other outpatient services included in the three-day payment window, according to Transmittal 3217.Read More »
Q: A patient came to the emergency department with shortness of breath (SOB). The admitting diagnosis was possible acute coronary syndrome (ACS) due to SOB and elevated troponin levels. The ACS was ruled out. Elevated troponin levels were assumed to be due to chronic renal failure (CRF),...Read More »
One of the biggest documentation problem areas pertaining to patient safety indicators (PSI), particularly related to PSI 90, stems from accidental puncture and laceration (APL), says Katy Good, RN, BSN, CCDS, CCS, clinical documentation program coordinator at Flagstaff Medical Center in Arizona...Read More »
Sure, CDI practices might lead a hospital to the proverbial pot o’ gold hidden in the medical record, but in the early days of the profession, finding someone with the experience necessary to perform the role was akin to capturing a leprechaun. While there are a host of experienced CDI...Read More »
CDI specialists and their coder counterparts may pose hundreds-even thousands-of queries throughout their careers. One thing remains constant; there's always room for improvement. How can CDI staff and coders write more effective queries and essentially get more bang for their buck? A number of...Read More »
With dozens of local chapters meeting all across the country it may come as no surprise that leaders have sprung forward with more than a dozen events in March and April. For additional information, visit the local chapter page on the...Read More »
In January, CMS sent the Stage 3 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to the Office of Management and Budget, which is the final stop for proposed rules that must be federally reviewed prior to their release. CMS representatives...Read More »
Even as CDI programs begin to expand their focus to areas addressed under the Value-Based Purchasing program such as the Hospital Readmission Reduction Program (HRRP), two U.S....Read More »