“Publicly marketed hospital rating systems of surgical quality such as the US News & World Report ‘America's Best Hospitals’ and HealthGrades ‘Best Hospitals’… ratings fail to identify other high-volume hospitals of equal quality,”...Read More »
Recovery Audit Contractors (RAC) reported doubled its recovery amounts since last quarter—$167 million in denials during the first quarter of 2011 up from $86 million reported during the last quarter of 2010,...Read More »
Legible. Complete. Dated, timed, signed, and authenticated. That's what section 482.24 of the Medicare Conditions of Participation requires of your medical records.
But many hospitals struggle to achieve compliance in this area. And falling short doesn't just affect quality and...Read More »
It seems to be hard to believe, but we’re approaching the two-year anniversary of the launch of the certified clinical documentation specialist (CCDS) certification. We have made some significant strides in that time and the CCDS is now gaining a solid foothold in the industry. Many employers...Read More »
A mandate of the Affordable Care Act, CMS’ value-based purchasing (VBP) program will begin in fiscal year 2013, applicable to discharges occurring as of October 1, 2012, according to the program final rule and...Read More »
Nearly 500 healthcare quality professionals indicated that staffing shortages could be the biggest issue facing quality initiatives in the US, according to a poll from the American Society for Quality (ASQ) released May 3.
Improper coding of MS-DRG 813 (coagulation disorders), reporting an extensive operating room procedure unrelated to principal diagnosis (MS-DRGs 981,982,983, formerly DRG 468), and reporting the wrong diagnosis code or wrong principal diagnosis code for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease...Read More »