It’s not enough to know whether heart failure is systolic or diastolic. Congestive heart failure (CHF), for example, isn’t an inherent component of systolic and diastolic heart failure, according to Coding Clinic, fourth quarter 2004. That means CHF, when present, requires a second code...Read More »
Q: What should physicians know now about the level of specificity they’ll be required to document once ICD-10 takes effect? We’re concerned about a potential swell in the number of queries if we don’t begin to address documentation...Read More »
If a coder reviews the chart of a patient in the emergency department (ED) or intensive care unit with documented symptoms, such as fever (or low temperature), elevated white cell count (or low white cell count), altered mental status, evidence of an...Read More »
There may be hope for hospitals carefully watching the proposed IPPS rule, praying for some amelioration of the suggested 2.9% documentation and coding adjustment (DCA) it included. On July 12, 242 members of Congress...Read More »
A special edition MLN Matters article released last week points to two common reasons for RAC claims denials—lack of timely submission of requested documentation and lack of documentation supporting medical...Read More »
A recent ACDIS survey available to members shows that most CDI programs require specialists to conduct between eight to 12 new reviews per day per staff member and between 12–20 re-reviews daily.
Assessment of clinical measures associated with end-of-life treatment could actually improve care of the dying, according to a release regarding a study published recently in the Archive of Internal Medicine.
Study leaders abstracted the records of nearly 500 individuals who had...Read More »
Q: I am very confused about the diagnosis of acute renal injury/acute renal failure. I know that one of the issues is the lack of agreed upon definition of AKI/renal failure and my readings certainly have reinforced this. So, I have the...Read More »
