Those who’ve worked in CDI or healthcare compliance for any length of time typically prepare themselves for the annual October release of the OIG's Work Plan. The thousand-plus-page document outlines OIG...Read More »
What’s a CDI specialist to do when queries go answered? What if a physician has a backlog of unanswered queries from three weeks prior? Or what if a physician patently refuses to answer queries and says “I don’t have time” or “it’s all about the money”?
Every CDI program needs to respond to certain common physician criticisms and questions: everything from physician complaints about their lack of time to answer queries, to the accusation that CDI is only about the money.
Veteran CDI professionals often develop rote responses to these...Read More »
Everyone working in CDI knows that the job would be much easier without physician pushback—but that’s an unrealistic pipe dream, it seems. Year after year, ACDIS’ surveys turn up the same results: The number one challenge for CDI programs is always physician engagement.
Outpatient has been the buzzword in CDI circles for some time now, leading to increased resources for the expansion (such as the first annual ACDIS Symposium: Outpatient CDI, the Outpatient CDI Pocket Guide: Focusing on HCCs, and First Steps in Outpatient CDI: Tips and Tools for...Read More »
by Trey La Charité, MD, FACP, SFHM, CCS, CCDS
In 2015, I wrote 44 appeal letters challenging DRG validation/coding denials. In 2016, I wrote 88 appeal letters. Last year, I penned 159. We already received more than 40 DRG validation denials in January of this year. Does this trend...Read More »
I watch way too much television. Usually, I’m sitting with the television on and reading, surfing the net, shopping, and when something catches my ear, I focus on the screen. My husband often chooses a channel that provides...Read More »
