by Allen Frady, RN-BSN, CCDS, CCS, CRC
More than a decade ago, I received a claim from patient financial services with a denial due to an “incorrect code.” The patient was pre-certified through the insurance company for a femoral popliteal bypass graft. We correctly coded the...Read More »
by Trey La Charité, MD, FACP, SFHM, CCS, CCDS
Like it or not, provider documentation is the foundation for everything done in medicine. Without it, nothing is accomplished. As healthcare reform progresses (and hospital reimbursement shrinks), the need for excellent provider...Read More »
People are human. This goes for clinicians, coders, and for CDI personnel. Mistakes happen. If left unchecked, however, mistakes become habits. Effective CDI programs understand this and take appropriate steps to ensure occasional...Read More »
“DRG validation can mean many things in many different arenas,” Autumn Reiter, RN, BSN, CCDS, CDIP, CCS, director of CDI staffing services at TrustHCS, said on the January 3 episode of ACDIS Radio, “New approaches in DRG validation.” “Essentially, it’s ensuring a correct final...Read More »
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 »
Q: According to Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, uncertain diagnoses should be documented at the time of discharge. If a consultant documents an uncertain diagnosis in the final or last progress note and no discharge...Read More »
As the CDI profession matures, programs are instituting career ladders to create advanced positions for seasoned CDI professionals looking for a change in their responsibilities. Whether it be the addition of a second–level reviewer, an educator, or even an informaticist, the options for CDI...Read More »
