Author: AHIMA Coding Team

Source: AHIMA newsletter

Publication Date: April 2003

Author: AHIMA Coding Team

Source: AHIMA Q and A

Publication Date: October 2002

What Documentation Source Is Used to Assign Diagnosis Codes for Outpatient Testing?
A completed medical record is the best source of diagnosis coding, without regard to setting. However, recently there was confusion concerning whether the reason for testing found on a requisition for the test....

Author: AHIMA Coding Team

Source: AHIMA Q and A

Publication Date: October 2002

What Is the NCCI and How Can I Get It?

The National Correct Coding Initiative is a huge set of edits to be applied to CPT codes for outpatient hospital claims in anticipation of the APC (Ambulatory Payment Classification) system. It was created by HCFA for use by carriers for processing P....

Author: AHIMA Coding Team

Source: AHIMA Q and A

Publication Date: October 2002

Where Can I Find the Regulations on Medicare Payment Methodologies Used in Non-acute Care Settings?


http://www.hcfa.gov/medicare/payment.htm is a site that provides links to pages on Medicare payment methodologies. On these pages you will find helpful information on various payment....

Author: AHIMA Coding Team

Source: AHIMA Q and A

Publication Date: October 2002

Where Can I Find Coding Guidelines for Use in Long Term Care or for Skilled Nursing Facility Reporting?

The official coding guidelines (see earlier question regarding who has the official guidelines for code assignment) are applicable in long term care. These guidelines have been develope....

Author: AHIMA Coding Team

Source: AHIMA Q and A

Publication Date: October 2002

Where Can I Find a Sample Job Description and the Standard Productivity Rate for a Coder?

Because of the wide variety of duties included in the tasks for a coding professional, AHIMA does not publish a standard job description and has found it impossible to create meaningful coding produ....

Author: AHIMA Coding Team

Source: AHIMA Q and A

Publication Date: October 2002

Who Has the Official Guidelines for Interpretation of Coding Guidelines or Appropriateness of Code Assignment?
For ICD-9-CM coding questions and guidelines we look to Cooperating Parties for ICD-9-CM. The National Center for Health Statistics and the Health Care Financing Administration receiv....

Author: AHIMA Coding Team

Source: AHIMA Q and A

Publication Date: October 2002

Where can I find the APC regulations?

The HCFA regulations are found in the November 13, 2000 Federal Register, Vol. 65. No.219 pp.67798-68005. Go to http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fedreg/a001113c.html, and scroll down to Health Care Financing Administration.

HCFA has impleme....

Author: AHIMA Coding Team

Source: AHIMA practice brief | Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: July 2001

This practice brief has been updated. See the latest version here. This version is made available for historical purposes only.