Author: Wilkinson, Dianne

Source: Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes

Publication Date: March 2008

According to the Partnership for Prevention—a program-based organization of businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies—“the U.S. health care system suffers a quality deficit in part because too many patients do not get the effective preventive care they need when they ne....

Author: Malone, Sue M.

Source: Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes

Publication Date: February 2008

From 2006 to 2007, the Colorado Foundation for Medical Care (CFMC), the quality improvement organization (QIO) for Colorado, led a project to reduce the outpatient billed as inpatient billing error rate in five area hospitals. This article discusses the findings from the project, as well as be....

Author: Jorwic, Therese M

Source: Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes

Publication Date: February 2008

The new CPT codes took effect January 1, 2008. Changes include 244 additions, 314 revisions, and 50 deletions. A comprehensive list of changes can be found in appendix B of the CPT book. Highlights of the changes by section are outlined here.
Evaluation and Management

A revised....

Author: McCullough, Dan

Source: Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes

Publication Date: January 2008

Coding debridement procedures can be difficult-even for the most experienced coding professional. Recent studies have documented inappropriate coding of debridement procedures that have resulted in millions of dollars in overpayments.

This article offers guidance on the app....

Author: Blevins, Ida K.

Source: Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes

Publication Date: January 2008

The long-anticipated update to the Home Health Prospective Payment System (PPS), released in the August 29, 2007, Federal Register, goes into effect January 1, 2008. The final rule encompasses a wide range of changes for home health agencies.
An Overview of the Final Rule
....

Author: Bryant, Gloryanne H.

Source: Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes | Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: November 2007

This year the Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued two reports relating to wound care services and Medicare payments. As the OIG has included wound care services as part of its 2007 work plan, coding and HIM professionals should review each report and re-assess their organization̵....

Author: D'Amato, Cheryl; Garrett, Gail S.; Johnson, Laurie M.

Source: Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes | Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: November 2007

The final rule for the fiscal year 2008 inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) went into effect October 1, 2007. The rule includes ICD-9-CM code changes, implementation of the new Medicare severity-adjusted (MS) DRG system, and a number of quality-related changes that affect how Medic....

Author: Blackford, Gwendolyn; Whitehouse, Rosanne

Source: Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes | Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: October 2007

Obtaining codeable clinical documentation at the point of care in a large teaching facility can be challenging. However, the HIM department at the University of Michigan Health System (UMHS) in Ann Arbor, MI, took on the task, implementing a clinical documentation improvement program (CDI....

Author: Bowman, Sue E

Source: Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes | Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: October 2007

Although the US continues to wait for an implementation date for ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS, HIM professionals should maintain a basic familiarity with these new coding systems. This article provides an overview of ICD-10-PCS.
The Structure of ICD-10-PCS

ICD-10-PCS....

Author: Schraffenberger, Lou Ann

Source: Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes | Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: September 2007

On October 1, 2007, the new ICD-9-CM diagnosis and procedure codes go into effect. This article summarizes these fiscal year 2008 changes.
Infant and Wound Botulism

Botulism is defined as neuromuscular poisoning from Clostridium botulinum toxin. Code 040.42 descr....