Author: Giannangelo, Kathy

Source: Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes

Publication Date: October 2004

Coding professionals in acute care hospitals know that ICD-9-CM code modifications are implemented every October 1. This year, however, changes taking place will have far-reaching effects. The reason? The diagnosis portion of ICD-9-CM named under HIPAA has become the standard code set for repo....

Author: Burgess, Sheila

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

Publication Date: October 2015

The dawn of October also welcomes the official go-live date for ICD-10-CM/PCS—meaning there is absolutely no time left to waste in preparing for the additional documentation requirements necessary for successful ICD-10 implementation. Over the past several years, the healthcare industry h....

Author: Zeisset, Ann M.

Source: Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes

Publication Date: April 2000

Implementing the processes for CPT modifier usage in the outpatient hospital setting has been a topic on everyone's "to do" list since HCFA announced the change. There are many variables in executing this change, such as updating or changing computer systems, training staff, and developing chan....

Author: Huey, Kim

Source: Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes

Publication Date: May 2013

Though it may seem contrary to popular opinion, electronic health record (EHR) products will make providers' coders more necessary and valuable than ever. Physicians who trust only EHR and computer-assisted coding software to choose the codes they bill, without any training or oversight, a....

Author: Endicott, Melanie; Fletcher, Kathi

Source: Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes

Publication Date: October 2013

A history of attempts to classify mental illness dates back to the 1840 US census, when the government included an entry to record the frequency of “insanity” in a family. This early record was strictly statistical in nature. In 1948—following World War II—the World....

Author: Albaum-Feinstein, Andrea L.

Source: Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes

Publication Date: May 2000

Because coding for professional services in mental health settings requires an understanding of numerous and complex treatment options and settings, a periodic review of Physicians Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) is essential. For many mental healthcare patients, a psychiatrist pr....

Author: Scichilone, Rita A

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

Publication Date: March 2007

Coding professionals who work for ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) should be aware of payment changes effective in 2007 and 2008. The changes seek to coordinate ASC payments with hospital outpatient departments at a rate intended to maintain neutrality between site-of-service choices for patie....

Author: Thomas, John R

Source: Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes

Publication Date: May 2009

Each year healthcare adds programs, initiatives, and regulations to improve transparency and create efficiency. Unfortunately, many, if not all, add further complication, leading to higher CPT rejects. To effectively control the increasing time pressure of identifying, measuring, and repai....

Author: Bodnar, Cathy; Willard, Dianne

Source: Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes

Publication Date: April 2009

The key to ensuring coding compliance in the ever-changing world of healthcare is to have a solid foundation. This includes ensuring effective processes throughout all departments in the organization.

Coding managers can visualize each process that contributes to correct coding as a....

Author: Johnston, Gloria

Source: Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes

Publication Date: September 2013

Although the process of dual coding—assigning both ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM/PCS codes at the time of coding—is one way to compare equivalence of the codes, it is too resource-intensive to be practical for every instance where both codes are needed. ICD data mapping can supplement....