HCC coding success is hugely dependent on how accurately and timely data is captured. It also depends on the proper tracking of a patient’s care and condition over a certain period of time.
HCC Coding Infographic: Critical Element of Risk ManagementPYA, P.C.
Inaccurate HCC coding can lead to significant financial implications and variability in Risk Adjustment Factor scores. A new infographic released by PYA illustrates why coding accuracy is paramount and how implementing a best practice HCC “periodic checkup” is essential to the solution.
Are you:
Keeping up to date with your risk scoring?
Missing out on reimbursement premiums?
Ensuring accurate health profiles for your patients?
Proper risk adjustment is important, not only to ensure your patients' quality of care, but also to improve your bottom line. This CareOptimize presentation will take you from the basic tenets of risk adjustment to specific ways you can increase your risk scores and get the highest premium payments.
Presentation on how ICD-10 affects the new payments models (i.e. risk adjustment and value based purchasing) and clinical documentation and operational tips.
Risk adjustment documentation and coding overviewScott Quick
A collection of information from publicly available sources to help you:
• Know what Risk Adjustment (RA) is and why it is important to Medicare Advantage providers
• Understand Hierarchical Condition Categories (HCCs)
• Become familiar with Risk Adjustment Documentation and Coding Requirements
HCC coding success is hugely dependent on how accurately and timely data is captured. It also depends on the proper tracking of a patient’s care and condition over a certain period of time.
HCC Coding Infographic: Critical Element of Risk ManagementPYA, P.C.
Inaccurate HCC coding can lead to significant financial implications and variability in Risk Adjustment Factor scores. A new infographic released by PYA illustrates why coding accuracy is paramount and how implementing a best practice HCC “periodic checkup” is essential to the solution.
Are you:
Keeping up to date with your risk scoring?
Missing out on reimbursement premiums?
Ensuring accurate health profiles for your patients?
Proper risk adjustment is important, not only to ensure your patients' quality of care, but also to improve your bottom line. This CareOptimize presentation will take you from the basic tenets of risk adjustment to specific ways you can increase your risk scores and get the highest premium payments.
Presentation on how ICD-10 affects the new payments models (i.e. risk adjustment and value based purchasing) and clinical documentation and operational tips.
Risk adjustment documentation and coding overviewScott Quick
A collection of information from publicly available sources to help you:
• Know what Risk Adjustment (RA) is and why it is important to Medicare Advantage providers
• Understand Hierarchical Condition Categories (HCCs)
• Become familiar with Risk Adjustment Documentation and Coding Requirements
Meaningful Use: Programs, Penalities, and PaymentsBen Quirk
Meaningful Use is not dead!
MIPS may be just around the corner, but MU is still very much in the picture. There is enough time, however, for your practice to optimize 2016 reporting and increase 2018 payments and avoid penalties.
This presentation takes you through the steps needed to successfully attest for 2016 and be prepared for upcoming changes.
Are you afraid to encounter CMS & HHS RADV Audit risks? Stop worrying. Here is your guide to risk adjustment. Risk adjustment strategy revealed by subject Matter Experts Holly cassano and Kim Dues. You have got everything here. Data review to analysis , guidelines, formula, best practices and more. Come let's take a closer look https://goo.gl/fVQzet
HCC Coding Services: Achieve Accurate HCC Risk Adjustment CodingJessica Parker
CMS uses HCC to compensate Medicare Advantage plans established on the health of their members. It compensates accurately for the anticipated cost expenditures of the patients by adjusting those payments based on demographic information as well as patient as their health status.
Making CJR Work for You: A Roadmap for Successful Implementation of Medicare ...Wellbe
This presentation will describe a structured approach to successfully launching a program for the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (CJR) Model. Based on years of experience with bundled programs, this roadmap provides the basis for developing a targeted plan for your organization as the April 1, 2016 deadline for CJR rapidly approaches.
Key topics to be addressed include:
• Overview of CJR rules and program requirements
• CJR implications for your organization
• Bundle evaluation – financial and clinical issues
• Gainsharing considerations with program collaborators
• Designing an effective post-acute care network
• Using analytics to develop and monitor your program
• Key “must-dos” for an April 1, 2016 launch
Learning Objectives:
1. Describe the rules and requirements of CJR
2. Assess the key success drivers in bundle performance
3. Evaluate where and why organizations fail in bundles
4. Develop strategies and tactics to create a post-acute partnership
5. Illustrate risk stratification factors in bundle design
About the Speaker:
Sheldon Hamburger is an Alternative Payment Model advisor for hospitals and healthcare firms nationally. With a focus on program implementation, he brings extensive knowledge and experience gained from more than 25 years of healthcare financial consulting, technology design and development, and sales & marketing strategy for Fortune 1000 clients. He is a frequently sought-after speaker and writer on regulatory and technology trends affecting hospital operations, provider reimbursement issues, BPCI / CJR, programs and regulations, medical expense strategies and payer-provider dynamics. Residing in Raleigh, he is an active member of HIMSS, HFMA, & ACHE. He earned his B.S.E. in Computer Engineering from the University of Michigan.
Prepping for CCJR: Lessons Learned in Physician Alignment and Bundled PaymentsWellbe
With CMS’ recent announcement of its Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (CCJR) payment model and its plan to implement in seventy-five geographic areas, hospitals must be prepared to manage the entire episode of care from the time of surgery through ninety days after discharge. CCJR presents both opportunities and challenges for hospitals. In order to achieve success, organizations must manage their system of care delivery, ensure they are aligned with their physicians and post acute providers, and master the analytics necessary for driving high quality, low cost care.
MedAssets has worked with numerous providers to implement alignment models that bring hospitals and their physicians together, evaluate, identify, and implement changes to the care delivery system to improve quality and decrease cost across the continuum, and employ meaningful analytics for managing an episode of care.
Kevin Lieb, Senior Director for MedAssets’ Physician Alignment Solutions division, will share examples demonstrating how organizations have successfully implemented Episodes of Care. Mr. Lieb will also share examples from both hospital led and specialist led programs and provide lessons learned from these experiences.
This webinar will enable attendees to do the following:
• Identify alignment models within bundled payments and understand their applicability to your organization
• Understand the analytic capabilities necessary for success in a bundled payment environment
• Identify opportunities and strategies for cost reduction and quality improvement
About the Speaker:
Mr. Lieb has more than 20 years of healthcare-related experience focusing on quality improvement, market development and cost reduction initiatives for the hospital provider market. Mr. Lieb has worked for a number of well-known healthcare companies including GE Medical Systems, HCIA and LBA in Denver, Colorado. His responsibilities included healthcare consulting with a focus on process improvement and quality initiatives.
The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services hosted a webinar on Thursday, April 14, 2016. During this webinar staff provided an overview of the model. A repeat of the webinar was held on Tuesday, April 19.
- - -
CMS Innovation Center
http://innovation.cms.gov
We accept comments in the spirit of our comment policy:
http://newmedia.hhs.gov/standards/comment_policy.html
CMS Privacy Policy
http://cms.gov/About-CMS/Agency-Information/Aboutwebsite/Privacy-Policy.html
ICD-10 Transition Presentation: What Health Lawyers Need to KnowPYA, P.C.
PYA Consulting Principal Denise Hall, along with co-presenter Julie Chicoine, recently updated health lawyers about ICD-10 transition readiness at the American Health Lawyers Association Institute on Medicare and Medicaid Payment Issues, held March 26-27, 2014.
Medicare reimburses acute care hospitals under the inpatient prospective payment system or (IPPS). The slide presentation below provides an overview of IPPS including exemptions, prospective vs. hospital specific components, and reimbursement methodologies.
Implementing Bundled Payments: A Deeper DiveWellbe
A Bundled Payment can be defined as “a single package price that provides a positive margin for a comprehensive and specific set of healthcare services delivered by multiple providers over a specified period of time.”
There is growing consensus that this payment methodology, and the powerful spillover effect from extensive care redesign associated with its implementation, may be the most effective strategy to reduce spiraling healthcare costs.
The secondary hypothesis is that bundled payment creates sufficient financial incentives to encourage multiple stakeholders to re-align and focus on improving the value of healthcare delivered to the patient.
There is data, including from the Connecticut Joint Replacement Institute (CJRI), which supports these hypotheses. Despite growing interest in bundled payment methodology, however, there are numerous upside challenges and downside risks. In this webinar, these issues will be reviewed and a cogent strategy for implementing a bundled payment program presented.
About the Speaker:
Dr. Steven F. Schutzer graduated with Honors from Union College 1974 and then the University of Virginia School Of Medicine in 1978. Dr. Schutzer was a Lieutenant in the Medical Corps of the United States Navy between 1979 and 1981. He did his General Surgical training at the University of Rochester and then completed his Orthopedic Residency at the University of Connecticut in 1985. He was then a Fellow in Adult Hip and Reconstructive Surgery at the Massachusetts General Hospital and entered practice with Orthopedic Associates of Hartford in July 1986.
He is currently on the staff of St. Francis Hospital, Hartford Hospital and the University of Connecticut John Dempsey Hospital. Dr. Schutzer is a Founding Member and the Medical Director of the Connecticut Joint Replacement Institute. He is also President of Connecticut Joint Replacement Surgeons, LLC. Dr. Schutzer is a member of AAOS, AAHKS, and the Orthopedic Research Society.
This SMMC provider webinar talks about specialty plans involved in the SMMC program. These plans are designed to provide services tailored for individuals with a particular diagnosis, such at HIV/AIDS, Mental Illness, CHF, COPD, or Diabetes.
Oncology Care Model (OCM) are willing to take on two-sided riskJessica Parker
Oncology practitioners in CMS’s Oncology care model (OCM) are willing to take on two-sided risk, according to the Community Oncology Alliance (COA) survey.
This presentation covers the basics of Healthcare domain and the testing challenges faced there off.Good content for people having interest or working in Health Care domain.
This presentation outlines the specific requirements for Hospice providers with respect to the Statewide Medicaid Managed Care (SMMC) Long-term Care program in Florida.
Uncertain future of medicare pass throughs and add-onsBESLER
Very few items are still settled on your cost report. With so many changes resulting from the ACA and other potential initiatives being discussed every day, your organization should be acutely aware of the total amount of Medicare Revenue that is at risk. There is talk of eliminating, greatly reducing or completely altering payment methodologies that hospitals have become so reliant on for so long. Revenue potentially at risk includes Medicare Bad Debt, Nursing Allied Health, Graduate Medical Education, Wage Index adjustments, and Transplant.
The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMS Innovation Center) hosted an open door forum covering benefit enhancements for the 2017 Next Generation Accountable Care Organization Model. The open door forum was held on Tuesday, April 19 from 4:00pm – 5:30pm EDT.
- - -
CMS Innovation Center
http://innovation.cms.gov
We accept comments in the spirit of our comment policy:
http://newmedia.hhs.gov/standards/comment_policy.html
CMS Privacy Policy
http://cms.gov/About-CMS/Agency-Information/Aboutwebsite/Privacy-Policy.html
The Uncertain Future of Medicare Add-Ons and Pass-ThroughsBESLER
With so many changes resulting from the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) and other potential initiatives under consideration, a significant amount of your organization’s future Medicare revenue may be at risk. The trend to reduce and/or revamp payment methodologies comes at a time when hospitals face shrinking or non-existent margins. Revenue sources potentially on the chopping block include Medicare Bad Debt, Nursing Allied Health, Graduate Medical Education, Wage Index adjustments, and transplant, to name a few. Additionally, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) continues to add reimbursement-related topics to its annual Work Plan, expanding the areas for potential paybacks or penalties.
Increased competition from banks in mobile wallet segment to drive innovation...PayNXT360
Banks across the globe have only recently evolved to the shifting customer preferences to mobile and digital banking services. According to PayNXT360, 34% of consumers in the US and 42% consumers in Europe are already using mobile wallets such as PayPal, Android Pay, Masterpass, and Apple Pay.
Technology firms such as PayPal and Apple Pay in the US; Ant Financial Services and Alipay in China; Paytm and MobiKwik in India are disrupting payments industry and already have registered significant user base. As a result of this, banks are running into risk of losing customers to third party platforms. Instead of competing, banks and financial institutions are collaborating with fintech firms to provide efficient and cost effective services to customers.
Meaningful Use: Programs, Penalities, and PaymentsBen Quirk
Meaningful Use is not dead!
MIPS may be just around the corner, but MU is still very much in the picture. There is enough time, however, for your practice to optimize 2016 reporting and increase 2018 payments and avoid penalties.
This presentation takes you through the steps needed to successfully attest for 2016 and be prepared for upcoming changes.
Are you afraid to encounter CMS & HHS RADV Audit risks? Stop worrying. Here is your guide to risk adjustment. Risk adjustment strategy revealed by subject Matter Experts Holly cassano and Kim Dues. You have got everything here. Data review to analysis , guidelines, formula, best practices and more. Come let's take a closer look https://goo.gl/fVQzet
HCC Coding Services: Achieve Accurate HCC Risk Adjustment CodingJessica Parker
CMS uses HCC to compensate Medicare Advantage plans established on the health of their members. It compensates accurately for the anticipated cost expenditures of the patients by adjusting those payments based on demographic information as well as patient as their health status.
Making CJR Work for You: A Roadmap for Successful Implementation of Medicare ...Wellbe
This presentation will describe a structured approach to successfully launching a program for the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (CJR) Model. Based on years of experience with bundled programs, this roadmap provides the basis for developing a targeted plan for your organization as the April 1, 2016 deadline for CJR rapidly approaches.
Key topics to be addressed include:
• Overview of CJR rules and program requirements
• CJR implications for your organization
• Bundle evaluation – financial and clinical issues
• Gainsharing considerations with program collaborators
• Designing an effective post-acute care network
• Using analytics to develop and monitor your program
• Key “must-dos” for an April 1, 2016 launch
Learning Objectives:
1. Describe the rules and requirements of CJR
2. Assess the key success drivers in bundle performance
3. Evaluate where and why organizations fail in bundles
4. Develop strategies and tactics to create a post-acute partnership
5. Illustrate risk stratification factors in bundle design
About the Speaker:
Sheldon Hamburger is an Alternative Payment Model advisor for hospitals and healthcare firms nationally. With a focus on program implementation, he brings extensive knowledge and experience gained from more than 25 years of healthcare financial consulting, technology design and development, and sales & marketing strategy for Fortune 1000 clients. He is a frequently sought-after speaker and writer on regulatory and technology trends affecting hospital operations, provider reimbursement issues, BPCI / CJR, programs and regulations, medical expense strategies and payer-provider dynamics. Residing in Raleigh, he is an active member of HIMSS, HFMA, & ACHE. He earned his B.S.E. in Computer Engineering from the University of Michigan.
Prepping for CCJR: Lessons Learned in Physician Alignment and Bundled PaymentsWellbe
With CMS’ recent announcement of its Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (CCJR) payment model and its plan to implement in seventy-five geographic areas, hospitals must be prepared to manage the entire episode of care from the time of surgery through ninety days after discharge. CCJR presents both opportunities and challenges for hospitals. In order to achieve success, organizations must manage their system of care delivery, ensure they are aligned with their physicians and post acute providers, and master the analytics necessary for driving high quality, low cost care.
MedAssets has worked with numerous providers to implement alignment models that bring hospitals and their physicians together, evaluate, identify, and implement changes to the care delivery system to improve quality and decrease cost across the continuum, and employ meaningful analytics for managing an episode of care.
Kevin Lieb, Senior Director for MedAssets’ Physician Alignment Solutions division, will share examples demonstrating how organizations have successfully implemented Episodes of Care. Mr. Lieb will also share examples from both hospital led and specialist led programs and provide lessons learned from these experiences.
This webinar will enable attendees to do the following:
• Identify alignment models within bundled payments and understand their applicability to your organization
• Understand the analytic capabilities necessary for success in a bundled payment environment
• Identify opportunities and strategies for cost reduction and quality improvement
About the Speaker:
Mr. Lieb has more than 20 years of healthcare-related experience focusing on quality improvement, market development and cost reduction initiatives for the hospital provider market. Mr. Lieb has worked for a number of well-known healthcare companies including GE Medical Systems, HCIA and LBA in Denver, Colorado. His responsibilities included healthcare consulting with a focus on process improvement and quality initiatives.
The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services hosted a webinar on Thursday, April 14, 2016. During this webinar staff provided an overview of the model. A repeat of the webinar was held on Tuesday, April 19.
- - -
CMS Innovation Center
http://innovation.cms.gov
We accept comments in the spirit of our comment policy:
http://newmedia.hhs.gov/standards/comment_policy.html
CMS Privacy Policy
http://cms.gov/About-CMS/Agency-Information/Aboutwebsite/Privacy-Policy.html
ICD-10 Transition Presentation: What Health Lawyers Need to KnowPYA, P.C.
PYA Consulting Principal Denise Hall, along with co-presenter Julie Chicoine, recently updated health lawyers about ICD-10 transition readiness at the American Health Lawyers Association Institute on Medicare and Medicaid Payment Issues, held March 26-27, 2014.
Medicare reimburses acute care hospitals under the inpatient prospective payment system or (IPPS). The slide presentation below provides an overview of IPPS including exemptions, prospective vs. hospital specific components, and reimbursement methodologies.
Implementing Bundled Payments: A Deeper DiveWellbe
A Bundled Payment can be defined as “a single package price that provides a positive margin for a comprehensive and specific set of healthcare services delivered by multiple providers over a specified period of time.”
There is growing consensus that this payment methodology, and the powerful spillover effect from extensive care redesign associated with its implementation, may be the most effective strategy to reduce spiraling healthcare costs.
The secondary hypothesis is that bundled payment creates sufficient financial incentives to encourage multiple stakeholders to re-align and focus on improving the value of healthcare delivered to the patient.
There is data, including from the Connecticut Joint Replacement Institute (CJRI), which supports these hypotheses. Despite growing interest in bundled payment methodology, however, there are numerous upside challenges and downside risks. In this webinar, these issues will be reviewed and a cogent strategy for implementing a bundled payment program presented.
About the Speaker:
Dr. Steven F. Schutzer graduated with Honors from Union College 1974 and then the University of Virginia School Of Medicine in 1978. Dr. Schutzer was a Lieutenant in the Medical Corps of the United States Navy between 1979 and 1981. He did his General Surgical training at the University of Rochester and then completed his Orthopedic Residency at the University of Connecticut in 1985. He was then a Fellow in Adult Hip and Reconstructive Surgery at the Massachusetts General Hospital and entered practice with Orthopedic Associates of Hartford in July 1986.
He is currently on the staff of St. Francis Hospital, Hartford Hospital and the University of Connecticut John Dempsey Hospital. Dr. Schutzer is a Founding Member and the Medical Director of the Connecticut Joint Replacement Institute. He is also President of Connecticut Joint Replacement Surgeons, LLC. Dr. Schutzer is a member of AAOS, AAHKS, and the Orthopedic Research Society.
This SMMC provider webinar talks about specialty plans involved in the SMMC program. These plans are designed to provide services tailored for individuals with a particular diagnosis, such at HIV/AIDS, Mental Illness, CHF, COPD, or Diabetes.
Oncology Care Model (OCM) are willing to take on two-sided riskJessica Parker
Oncology practitioners in CMS’s Oncology care model (OCM) are willing to take on two-sided risk, according to the Community Oncology Alliance (COA) survey.
This presentation covers the basics of Healthcare domain and the testing challenges faced there off.Good content for people having interest or working in Health Care domain.
This presentation outlines the specific requirements for Hospice providers with respect to the Statewide Medicaid Managed Care (SMMC) Long-term Care program in Florida.
Uncertain future of medicare pass throughs and add-onsBESLER
Very few items are still settled on your cost report. With so many changes resulting from the ACA and other potential initiatives being discussed every day, your organization should be acutely aware of the total amount of Medicare Revenue that is at risk. There is talk of eliminating, greatly reducing or completely altering payment methodologies that hospitals have become so reliant on for so long. Revenue potentially at risk includes Medicare Bad Debt, Nursing Allied Health, Graduate Medical Education, Wage Index adjustments, and Transplant.
The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMS Innovation Center) hosted an open door forum covering benefit enhancements for the 2017 Next Generation Accountable Care Organization Model. The open door forum was held on Tuesday, April 19 from 4:00pm – 5:30pm EDT.
- - -
CMS Innovation Center
http://innovation.cms.gov
We accept comments in the spirit of our comment policy:
http://newmedia.hhs.gov/standards/comment_policy.html
CMS Privacy Policy
http://cms.gov/About-CMS/Agency-Information/Aboutwebsite/Privacy-Policy.html
The Uncertain Future of Medicare Add-Ons and Pass-ThroughsBESLER
With so many changes resulting from the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) and other potential initiatives under consideration, a significant amount of your organization’s future Medicare revenue may be at risk. The trend to reduce and/or revamp payment methodologies comes at a time when hospitals face shrinking or non-existent margins. Revenue sources potentially on the chopping block include Medicare Bad Debt, Nursing Allied Health, Graduate Medical Education, Wage Index adjustments, and transplant, to name a few. Additionally, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) continues to add reimbursement-related topics to its annual Work Plan, expanding the areas for potential paybacks or penalties.
Increased competition from banks in mobile wallet segment to drive innovation...PayNXT360
Banks across the globe have only recently evolved to the shifting customer preferences to mobile and digital banking services. According to PayNXT360, 34% of consumers in the US and 42% consumers in Europe are already using mobile wallets such as PayPal, Android Pay, Masterpass, and Apple Pay.
Technology firms such as PayPal and Apple Pay in the US; Ant Financial Services and Alipay in China; Paytm and MobiKwik in India are disrupting payments industry and already have registered significant user base. As a result of this, banks are running into risk of losing customers to third party platforms. Instead of competing, banks and financial institutions are collaborating with fintech firms to provide efficient and cost effective services to customers.
Procter & Gamble Co., also known as P&G, is an American multinational consumer goods company headquartered in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio, United States, founded by William Procter and James Gamble, from Ireland and the United Kingdom.
HCC Coding Services: Achieve Accurate HCC Risk Adjustment CodingJessica Parker
CMS uses HCC to compensate Medicare Advantage plans established on the health of their members. It compensates accurately for the anticipated cost expenditures of the patients by adjusting those payments based on demographic information as well as patient as their health status.
A Guide for Medical Billing and Coding Audits for Wound Care Providers.pdfSolemanOne
Utilizing evidence-based clinical practice guidelines, wound care practitioners can use this medical billing road map to enhance their clinical documentation and adhere to payer coverage policy and medical necessity requirements.
The Changing Role of the Provider in HCC CodingInferscience
Inferscience offers an HCC Coding tool that integrates with leading EHRs and HIT systems to analyze patient records and claims information to help physicians and coders capture and audit HCC codes within their workflows. This PDF will give detailed information about The Changing Role of the Provider in HCC Coding. With Inferscience’s HCC Assistant, Physicians can document HCC codes and plan of care information in real time during the patient encounter. Now, one solution enables both payers and providers to succeed in today’s value-based care market. For more detail about our services, please visit our website now!
HCC Coding and Risk Adjustment Tool model is specially designed to estimate future health care costs for patients. its main objective is to consider the well-being of the executives alongside exact repayments from medicare Advantage Plans.
Value-Based Care (VBC) is crucial due to the soaring healthcare spending in the US, now over $4.4 trillion yearly. Despite this, results remain subpar, with 2-3 times more spent compared to other developed countries.
Navigating Challenges in HCC Coding and Risk AdjustmentInferscience
HCC coding processes while not designed to be complex, may not be immediately apparent, making them tedious and time-consuming. Despite its inherent difficulty, the main goal is to provide an accurate and complete overview of each member’s risk profile with the goal of better understanding their health state and being able to predict the cost of care. We also suggest looking into smart HCC Coding and risk adjustment technology, this can help your teams achieve more accurate results and save time. Check out Inferscience’s HCC Assistant to learn more about HCC coding technology that is EHR integrated.
Basics of Billing and Coding & Understanding Pre-Authorization flasco_org
Providing a course that is relevant, practical and patient-centered that will positively impact the speed in which entry-level oncology specialists integrate into the oncology practice setting.
This is a summary of my professional successes. I am ICD 10 Proficient with Outpatient and Inpatient facility and pro- fee experience. I work remotely/telecommute and has worked on site.
Medical coding is the process of transforming transcribed data into set of numerical codes using a system of numbers to represent various medical problems, (diagnoses), and treatments (procedures
Coding NotesImproving Diagnosis By Jacquie zegan, CCS, w.docxmary772
Coding Notes
Improving
Diagnosis
By Jacquie zegan, CCS, wC
Specificity in ICD-IO Coding
VALID ICD-IO-CM/PCS (ICD-IO) codes have been required for claims reporting since October 1, 2015. But ICD-IO diagnosis coding to the correct level of specificity—a more recent requirement—continues to be a problem for many in the healthcare industry. While diagnosis code specificity has always been the goal, providers were granted a reprieve in order to facilitate implementation of ICD-IO. For the first 12 months of ICD-IO use, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) promised that Medicare review contractors would not deny claims "based solely on the specificity of the ICD-IO diagnosis code as long as the physician/practitioner used a valid code from the right family."l Commonly referred to as the "grace period," this flexibility was intended to help providers implement the ICD-IO-CM code set and was never intended to continue on in perpetuity. In fact, this CMS-granted grace period expired on October 1, 2016.2
Unfortunately, nonspecific documentation and coding persists. This is an ongoing problem, even though the official guidelines for coding and reporting require coding to the highest degree of specificity. Third-party payers are making payment determinations based on the specificity of reported codes, and payment reform efforts are formulating policies based on coded data. The significance of overreporting unspecified diagnosis codes cannot be understated. In the short term, it will increase claim denials, and in the long term it may adversely impact emerging payment models.3•4 Calculating and monitoring unspecified diagnosis code rates is critical to successfully leverage specificity
44/Journal of AHIMA April 18
in the ICD-IO-CM code set.
An ICD-IO-CM code is considered unspecified if either of the terms "unspecified" or "NOS" are used in the code description. The unspecified diagnosis code rate is calculated by dividing the number of unspecified diagnosis codes by the total number of diagnosis codes assigned. Health information management (HIM) professionals should be tracking and trending unspecified diagnosis code rates across the continuum of care.5
Acceptable use of Unspecified Diagnosis Codes Unspecified diagnosis codes have acceptable, even necessary, uses. The unspecified code rate is not an error rate, but rather an indicator of the quality of clinical documentation and a qualitative measure of coder performance and coding results. Even CMS explicitly recognizes that unspecified codes are sometimes necessary. "When sufficient clinical information is not known or available about a particular health condition to assign a more specific code, it is acceptable to report the appropriate unspecified code."6 It's also important that coding professionals use good judgment to avoid unnecessary queries for clarification of unspecified diagnoses. The official coding guidelines provide explicit guidance for appropriate uses of unspec.
RISK ADJUSTMENT SOLUTION FOR FINANCIAL STABILITY IN THE HEALTHCARE SECTOR.pptxPersivia Inc
Healthcare providers face various challenges in maintaining financial stability, and one critical aspect is the accurate assessment and management of risks. Implementing an effective risk adjustment solution, particularly combined with advanced technologies, can significantly contribute to financial stability.
This presentation was shared with an audience at the AHLA Fundamentals of Health Law program in November 2008.
It contains some basic coding and compliance information to introduce health lawyers to the coding world including recent hot topics under scrutiny.
The Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA) opens the door to a wealth of opportunities for hospitals and physician groups. They are beginning to adapt to the new pay-for-performance and bundled payment systems and develop population-based care management programs. While the goal of ACA is to hold hospitals and physicians jointly responsible for quality and cost of care, the new payment models span the entire care continuum, including primary care physicians (PCPs), specialists, hospitals, post-acute care, and re-admissions. The biggest winners will be those who can improve quality of care while driving down costs. Those that focus first on preventive care for top chronic illnesses will be the first to cross the finish line.
Similar to Ensuring Accurate HCC Coding and Documentation (20)
To reduce denials and ensure that clinicians are paid promptly and appropriately for patient care, accurate and compliant coding is essential.
To accurately report their services on claims, many clinicians are turning to professional medical coding services.https://www.outsourcestrategies.com/outsourced-medical-coding-services/
Accurate physical therapy (PT) billing is crucial for the success and sustainability of your
practice. Beyond simply ensuring proper reimbursement for services rendered, precise
billing practices can help maintain financial health, facilitate practice growth, and support
delivery of high-quality patient care.
Healthcare providers are finding it difficult to stay on top of changes in insurance policies, coding requirements, and regulations while still concentrating on
patient care.
Accurate medical billing documentation guarantees that insurance companies have all
the information they need to handle claims quickly, which speeds healthcare
reimbursement. Precise documentation in conjunction with expert medical billing
services foster a seamless financial environment that is advantageous to patients and
providers alike.
For healthcare providers looking to improve administrative efficiency, reduce overhead costs, enhance compliance, and focus on core activities, outsourcing medical billing could be the practical option.
Outsource Strategies International can help you speed up claims processing and optimize your revenue cycle by providing dedicated medical billing services.
Medical billing plays a crucial role in ensuring that healthcare providers receive timely and accurate reimbursement for the services they render. However, navigating the intricacies of medical billing can be challenging and mistakes can occur, leading to financial losses and potential compliance issues.
Meningitis, a devastating disease with a high fatality rate, can lead to serious long-term
complications. Physicians treating patients with the condition can consider to outsourcing medical billing and coding to report the condition correctly on claims. By enlisting the services of a professional medical coding company that employs AAPC-certified coding specialists, healthcare practices can ensure accurate and timely claim submission, leading to optimal reimbursement for
their services.
Patient eligibility verification is the process of confirming that a patient is eligible for the requested medical services, insurance coverage, and any financial assistance programs.
QA Paediatric dentistry department, Hospital Melaka 2020Azreen Aj
QA study - To improve the 6th monthly recall rate post-comprehensive dental treatment under general anaesthesia in paediatric dentistry department, Hospital Melaka
Antibiotic Stewardship by Anushri Srivastava.pptxAnushriSrivastav
Stewardship is the act of taking good care of something.
Antimicrobial stewardship is a coordinated program that promotes the appropriate use of antimicrobials (including antibiotics), improves patient outcomes, reduces microbial resistance, and decreases the spread of infections caused by multidrug-resistant organisms.
WHO launched the Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS) in 2015 to fill knowledge gaps and inform strategies at all levels.
ACCORDING TO apic.org,
Antimicrobial stewardship is a coordinated program that promotes the appropriate use of antimicrobials (including antibiotics), improves patient outcomes, reduces microbial resistance, and decreases the spread of infections caused by multidrug-resistant organisms.
ACCORDING TO pewtrusts.org,
Antibiotic stewardship refers to efforts in doctors’ offices, hospitals, long term care facilities, and other health care settings to ensure that antibiotics are used only when necessary and appropriate
According to WHO,
Antimicrobial stewardship is a systematic approach to educate and support health care professionals to follow evidence-based guidelines for prescribing and administering antimicrobials
In 1996, John McGowan and Dale Gerding first applied the term antimicrobial stewardship, where they suggested a causal association between antimicrobial agent use and resistance. They also focused on the urgency of large-scale controlled trials of antimicrobial-use regulation employing sophisticated epidemiologic methods, molecular typing, and precise resistance mechanism analysis.
Antimicrobial Stewardship(AMS) refers to the optimal selection, dosing, and duration of antimicrobial treatment resulting in the best clinical outcome with minimal side effects to the patients and minimal impact on subsequent resistance.
According to the 2019 report, in the US, more than 2.8 million antibiotic-resistant infections occur each year, and more than 35000 people die. In addition to this, it also mentioned that 223,900 cases of Clostridoides difficile occurred in 2017, of which 12800 people died. The report did not include viruses or parasites
VISION
Being proactive
Supporting optimal animal and human health
Exploring ways to reduce overall use of antimicrobials
Using the drugs that prevent and treat disease by killing microscopic organisms in a responsible way
GOAL
to prevent the generation and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Doing so will preserve the effectiveness of these drugs in animals and humans for years to come.
being to preserve human and animal health and the effectiveness of antimicrobial medications.
to implement a multidisciplinary approach in assembling a stewardship team to include an infectious disease physician, a clinical pharmacist with infectious diseases training, infection preventionist, and a close collaboration with the staff in the clinical microbiology laboratory
to prevent antimicrobial overuse, misuse and abuse.
to minimize the developme
We understand the unique challenges pickleball players face and are committed to helping you stay healthy and active. In this presentation, we’ll explore the three most common pickleball injuries and provide strategies for prevention and treatment.
One of the most developed cities of India, the city of Chennai is the capital of Tamilnadu and many people from different parts of India come here to earn their bread and butter. Being a metropolitan, the city is filled with towering building and beaches but the sad part as with almost every Indian city
Leading the Way in Nephrology: Dr. David Greene's Work with Stem Cells for Ki...Dr. David Greene Arizona
As we watch Dr. Greene's continued efforts and research in Arizona, it's clear that stem cell therapy holds a promising key to unlocking new doors in the treatment of kidney disease. With each study and trial, we step closer to a world where kidney disease is no longer a life sentence but a treatable condition, thanks to pioneers like Dr. David Greene.
Welcome to Secret Tantric, London’s finest VIP Massage agency. Since we first opened our doors, we have provided the ultimate erotic massage experience to innumerable clients, each one searching for the very best sensual massage in London. We come by this reputation honestly with a dynamic team of the city’s most beautiful masseuses.
CHAPTER 1 SEMESTER V - ROLE OF PEADIATRIC NURSE.pdfSachin Sharma
Pediatric nurses play a vital role in the health and well-being of children. Their responsibilities are wide-ranging, and their objectives can be categorized into several key areas:
1. Direct Patient Care:
Objective: Provide comprehensive and compassionate care to infants, children, and adolescents in various healthcare settings (hospitals, clinics, etc.).
This includes tasks like:
Monitoring vital signs and physical condition.
Administering medications and treatments.
Performing procedures as directed by doctors.
Assisting with daily living activities (bathing, feeding).
Providing emotional support and pain management.
2. Health Promotion and Education:
Objective: Promote healthy behaviors and educate children, families, and communities about preventive healthcare.
This includes tasks like:
Administering vaccinations.
Providing education on nutrition, hygiene, and development.
Offering breastfeeding and childbirth support.
Counseling families on safety and injury prevention.
3. Collaboration and Advocacy:
Objective: Collaborate effectively with doctors, social workers, therapists, and other healthcare professionals to ensure coordinated care for children.
Objective: Advocate for the rights and best interests of their patients, especially when children cannot speak for themselves.
This includes tasks like:
Communicating effectively with healthcare teams.
Identifying and addressing potential risks to child welfare.
Educating families about their child's condition and treatment options.
4. Professional Development and Research:
Objective: Stay up-to-date on the latest advancements in pediatric healthcare through continuing education and research.
Objective: Contribute to improving the quality of care for children by participating in research initiatives.
This includes tasks like:
Attending workshops and conferences on pediatric nursing.
Participating in clinical trials related to child health.
Implementing evidence-based practices into their daily routines.
By fulfilling these objectives, pediatric nurses play a crucial role in ensuring the optimal health and well-being of children throughout all stages of their development.
1. Ensuring Accurate
HCC Coding and Documentation
Proper HCC coding and documentation is necessary to
capture the full complexity of a patient’s condition for higher
reimbursement.
Outsource Strategies International
8596 E. 101st Street, Suite H
Tulsa, OK 74133
2. In 1997, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) mandated the Risk
Adjustment and Hierarchical Condition Category coding or HCC coding payment model.
Today, the HCC methodology plays a critical role in the dynamic insurance benefits and
reimbursement scenario. The model assigns a risk factor score to individuals diagnosed with
a serious or chronic illness based on their health conditions and demographics. Accurate
HCC coding and proper documentation to capture the full complexity of a patient’s condition
will result in higher reimbursement.
Success with HCC coding depends on accurate and timely capture of data as well as proper
tracking of a patient's care and condition over time.
A patient’s health conditions are determined by the ICD-10 diagnoses that physicians
submit on claims. HCC codes allow payments to be risk-adjusted based on the complexity of
the patient’s condition. Using a patient’s documented 12-month diagnostic coding history,
the risk adjustment model predicts future financial utilization and risk. Each patient is
assigned a risk score that reflects the complexity of his/her condition. Higher risk scores
represent patients with a higher burden of illness and vice versa.
However, inadequate or incomplete chart documentation and incomplete or inaccurate
diagnosis coding can lead to a lower risk score. Coding properly increases risk adjustment
factor (RAF) scores and improves practice revenue. There are more than 9000 ICD-10 codes
that map to 79 HCC codes in the Risk Adjustment model.
Ensuring proper HCC capture
ICD-10 brought increased code specificity and increased requirements for detailed
documentation. Proper HCC capture means ensuring that claims are submitted with codes
that capture all manifestations of a chronic disease that the patient has.
For instance, using the ICD-10 code 11.9 for all diabetic patients would ensure payment
only for evaluation and management (E/M) visits. If a diabetic patient is also diagnosed with
nephropathy, more specific codes, such as E11.21 (Type 2 diabetes mellitus with diabetic
nephropathy) or E11.22 (Type 2 diabetes mellitus with diabetic chronic kidney disease).
This moves the patient into a higher-risk HCC, which will ensure accurate and adequate
payment based on expected medical costs.
How the Risk Adjustment Model works
3. Importance of proper documentation
CMS expects patients’ conditions to be documented and evaluated each year. The
documentation in the medical record must support the submitted diagnosis. It must provide
evidence of the presence of the condition(s) as well as the health care provider’s
assessment and/or plan for management of the condition.
Documentation should include:
Patient’s name and date of service (DOS)
All of the patient’s conditions, including co-existing ones
Details to code each condition to the highest degree of specificity
Treatment and/or management for each condition
Physician’s signature, credentials, and date
The assessment of the patient’s condition must be done at least once every calendar year to
be included in CMS’ risk scoring.
Medical Coding Outsourcing for Accurate HCC Coding
Expert certified coders in medical coding companies work with physicians to address
their HCC coding and documentation challenges. Their support would include:
Helping providers understand the requirements with codes that are commonly used
Ensuring that manifestations of certain diseases are not overlooked
Coding to the highest level of specificity
Ensuring sufficient and complete clinical documentation in the EHR
Accurate capture of chronic conditions in compliance with CMS guidelines
Ensuring that providers assess chronic conditions at least on a yearly basis, so that
all of these conditions can be assigned proper HCC codes Professional medical
coding services ensure compliance with best practices for risk adjustment,
documentation and coding.