The implementation of CDI programs is a high priority for successful ICD-10 implementation and outsourcing medical coding helps.

1. Medical Coding Outsourcing Supports CDI
and ICD-10 Compliance
The implementation of CDI programs is a high priority for successful ICD-10
implementation and outsourcing medical coding helps.
Outsource Strategies International
8596 E. 101st Street, Suite H
Tulsa, OK 74133

2. www.outsourcestrategies.com Phone: 1-800-670-2809
A 2016 Black Book Market Research survey reported that up to 90 percent of hospitals in
the US received appropriate and timely revenue and reimbursements following the
implementation of clinical documentation improvement (CDI) programs. It also found that
nearly a quarter of all US hospitals rely on medical coding outsourcing to meet their
revenue cycle and documentation goals.
ICD-10 and Specificity in Clinical Documentation
Providers have come to realize that CDI is a high priority for success in ICD-10
implementation. According to a Health System Management report, CDI has risen to the top
of providers’ 2017 budget priorities. ICD-10 requires physicians to document with greater
specificity. Failing to do so will damage practice productivity as providers will end up
spending more time answering medical coders’ queries on clinical documentation. Medical
claims submitted without proper documentation will be denied. The American Health
Information Management Association (AHIMA) suggests that coders query physicians if
clinical documentation:
 Is conflicting, imprecise, incomplete, illegible, ambiguous or inconsistent
 Describes clinical indicators that do not clearly support the underlying diagnosis
 Includes clinical indicators, evaluation, and/or treatment that do not seem related to
any medical condition or procedure
 Does not support or validate a diagnosis
 Does not support the present on admission indicator
Such specificity is crucial for success with ICD-10 implementation. The medical coding
services provided by reliable outsourcing companies help practices implement CDI
solutions for appropriate reimbursements from private and government payers, and avoid
costly penalties for non-compliance with ICD-10 guidelines. Other reasons why CDI is
crucial:
- CDI is necessary for compliance with regulatory, financial and operational aspects
- CDI greatly improves the operational efficiency of healthcare organizations
- Not paying proper attention to documentation processes will increase error rates,
leading to financial losses
- Flaws in clinical documentation affect patient care
- Improved compliance will free up time for patient care
- CDI improves clinical collaboration for patient evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment

3. www.outsourcestrategies.com Phone: 1-800-670-2809
While experienced medical coders in established medical coding companies can assign
the right ICD-10 codes, physicians need to focus on specificity in diagnosis documentation.
Accurate documentation will allow coded data to be utilized to make meaningful decisions
about patient treatment and care plans. This in turn, will improve reimbursements for
physicians and prevent denials and penalties.
Need for Continual Training in CDI and ICD-10
The implementation of ICD-10 calls for CDI expertise to ensure accurate and complete data
capture in medical records. There are 1,900 new ICD-10-CM codes proposed for the
October 2017 release, including 313 deletions and 351 revised codes. In addition to
capturing new information, documentation will need to be updated, modified, and
expanded. This must be a continuing and cyclical process. Physicians, medical coders, and
CDI specialists must continue training in CDI and ICD-10. By collaborating with physicians
on CDI, medical coding service providers promote the availability of detailed, accurate, and
higher-quality data to improve care and patient safety as well as practice reimbursement.