Below is a complete listing of all Inpatient articles that have appeared in JustCoding News.
May 8, 2012
While we know the implementation date of ICD-10 may change to the proposed 2014 deadline, healthcare organizations must keep moving forward with preparations. Annie Boynton, BS, RHIT, CPC, CCS, CPC-H, CCS-P, CPC-P, CPC-I, CPhT, explains how organizations can use the additional time to better handle the change process associated with ICD-10, especially planning for education and training.
May 8, 2012
Although MS-DRGs have stolen the spotlight since CMS implemented them in 2007, hospitals are increasingly using All Patient Refined DRGs (APR-DRG) to compile the most accurate assessment of patient severity of illness (SOI) and risk of mortality (ROM). Cheryl M. Manchenton, RN, BSN, and Tamara A. Hicks, RN, BSN, MHA, CCS, CCDS, ACM, describe why APR-DRGs are the most widely-used SOI and ROM-adjusted DRGs and how organizations can use them to their advantage.
May 8, 2012
HHS has announced a proposed rule that would postpone ICD-10-CM/PCS implementation from October 1, 2013, to October 1, 2014, if finalized. Gloryanne Bryant, RHIA, CCS, CDIP, CCDS, James S. Kennedy, MD, CCS, Sue Bowman, MJ, RHIA, CCS, and Tara Blum, RHIA, CCS, explain just what that change may mean for coding professionals.
May 8, 2012
Inpatient acute care hospitals could see a 2.3% increase in payment rates under the fiscal year (FY) 2013 Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) proposed rule, released April 24. The 2.3% is a net update after inflation, improvements in productivity, a statutory adjustment factor, and adjustments for hospital documentation and coding changes.
May 8, 2012
QUESTION: A physician documents in an operative report debridement of a necrotic muscle (not due to an open wound). Must the physician also document how the muscle is removed to report ICD-9-CM procedure code 83.45 (other myectomy)?
Is this considered excisional or nonexcisional debridement? What documentation is required to code the removal of a necrotic portion of a muscle?
April 23, 2012
Unfortunately, ICD-10-PCS is not very comparable to the current ICD-9-CM volume 3 codes inpatient coders currently use. But coders shouldn’t despair, according to Sandy Nicholson, MA, RHIA, Jennifer Avery, CCS, CPC-H, CPC, CPC-I and Robert S. Gold, MD—ICD-10-PC coding may even be fun once coders get the hang of it.
April 23, 2012
The additions and revisions to the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting in 2012 include some new information that coders should be aware of in preparation for ICD-10-CM/PCS implementation. Sandy Nicholson, MA, RHIA, and Shelley C. Safian, PhD, MAOM/HSM, CCS-P, CPC-H, CPC-I, CHA, explore some of the biggest guideline changes.
April 10, 2012
During the last year, the buzz from the health information management (HIM) and coding community has consistently reflected that, as a whole, the industry continues to feel the strain of tight budgets and squeeze of limited resources, especially with the approach of ICD-10 implementation. Coders reacted to the effects this has had on their compensation levels in the 2011 JustCoding Coder Salary Survey, the results of which are also discussed.
April 10, 2012
If you're going to spend time and resources to conduct a coding audit, you certainly want to ensure effective and informative results. Joe Rivet, CCS-P, CPC, CEMC, CPMA, CICA, CHRC, CHPC, CHC, and Julie Daube, BS, RHIT, CCS, CCS-P, discuss how factors such as timing, senior-level buy in, risk areas, a defined scope, and a commitment to follow-through can help make the coding audit a valuable tool in your organization.
April 10, 2012
As you run down your mental to-do list for the rest of the afternoon, you realize you're double-booked for multiple meetings, and you're having trouble prioritizing because your phone keeps buzzing with new e-mail notifications. If you're a health information management (HIM) director, this scenario likely repeats day in and day out. Luckily Monica Pappas, RHIA, Patti Reisinger, RHIT, CCS, and Tesa Topley, RHIA, provide tips and strategies for HIM directors to help manage all that they juggle, and prevent stress from getting out of control.