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HIM Connection

Keep up to date with weekly advice on issues such as coding and reimbursement, medical record documentation, Joint Commission IM standards, and more.

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HIM Connection

Issue 46, November 17, 2009

• Providers report first RAC denials in Florida, South Carolina

  Healthcare providers in several states received their first RAC denials. Connolly Healthcare, the...

• Protecting PHI stored in Microsoft applications

  Q. How should we manage the tracking/logging of PHI that may be stored in standard Microsoft...

• Refresh your knowledge of core concepts for coding accuracy

  Clinical knowledge is an essential element for capturing severity and MS-DRG assignment, according...

• Medical records yesterday, today, and tomorrow

  When I started working in a hospital in the mid-1960s, the medical record department still had huge...

Issue 45, November 10, 2009

• OPPS final rule: CMS finalizes changes for drug payment formula, physician supervision

  The 2010 OPPS final rule released on October 30 contains few surprises, but does finalize two...

• Q&A: HIPAA and social networking

  Q: I am beginning to hear about HIPAA violations occurring on popular Internet sites (e.g...

• Prepare for miscellaneous costs that may arise during the transition to ICD-10

  Despite an HIM director’s best efforts to prepare for a smooth transition to ICD-10, there...

• Prepare for miscellaneous costs that may arise during the transition to ICD-10

  Despite an HIM director’s best efforts to prepare for a smooth transition to ICD-10, there...

• Limit your risk; address snooping problems swiftly

  HIPAA privacy and security officers must face the reality that employees may misuse their access to...

Issue 44, November 3, 2009

• Defining BAs

  The Privacy Rule defines a BA as a person or an organization, other than a member of the CE’s...

• Q&A: Obtaining acknowledgement of notice of privacy

  Q. Must we obtain a patient’s acknowledgement that he or she has received the notice of...

• Documentation Compliance Plan

  In addition to policies and procedures, HIPAA has provisions related to documentation. These...

• Prepare for ICD-10 with A/P Education

  Capturing an ICD-10 code may require knowledge of very specific details about a diagnosis or...

Issue 43, October 27, 2009

• Accounting of Disclosures

  Patients have the right to obtain an accounting of certain disclosures of their health information...

• Q&A: Registered sex offender information

  Q. A patient who was admitted to the hospital wants to know whether any registered sex offenders...

• Plan for compliance assurance with business associate contracts

  To ensure compliance with the business associate and BAC requirements in HIPAA and HITECH, canvass...

• Experts: Hospitals not the place for personal e-mail, social networking sites

  Covered entities and business associates can protect themselves against the dangers of unsecured...

Issue 42, October 20, 2009

• HIPAA's Privacy Controls: Restrictions requested by an individual

  Under the HITECH Act, when an individual request that a CE not release PHI to a health plan for...

• Q&A: Patient authorization to release information

  Q. A patient whose parents are divorced is admitted to the hospital. Should we require both parents...

• Tip: Ensure staff members are survey-ready

  Make Joint Commission readiness a part of orientation for all new staff members and provide ongoing...

• Productivity benchmarks

  With audit contractors scrutinizing coding accuracy and an upcoming transition to the ICD-10 coding...

Issue 41, October 13, 2009

• Forms available for breach notification

  On Oct. 1, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released forms to submit information...

• Q&A: Give verbal reports with caution

  Q. When staff members are familiar with a physician and his or her name is on a pathology report...

• Tip: Ask these questions to determine quality coding measure practices

  Many organizations have established coding quality expectations. Calculating coding quality varies...

• Expect CMS outreach in preparation for Medicaid audits

  CMS plans to roll out its Medicaid Integrity Program (MIP) nationwide by the end of the year...

Issue 40, October 6, 2009

• Recovery Act funds released for EHR implementation

  The government released $27.8 million September 29 in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds...

• How do you handle remote HIPAA training?

  Q. Is HIPAA training via WebEx or a similar Internet format adequate for work force members who...

• Ask the right questions regarding RAC records requests

  Inpatient hospitals, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, skilled nursing facilities, and hospice...

• Use the 2010 IPPS final rule to lobby for more coder continuing education funds

  Many hospitals had feared a 1.9% reduction in payment for 2010, but they’ll actually see a...

Issue 39, September 29, 2009

• Amendments require hospitals' charges to become public information

  A transparency amendment to the health reform bill (HR 3200) was approved September 24 by the House...

• Coding conditions as "acute" versus "chronic"

  Question: A patient came into the ER with complaints of a headache and facial pain. The ER...

• Accurately assign POA indicators with the right info

  The present-on-admission (POA) indicator refers to conditions that are present at the time an order...

• The meaning of meaningful use and its future

  Nothing is concrete, but the fog surrounding meaningful use—its eventual definition...

Issue 38, September 22, 2009

• Meaningful use criteria coming in 2011

  The federal government will phase in meaningful use criteria for EHRs in three major periods...

• Last RAC announces first issue--DCS posts approved issues for Region A

  DCS Healthcare has released its first CMS-approved issues for audits in Region A. The three...

• Effectively research your ICD-9-CM coding questions

  Follow these steps when researching an ICD-9-CM coding question.

• NCDs clarify how to identify and report never events

  Even though never events should never happen, there are occasions when they do. Providers continue...

Issue 37, September 15, 2009

• Medicare’s HAC policy may not save much money

  A new study shows Medicare’s policy against paying for hospital-acquired conditions will only...

• Coding acute blood loss anemia due to patient noncompliance

  QUESTION: A patient undergoes outpatient surgery and is subsequently admitted due to acute blood...

• Develop a response process for never events

  It’s important for hospitals to have a process in place regarding never events, says John...

• The EHR 'spin zone': Separating fact from fiction

  By Darice M. Grzybowski, MA, RHIA, FAHIMA, President and Founder, HIMentors, LLC Healthcare...

Issue 36, September 8, 2009

• CMS posts ICD-10 fact sheet

  CMS recently posted a fact sheet regarding ICD-10 that summarizes structural differences between...

• Coding incidental versus ectopic pregnancy

  Q: What does an incidental pregnancy (code V22.2) mean? Is it related at all to an ectopic...

• Ensure compliant coding for ARF

  The following ICD-9-CM codes denote acute respiratory failure (ARF): 518.81, ARF...

• Revisit your sanctions policy with HITECH in mind

  The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act provides a...

Issue 35, September 1, 2009

• Voluntary refunds don't protect against RACs

  For many providers, self-auditing has become an important RAC preparation tool. Certainly, internal...

• CGI posts first approved issues for RAC review in region B

  Region B, get ready. RACs may begin auditing at any time in several Region B states. CGI Federal...

• White House announces $1.2 billion available in EHR grants

  Hospitals and other healthcare providers can tap into $1.2 billion in grants to assist in becoming...

• CMS to conduct national assessment of existing health IT infrastructures

  On August 20, CMS published a published a request for information (RFI) regarding the National Gap...

• Money, money, money: Privacy breaches get costly

  The cost of a privacy breach far exceeds any fines authorized by the Health Information for...

Issue 34, August 25, 2009

• Meaningful use work group releases new matrix for consideration

  Is the third time a charm? That’s the burning question on everyone’s minds as the...

• HHS releases interim final rule for breach notification, secure PHI

  HHS released an interim final rule regarding breach notification and the acceptable methods for...

• Connolly posts issues for review in Florida: Issues differ between region C states

  Connolly Healthcare, the RAC for region C, has now posted issues for review in Florida, including...

• FTC issues final breach notification rule for electronic health information

  The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued its final rule that requires some Internet-based...

• Office for Civil Rights names HIPAA privacy and security delegates

  The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) named the regional delegates for HIPAA privacy and security...

• CMS reveals the results of three demonstration projects aimed at paying for quality care

  On August 17, CMS announced the results of three different demonstration projects (one for large...

• Dissect documentation for psychiatric inpatients

  Unlike acute care inpatients, CMS pays hospitals for psych inpatients based on per diem rates set...

Issue 33, August 18, 2009

• Check out our new HIPAA Update blog!

  Since HIPAA first took effect in 2003, HCPro, Inc. has been an industry leader in privacy and...

• HealthDataInsights launches new RAC Web site, posts issues eligible for audits

  HealthDataInsights, Inc. launched its new RAC Web site, and posted the first set of issues eligible...

• New guide available to help states implement HITECH Act

  On August 4, the National Governors Association (NGA)—a bipartisan organization of the...

• CCHIT weighs in on definition of meaningful use

  On August 13, the Certification Commission for Health Information Technology (CCHIT) issued a...

• Provide comments on potential hospital quality measures

  CMS is accepting comments through August 25 on two cardiac outcomes measures that it may implement...

• Privacy and security breaches: Make your sanctioning message loud and clear

  Hospitals should take a tiered approach when establishing sanction policies that consider various...

Issue 32, August 11, 2009

• RAC audits to begin in Region C

  Heads up, healthcare providers: Connolly Healthcare, the RAC for Region C, has posted the first set...

• Providers may need four years to implement ICD-10

  Industry experts have repeatedly said that ICD-10 implementation must begin immediately for...

• Sebelius shifts HIPAA security rule enforcement to Civil Rights Office

  The secretary of HHS shifted enforcement of the HIPAA security rule from CMS to the Office for...

• Improve documentation with strong CDI specialist, program

  By now, most coders are aware that ICD-10 will usher in expanded codes that will require additional...

Issue 31, August 4, 2009

• CMS releases FY 2010 IPPS final rule

  Though many hospitals had feared a 1.9% reduction in payment for 2010, they will actually see a...

• HITSP approves new interoperability specifications

  On July 23, the Healthcare Information Technology Standards Panel (HITSP) announced its approval of...

• CMS updates revenue code description

  On July 10, CMS issued Transmittal 1767 to change the description for revenue code 076X. The...

• Proposed OPPS changes may bring greater flexibility for physician supervision

  Despite several industry groups’ efforts to advocate for a moratorium on physician...

• Know coverage rules for surgical never events

  Q: Where can I learn more about national coverage determinations (NCD) for surgical never...

• Know the HIM professional's role in assisting regional extension centers

  The ARRA has provided unique opportunities for HIM professionals to become involved in regional...

• Red Flags deadline moved to November 1

  On July 29, the Federal Trade Commission announced that—for a third time—it has pushed...

• Sign, date, time: The HIM director's continuing quest for compliance

  Obtaining physicians’ signatures on their orders usually isn’t difficult. Asking them...

Issue 30, July 28, 2009

• Definition of meaningful use one step closer to adoption

  On July 16, the Health Information Technology Policy Committee adopted a revised definition of...

• CPOE continues to challenge hospitals

  If you had to begin implementing computerized physician order entry (CPOE) today, how many years do...

• AHIMA launches new and improved Web site devoted to PHRs

  Q: Where can I find up-to-date information about personal health records (PHR)? A: On July 15...

• Department of Defense and Department of Veterans' Affairs track progress toward joint virtual lifetime EHR

  The Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee held a...

• Case study: Create a culture of HIPAA compliance

  You’re a HIPAA expert and a trainer in a hospital, which means two things are certain: You...

Issue 29, July 21, 2009

• Annual HIM director salary survey

  HCPro is collecting information about HIM directors’ salaries. To participate in this...

• CCHIT releases its own meaningful use matrix

  Q: Where can I find comments that the Certification Commission for Healthcare Information...

• Know where to look in the medical record when assigning the POA indicator

  Certain areas of the patient’s record will most likely provide important clues to the coder...

• Establish inpatient coder productivity benchmarks

  Although there are no national productivity standards, it is possible to establish standards within...

• Uncover this helpful GEM to assist with ICD-10 transition

  Despite the fact that ICD-10 implementation is still nearly three years away, CMS is ramping up its...

Issue 28, July 14, 2009

• Hospital Compare Web site includes information about readmissions

  CMS has added new information to its Hospital Compare Web site pertaining to how frequently...

• CMS releases 2010 OPPS proposed rule

  Outpatient facilities and pharmacies hoping to see an increase in reimbursement for separately...

• HIPAA 5010 requires IT to do more with fewer resources

  A hospital’s information technology (IT) project list is most likely an exponential one...

• Ensure red flag compliance before August 1

  The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) developed the Red Flags Rule pursuant to the Fair and Accurate...

• What's your EHR pre-implementation plan?

  by Darice M. Grzybowski, MA, RHIA, FAHIMA We all have good EHR intentions—plans to pick out...

Issue 27, July 7, 2009

• AHA calls for elongated timeline to ensure meaningful use

  The American Hospital Association (AHA) says hospitals need more time to implement EHRs and prove...

• AHIMA comments on proposed definition of meaningful use

  Q: What is AHIMA’s stance on the proposed definition of meaningful use?

• Know CMS RAC audit phase-in strategy

  CMS released further information June 24 on its RAC Web site letting healthcare providers know when...

• Understand 'meaningful use' to prepare for HHS definition, EHR incentives

  The amount is colossal: $4,896,450. This is the total maximum payment for which Mission Hospital, a...

Issue 26, June 30, 2009

• CMS Web site now dedicated to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

  CMS has announced the creation of a new Web site dedicated to the American Recovery and...

• CCHIT to publish multiple EHR certification options

  The Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology (CCHIT) announced that it will...

• Use a change-of-status form to ensure compliance when reporting condition code 44

  A change-of-status form will help ensure that a hospital meets all of the criteria for reporting...

• Release of information to patients and minimum necessary requirements

  Q: When patients ask us to release their entire record, must we restrict disclosure to the minimum...

• Ensure confidentiality when faxing patient information

  HIPAA does not address faxing patient information specifically, but does protect it under the...

• Study: Hospitals far from having fully implemented EHRs

  Healthcare systems nationwide continue to strive to adopt electronic health records (EHR), but too...

Issue 25, June 23, 2009

• AHA comments on payment cuts in 2010 IPPS proposed rule

  On June 15, the American Hospital Association (AHA) provided comments to CMS about changes outlined...

• Meaningful use first draft could guide final definition

  The Health Information Technology Policy Committee stressed on Tuesday that the meaningful use...

• National Quality Forum makes recommendations regarding EHR quality measures

  The Health Information Technology Expert Panel (HITEP) established by the National Quality Forum...

• Billing infusion hours when there is an order to admit

  Q: A patient in the ED is receiving infusion services. A physician writes an order to admit that...

• Eight essential questions every HIM director should ask about RAC record requests

  How many record requests can HIM directors expect to receive now that the permanent Recovery Audit...

Issue 24, June 16, 2009

• Survey: HIM director resource center

  HCPro is researching the creation of an online resource center for HIM directors. The following...

• NCVHS provides comments about meaningful use

  On June 1, the National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics (NCVHS) posted a 10-page document...

• CMS issues supplemental fiscal year 2010 proposed rule for long-term acute care hospitals

  Q: Where can I find more information about Medicare payments proposed for long-term acute care...

• 2010 ICD-9 code updates now available online

  The new and revised ICD-9 codes that take effect October 1 are now available online. Learn more...

• Illinois health system shares its EHR success story to help others obtain physician buy-in

  Terri Bunsen, chief privacy officer at NorthShore University HealthSystem in Evanston, IL, says...

Issue 23, June 9, 2009

• Join the discussion at newly launched ICD-10 blog

  ICD-10 Watch is a new blog that provides readers with a free, online forum for all matters related...

• CMS postpones RAC complex reviews of medical necessity until 2010

  CMS anticipates Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) automated reviews will begin in late June and July...

• Health IT Extension Program

  Q: How can I submit comments on the draft description of the Health Information Technology...

• Build dialogue with physicians to combat incomplete records

  Interview physicians regularly—either on the patient-care floor, during medical staff...

• Plan for the future and trust that your revamped policies are sound

  As technology grows, evolves, and spawns newer versions of itself, security and privacy challenges...

Issue 22, June 2, 2009

• MRB benchmark: Joint Commission surveys

  If you haven’t already taken our Joint Commission benchmarking survey, please take a few...

• New CCHIT certification process to remain flexible as ARRA details unfold

  On May 29, the Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology (CCHIT) announced its...

• Creating specialty-specific H&Ps

  Q: Has anyone developed specialty-specific history and physical (H&P) forms, such as an H&P...

• Pay attention to new RAC FAQs

  CMS released four new and updated RAC FAQ on May 19. The FAQ range from the broad ("Why is CMS...

• BA agreements: Consider additions to new contracts

  The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 hit business associates (BA) hard because they...

Issue 21, May 26, 2009

• Survey: EHRs and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

  If you haven’t already taken our survey on EHRs and the American Recovery and Reinvestment...

• CMS explains the importance of HIPAA 5010

  CMS issued a special edition Medlearn Matters article (SE0904) that provides an overview of the...

• ONC issues HITECH operating plan

  On May 18, the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) issued an operating plan that details...

• CMS FAQ addresses RAC medical record requests

  CMS released a RAC FAQ April 29 with important news that may have previously flown under the radar...

• HIM job market remains promising for new grads in light of national focus on health IT

  It was only by chance that Beth Kost-Woodrow, RHIA, assistant vice president and chief privacy...

Issue 20, May 19, 2009

• New Web site to provide forum for discussing 'meaningful use'

  The Association of Medical Directors and Information Systems and Compuware (a software developer...

• EMRs make the top 10 technology watch list for hospital c-suite executives in 2009

  On May 4, the ECRI Institute®, an independent nonprofit organization that researches the best...

• Construct and maintain a hospital-specific coding manual

  Every hospital should develop and maintain its own internal coding manual. It’s an essential...

• OIG Work Plan: Still time to prepare

  Your hospital’s HIM department has more to think about than ever before. President Obama has...

Issue 19, May 12, 2009

• New poll finds Americans see value in widespread EHR adoption

  Three out of four U.S. residents believe it is very or somewhat important for healthcare providers...

• Understand new AHA RACTrac initiative

  Q: I’ve heard that the American Hospital Association (AHA) will be tracking the effects of...

• Review new AHIMA practice brief on sanction guidelines for privacy and security breaches

  AHIMA released a new practice brief May 2 that addresses the importance of creating a united...

• Understand inpatient wound care coding for RAC audits

  During the three-year RAC demonstration project, payment for several inpatient debridement...

Issue 18, May 4, 2009

• CMS issues FY 2010 IPPS proposed rule

  The long-awaited fiscal year (FY) 2010 Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) proposed rule is...

• Red Flags Rule enforcement delayed until August 1

  The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has extended the Red Flags Rule enforcement deadline to August 1...

• CMS issues FY 2010 proposed rule for inpatient rehabilitation facilities

  On April 28, CMS issued a proposed rule for inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRF) for FY 2010.

• AHIMA publishes statement regarding the definition of meaningful use

  AHIMA set forth several meaningful use measures and elements in a statement that Sandra Fuller, MA...

• HIMSS suggests meaningful use definition to ONC

  The Healthcare Information & Management Systems Society (HIMSS) submitted its definition of...

• Stay tuned for transcript of NCVHS' two-day meeting on meaningful use

  The National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics discussed meaningful use as it pertains to...

• New legislation facilitates nationwide adoption of EHRs

  Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-WV) has introduced legislation—the Health Information...

• ICD-9 code for cerebral occlusion, thrombotic with cerebral infarction and hypertensive cardiovascular disease

  Q: What code should I report for a cerebral occlusion, thrombotic with cerebral infarction and...

• HITECH Act: Understand the changes to BA agreements

  President Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009—specifically Title...

Issue 17, April 28, 2009

• HHS outlines ways to secure PHI, create safe harbor against security breach notification

  HHS published guidance April 17 that identifies the technologies and methodologies that render...

• CMS pilot program targets hospitals readmissions

  On April 13, CMS announced a pilot project to reduce rates of hospital readmissions. The Care...

• Joint virtual lifetime electronic record soon to be available for veterans

  The Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) are working together to...

• Rhode Island to track statewide healthcare IT use

  Nearly 40% of Rhode Island physicians report using electronic clinical information systems to help...

• Ensure compliance when coding nonphysician documentation

  In most cases, coders should not assign codes based on documentation that does not come from a...

• Crack down on unauthorized use and disclosure of PHI with your EHR's audit log

  If you’re thinking about taking advantage of the incentive payments for EHR implementation...

Issue 16, April 21, 2009

• EHRs and CPOE top priorities according to HIMSS survey

  EHR implementation and computerized physician order entry (CPOE) are top priorities for health...

• Comment on security breach notification rule that targets personal health records

  If you’ve got an opinion on the proposed rule to require vendors of a personal health record...

• Health information exchange advancements

  Q: Is there any recent information available regarding the prevalence of health information...

• Review new FTC Red Flag rule guidance

  The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) published a guide, Fighting Fraud with the Red Flags Rule: A...

• Use CMS ICD-10 fact sheet to understand general equivalence mappings

  CMS has issued a fact sheet titled General Equivalence Mappings: ICD-9-CM to and from ICD-10-CM and...

• Seattle hospital moves to DNV accreditation

  For one Seattle hospital, making the move from Joint Commission accreditation to DNV Healthcare...

Issue 15, April 14, 2009

• Create a database to manage and track RAC requests

  A comprehensive database is the critical to managing recovery audit contractor (RAC) requests. The...

• Coding Shone's syndrome with subaortic stenosis and coarctation

    Q: How should I code Shone’s syndrome with subaortic stenosis and coarctation...

• Ensure compliance with IM.01.01.03 to prepare for disasters and other emergencies

  Develop worst-case scenarios similar to the one described and train staff members at all levels of...

• Enforcement reaches new level: HITECH Act features stiffer penalties for privacy breaches

  It’s just one part of the much-publicized American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, but...

Issue 14, April 7, 2009

• 13 members appointed to the Health Information Technology Policy Committee

  Gene L. Dodaro, acting comptroller general of the United States and head of the U.S. Government...

• Study finds hospitals have a long way to go in terms of EHR implementation

  Hospitals are still behind the eight ball when it comes to implementing EHRs, according to a March...

• Listen in on upcoming RAC Open Door Forum calls

  CMS will be holding two Special Open Door Forums on Recovery Audit Contractors (RAC) for Part A and...

• World Privacy Forum publishes HIPAA guide for patients

  The World Privacy Forum announced its publication of a comprehensive HIPAA privacy guide written...

• Countdown to ICD-10: Devise a four-year training plan

  Although coders need not put their nose to the ICD-10 grindstone for another few years, that...

Issue 13, March 31, 2009

• Joint Commission reduces the number of new and revised requirements to take effect in April

  To maintain deeming authority with CMS, The Joint Commission will implement only 87 changes instead...

• Certification criteria for EHR incentive payments

    Q: Do we know what will constitute a certified EHR that will qualify for incentive...

• Joint a CCHIT advanced technology work group

  The Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology (CCHIT) is accepting...

• HIE guidance just a framework for successful compliance

  As part of its December 2008 Privacy and Security Toolkit, the Office for Civil Rights discussed...

Issue 12, March 24, 2009

• HHS names health technology coordinator

  The Health and Human Services (HHS) department has named Dr. David Blumenthal as the national...

• ICD-9-CM Coordination and Maintenance Committee meeting information available

  If you haven’t already viewed the handouts from the ICD-9-CM Coordination and Maintenance...

• CMS announces schedule to begin provider outreach about RACs

  On March 19, CMS posted a schedule that includes various provider outreach sessions for regions A...

• Meaningful use and EHR incentives

    Q: What will hospitals need to do to prove meaningful use and qualify for payments...

• Falls, spills, and other uncodable events

  By Robert S. Gold, MD Patient falls account for nearly a half-million inpatient days spent in the...

Issue 11, March 17, 2009

• 15 hospitals receive HIMSS award for best practice EMR implementation

  The Healthcare Information Management and Systems Society (HIMSS) honored 15 hospitals with its...

• HIPAA, patient labels, and armbands

    Q. Is it a breach of patient privacy and confidentiality if we print the patient’s...

• Review CCHIT's roadmap for expansion of health information technology

  If you haven’t done so already, take the time to review the Certification Commission for...

• Mark it down: Red flags rule compliance deadline is May 1

  Medical identity theft is an ugly reality for healthcare organizations, patients, and payers...

Issue 10, March 10, 2009

• Contribute to our coder productivity survey and receive a $50 coupon plus a chance to win a cash prize!

  HCPro is conducting in-depth research into coder productivity, and we value your input. The...

• Understand how versioning can affect your legal health record

  In the context of the EHR, versioning is the ability to capture and track serial changes in the...

• Documentation and coding for toxic metabolic encephalopathy

  Q: I need further clarification regarding documentation of toxic metabolic encephalopathy. I have...

• Hold your vendors accountable to ensure a seamless transition to ICD-10

  October 1, 2013, is the deadline by which HIM directors must implement ICD-10 at their hospitals.

• Mock surveys make a difference in staff education

  Constructing a tracer process from scratch for a 645-bed hospital is no simple matter, but that was...

Issue 9, March 3, 2009

• Understand the economic stimulus package’s effect on HIPAA

  On February 17, U.S. President Barack Obama signed into law a $787 billion economic American...

• Coding an infected lumbar wound

  Q: I report ICD-9 code 876.1 for an infected lumbar wound. However, when I report this code, the...

• Perform regular query audits to ensure effectiveness

  Facilities should regularly perform query audits to ensure they are effective. To do so, monitor...

• Healthcare operations: How to approach HIPAA privacy rule ambiguity

  When the OCR revised the HIPAA privacy rule in 2003, it specified accepted uses and disclosures for...

Issue 8, February 24, 2009

• Know how the economic stimulus plan can help offset your EHR implementation costs

  Title XIII of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 focuses on healthcare information...

• Clear up the confusion related to HIPAA and white boards

  Q: May we use physicians’ names on whiteboards? Our emergency department wants to write...

• Know what inpatient services are eligible for reimbursement under the OPPS

  Effective January 1, coders can report HCPCS code C9899 when providers implant a prosthetic device...

• California steps up efforts to protect patient information; other states may follow

  Beware, organizations with nosey hospital staff members: California is getting serious about...

Issue 7, February 17, 2009

• CMS settles RAC contract negotiations and prepares to begin expansion March 1

  The Medicare Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) program is moving full speed ahead now that CMS has...

• Take care when releasing protected health information to a funeral home

  Q. Funeral homes sometimes call requesting a deceased patient’s Social Security number (SSN...

• Take another look at observation documentation

  As with most reimbursement challenges, appropriate documentation plays a significant role in...

• Prevent unintended consequences when rolling out computerized physician order entry

  Computerized physician order entry (CPOE) can increase physician efficiency and enhance patient...

Issue 6, February 10, 2009

• Benchmarking survey: Scanning productivity

  If you haven’t already taken our scanning productivity survey, be sure to take a few moments...

• Understand similarities, differences between CMS CoPs and Joint Commission standards in 2009

  Anyone involved in healthcare—from CEOs to frontline staff members—dread hearing...

• Assigning a POA indicator for diabetes that progresses from controlled to uncontrolled during a hospital stay

  Q: When a patient presents with controlled diabetes that progresses to uncontrolled during a...

• Use newly released ICD-10 guidelines as a starting point for training

  On January 27, the National Center for Health Statistics published updated ICD-10 guidelines to...

• PHRs: New consumer-driven trend can lead to better care, but also privacy challenges

  As healthcare continues its push toward more transparency, consumers are taking a more proactive...

Issue 5, February 3, 2009

• Benchmarking survey: Scanning productivity

  If you haven’t already taken our scanning productivity survey, be sure to take a few moments...

• Implement safeguards to prevent medical identity theft

  You’ve undoubtedly seen the headlines and silently hoped it wouldn’t happen to your...

• Coding a full-thickness burn of the colon wall with serosal irritation following a colon popectomy

    Q: How do you code a full-thickness burn of the colon wall with serosal irritation...

• Consider ways in which a hybrid or electronic record could affect compliance with IM.02.01.03

  The 2009 Joint Commission standards may pose unique challenges for hospitals with hybrid or fully...

• Address data encryption in 2009

  Eat better, go to the gym more often, and take up a hobby; these are all fine New Year’s...

Issue 4, January 27, 2009

• ONC releases final report on medical identity theft

  On January 15, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology released a...

• When will Medicare launch its PHR Choice pilot program?

  A: On January 13, Medicare announced the launch of its personal health record (PHR) Choice pilot...

• Ensure compliance when it comes to verbal queries

  Verbal queries have the greatest liability from a legal standpoint and because they are a common...

• Updated CoP reflect privacy, security, EHRs, and more

  EHRs, patient safety, privacy, and security are among the common themes in official updates to the...

Issue 3, January 20, 2009

• ICD-10 implementation set for 2013

  The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced on January 15 the final regulation to...

• CMS announces Acute Care Episode demonstration sites

  CMS has chosen five sites to participate in the Acute Care Episode (ACE) demonstration project to...

• Where can I find more information about the Surgeon General's revised family health history tool?

  A: On January 13, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the release of a...

• Take advantage of newly-released medical identity theft resources

  If you missed the October 15, 2008 day-long medical identity theft town hall meeting sponsored by...

• Know how the EHR could reshape your department and job

  It’s every HIM director’s dream: a relatively seamless EHR implementation that leads to...

Issue 2, January 13, 2009

• RAC appeals on the rise according to new CMS statistics

  CMS revised its July 2008 RAC appeal update to include appeals statistics through August 31, 2008.

• Where can I find more information about CMS' recent report on ICD-10?

  Ask the expert: Where can I find more information about CMS’ recent report on ICD-10?

• Review new and revised Joint Commission requirements that took effect January 1

  Effective January 1, 2009, The Joint Commission has made several changes to its accreditation...

• One health system implements a patient portal as a first step toward a fully integrated PHR

  Care New England, a three-hospital system in Rhode Island, was familiar with the acronym PHR...

Issue 1, January 6, 2009

• Understand the benefits, costs, and value of PHRs

  Personal health records (PHR) can literally change the world. Sound a bit lofty? Kerry Weems...

• CMS conference calls on ICD-10-CM/PCS

  Q: I wasn’t able to listen to the most recent CMS conference calls about ICD-10. Do you know...

• Review new HHS draft model PHR privacy notice

  On December 15, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced its initiation of the...

• MS-DRGs on OIG radar--Ensure compliant coding

  Since October 1, 2007, providers have been adapting to a revised hospital inpatient reimbursement...