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Issue 12, December 1, 2014 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Bypass problems when coding CABG

  Coding for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) procedures will be very different in ICD-10-PCS.

• Combine coding guidelines, clinical definitions to correctly code sepsis in ICD-9-CM

  Coding for sepsis requires a strong knowledge of ICD-9-CM coding guidelines, as well as complete...

• CMS finalizes change to physician certification requirement in 2015 OPPS final rule

  Beginning January 1, 2015, physicians will no longer need to provide certification for an inpatient...

• Getting short of breath in ICD-10-CM

  Robert S. Gold, MD, highlights areas of concern for respiratory conditions in ICD-10-CM.

Issue 11, November 1, 2014 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Master malnutrition definitions, coding rules

  Malnutrition is at its most basic level any nutritional imbalance. While it can be overnutrition...

• Don't forget about approach for ICD-10-PCS

  ICD-10-PCS codes consist of seven characters, each of which identifies a unique, specific piece of...

• Start resolving ICD-10-CM question

  Many coders rely on the advice in the American Hospital Association (AHA)'s Coding Clinic to...

• TBB or not TBB, that is the question

  Physicians use a lot of shortcuts and abbreviations. Some of them may even make it to the official...

Issue 10, October 1, 2014 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Strains, sprains, and dislocations: ICD-10-CM orthopedic changes go beyond fractures

  Changes to the codes for musculoskeletal injuries goes beyond just increased codes for fractures...

• Manage denials for inpatient-only procedures

  CMS designates a certain set of procedures as inpatient-only, meaning it will only reimburse...

• Diagnose documentation shortcomings

  Discover where your physician documentation falls short as you prepare for ICD-10.

• What the docs told you they did isn't what they actually did

  Robert S. Gold, MD, explains why physicians don’t always document what they do and how...

• ICD-10-CM training tool: Fracture coding

  This month, we are providing a 10-question quiz on ICD-10-CM coding for fractures.   

Issue 9, September 1, 2014 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• 2015 IPPS final rule: Quality measures can cause coding concerns

  Quality measures, such as the Hospital Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) Program, the Hospital...

• Seven ICD-10 misconceptions and myths busted

  ICD-10 implementation and coding present plenty of challenges, especially when it comes to...

• Get ready for new ICD-10 date

  Learn how coders can help ensure the latest ICD-10 implementation date is the final ICD-10...

• What is ethical coding?

  Robert S. Gold, MD, discusses the importance of ethical coding.

Issue 8, August 1, 2014 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• CMS proposes change for physician certifications with inpatient hospital admissions

  CMS introduced a singificant change to physician certification requirements in the 2015 OPPS...

• The path to pathologic fractures: How to get there from here in ICD-10-CM

  In ICD-10-CM, you need to communicate with the medical staff about the specific elements that are...

• Training tool: ICD-10-CM quiz

  Use this 10-question quiz to determine how well you understand ICD-10-CM coding for diseases of the...

• Focus on fracture coding changes in ICD-10-CM

  The section of codes that expanded most in ICD-10-CM involves orthopedic injuries, especially...

• ICD-10 quiz answers

  Here are the answers to the ICD-10-CM training quiz on p. 8:

• Brush up on types of bone fractures

  Fractures can be open or closed, displaced or nondisplaced. Different types of fractures show...

Issue 7, July 1, 2014 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Review and reevaluate the process for identifying inpatient-only procedures

  CMS' introduction of the 2-midnight rule in the 2014 IPPS final rule makes properly identifying...

• Communicate link between quality of physician documentation, quality of care

  Physician documentation drives quality measures, but physicians often don't understand how the...

• Training tool: ICD-10-PCS case study

  ICD-10-PCS will be a big change for inpatient coders. The best way to learn the new coding system...

• You say -osis and I'll say -itis

  In this month's Clinically Speaking column, Robert S. Gold, MD, reviews the various types of...

• Training tool answer

  Here is the answer to the case study.

Issue 6, June 1, 2014 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• CMS continues focus on quality measures

  CMS' 2015 IPPS proposed rule, released April 30, focuses on quality measures, such as HAC...

• Make sure you face the latest ICD-10 delay with optimism instead of skepticism

  The April 1 confirmation of the delay in implementing the ICD-10 code set until at least October...

• What's wise with wounds by Robert S. Gold, MD

  Coding of wounds has been a complicated and never-ending issue and it will become a bit more...

Issue 5, May 1, 2014 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Another ICD-10 delay leaves healthcare industry with more questions than answers

  Congress needed just a week to throw a huge monkey wrench into the healthcare industry's plans for...

• BCCS board weighs in on ICD-10 delay

  When Congress passed the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014, it mandated at least a one-year...

• ICD-10-CM offers a new twist on complications: Codes that act as their own CC or MCC

  A diabetic patient is admitted with gangrene. The physician does not specifically link the diabetes...

• WHEW! The ICD-10 pressure's off, or is it?

  At the time of this publication, the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 bill was recently...

• Coding Clinic offers specific ICD-10 guidance

  Coding Clinic's Fourth Quarter 2013 issue focuses considerable attention on ICD-10-CM coding.

Issue 4, April 1, 2014 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Defining the goal of the CDI department

  In an ideal world, all coders and CDI specialists would get along well and work together with...

• Consider the meaning of 'after study' and 'due to' when selecting a principal diagnosis

  Don’t let the idea of ‘after study’ lead you to the wrong principal...

• Query challenges coming with ICD-10-PCS

  Coders will need more information to report ICD-10-PCS codes, so who will send the queries?

• Don't fall into ICD-10 coding traps

  Robert S. Gold, MD, highlights coding traps to avoid in ICD-10-CM, including hypostatic...

• Coding Clinic offers specific ICD-10 guidance

  Coding Clinic's Third and Fourth Quarter 2013 issues focus considerable attention on ICD-10-PCS...

Issue 3, March 1, 2014 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Details help differentiate between ICD-10-PCS root operations excision and resection

  ICD-10-CM root operations excision and resection are sometimes hard to differentiate. ICD-10-PCS...

• Determine when and how to query physicians

  Coders and clinicians seem to speak different languages. CDI specialists often serve as the...

• Don't overlook ICD-9 trouble spots

  With the deadline for ICD-10 implementation quickly approaching, ICD-9 problems may not receive the...

• Patient acuity takes center stage with APR-DRGs

  Most inpatient coders are very familiar with MS-DRGs and Base DRGs. They may not, however, be as...

• More areas of concern for compliance and accuracy in ICD-10 coding

  You all know that I have been unhappy with some code definitions in ICD-9 and have ucceeded in...

Issue 2, February 1, 2014 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Focus on key factors to ensure accurate principal diagnosis selection

  The UHDDS defines principal diagnosis as the condition established after study to be chiefly...

• Know when to report an unspecified code

    To report an unspecified code or to query, that is the question. And like so many coding...

• Identify MS-DRG shifts as ICD-10 nears

  Inpatient coders will see an entirely new coding system October 1 when they begin officially using...

• ICD-10-CM sample queries

  These sample queries were adapted from The CDI Specialist’s Guide to ICD-10, created and...

• Is neonatal really neonatal? How statistics can be warped through misunderstanding

  Whether you work in a dedicated children’s hospital or a general hospital with a pediatric...

Issue 1, January 1, 2014 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Accuracy is as important as speed in coding in ICD-10

  Different studies using different methodologies all point to the same ­conclusion: Coder...

• Clinical indicators reduce CC confusion

  Coders live in a very difficult world. They want to do what is best for their organization based on...

• Code sets we need but don't have yet

  800x600 Robert S. Gold, MD, highlights areas where code choices are lacking...

• Briefings on Coding Compliance Strategies 2013 index

  800x600 Looking for a past BCCS article? Find what you need with the 2013 article...