CDI specialists depend on clinical indicators to support queries. Hospitals and physicians need clinical indicators to support the validity of documented diagnoses.

Radiation oncology services billed to CMS had a 9.6% improper payment rate in 2015, leading to Medicare improperly pay $137 million for these services, according to a study reported in the January 2016 Medicare Quarterly Compliance Newsletter.

Nearly 60% of patients say that online reviews matter to them when choosing a physician, according to a study conducted by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) in 2014. However, the scope and usefulness of those online reviews’ are limited, according to a study conducted by JAMA just last week.

HealthGrades, the online healthcare provider rating service, released its widely read list of America's 50 and 100 Best Hospitals for 2017, with few changes seen from the 2016 list.

The CMS ICD-10 Coordination and Maintenance Committee is meeting next week, March 7 and March 8, to discuss proposed code changes to ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS.

CMS requested input on their potential pediatric alternative payment model concepts this week.

Q: Can you code for thiamine deficiency if the patient is being treated prophylactically for potential thiamine deviancy?

A: If the thiamine deficiency is not present and they are only preventing it, then a code would not be allowed.