If you are unable to see the message below, click here to view.
Medical necessity denials are commonly encountered in facilities. Complete understanding and utilization of the ICD-10-CM/PCS coding guidelines is imperative for coders and coding mangers to recognize how to avoid these denials.
Trouble viewing? See it online! Wednesday, March 7, 2018

CE Articles
Utilizing ICD-10-CM/PCS coding guidelines to ensure medical necessity

Medical necessity denials are commonly encountered in facilities. Complete understanding and utilization of the ICD-10-CM/PCS coding guidelines is imperative for coders and coding mangers to recognize how to avoid these denials.

Note: To access this free article, make sure you first register here if you do not have a paid subscription.
Ensuring coding compliance through the OIG work plan
James S. Kennedy, MD, CCS, CCDS, CDIP, writes about potential coding compliance issues raised in the Office of Inspector General’s (OIG) Work Plan for providers to consider, including documentation and coding for severe malnutrition and bariatric surgery.
KPIs: Long live metrics
Allen Frady, RN-BSN, CCDS, CCS, CRC, explains the value of tracking and understanding key performance indicators (KPI), and gives advice on how facilities can improve on its practices.
Healthcare News: ARF nearly doubles cost of hospital stay, says HCUP
The cost for a hospital stay in 2014 involving acute renal failure (ARF) averaged $19,200, nearly twice the $9,900 average cost for stays not involving renal failure, according to the statistical brief published by The Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP).
Q&A: Documenting intoxication with a blood alcohol level
Q: If a patient is admitted with a high blood alcohol level and the provider documents the blood alcohol level in his or her note, does the provider also need to specifically write “patient with intoxication?”
 

New on JustCoding.com

New on JustCoding Platinum!       

Platinum members can access a query example for ulcer clarification. If you are not a Platinum member and you want to upgrade your account, please call customer service at 800-650-6787.

Free quiz

Test your knowledge with this week’s free quiz, which features ICD-10-PCS Inspection codes for the urinary system.

Mini poll

On average, how many charts do you code in one day? 

Click here to share your answer.

We need your help!

JustCoding relies on customer feedback to develop products that best meet your needs. If you are interested in participating in a focus group or one-on-one call, please complete the following survey. Calls would be an open discussion regarding recent coding challenges, trends, and ideas. Participants will be given a free on-demand webinar of their choice as our thank you for your input!

JustCoding ‘Meet a Member’

To help bring JustCoding members together and let them learn more about their colleagues, JustCoding is launching a monthly “Meet a Member” spotlight to appear in upcoming issues. The JustCoding team loves hearing members’ stories, including major triumphs and challenges, and sharing them with the larger JustCoding membership. As a coder, this is your chance to share your story, experiences, tips, or advice with thousands of JustCoding members. If chosen, your spotlight will appear in an upcoming issue.

JustCoding is currently searching for more members to feature in this section. If you’d like to share your coding story, please email editor Amanda Norris at anorris@hcpro.com.
 

SelectCoder Tip of the Week

Do not assign ICD-10-CM code N08 (glomerular disorders in diseases classified elsewhere) for a patient diagnosed with diabetic nephropathy. For a patient diagnosed with diabetic nephropathy, choose and assign the appropriate combination code to specify the manifestation from code categories E08-E13.

Interested in more coding tips and claim validation tools? Click here to sign up for a demo or to learn more about SelectCoder. 
 

    

SIGN UP | FORWARD | SPONSOR
 
 

Platinum Newsletters

Platinum members can view the latest stories from Briefings on APCs (updated each Thursday) and Briefings on Coding Compliance Strategies (updated each Tuesday). 
 

Product Spotlight

Acute Kidney Injury and Acute Renal Failure: 2018 Coding, Criteria, and Classifications Webinar

Join expert speakers Sarah Humbert, RHIA, and Temeka Davis, RHIT, for this 90-minute webinar on Wednesday, April 25, as they discuss the recent ICD-10-CM/PCS coding changes and challenges for reporting acute kidney injury and acute renal failure (AKI/ARF). The speakers will explain clinical details of AKI/ARF, as well as the documentation necessary to meet coding guideline requirements for these conditions. They will also identify opportunities to improve documentation, and help listeners recognize when a query is needed for clarification and accurate code assignment.

For more information or to order, call 800-650-6787 or visit the HCPro Healthcare Marketplace.
 

Contact Us

Amanda Norris
Editor
JustCoding News: Inpatient
editor@justcoding.com


HCPro
35 Village Road, Suite 200
Middleton, MA 01949
800-650-6787
http://www.hcpro.com
 

Career Center

Post your open positions or find your next career move with the HCPro Career Center.
 

New to JustCoding?

Click the following links to: