Blog Category Archives: Calling All Coders…R U a 10?

• Another Plot Twist in the ICD-10 Drama

  on April 9th, 2012   by Kim Felix | No Comments

  HHS today announced a proposed rule to delay ICD-10 from October 1, 2013 to October 1, 2014. It will be interesting to see if/when this proposed rule actually becomes final. While this news may bring a sigh of potential relief … Continue reading →

• ICD-10 Implementation: No Time to Relax

  on March 20th, 2012   by Kim Felix | No Comments

  Not sure how to proceed based on ICD-10 timeline questions? We still don’t know what will happen with the deadline. What we do know is that there is a rulemaking process which will involve a lot of ‘red tape’ in order to … Continue reading →

• Clinical Indicators for Sepsis

  on March 8th, 2012   by Kim Felix | No Comments

  The coding of sepsis is based on the accuracy and completeness of documentation and impacts severity and risk of mortality. In order to correctly code sepsis/SIRS/ severe sepsis we must understand the clinical indictors in addition to the coding guidelines. … Continue reading →

• Alert: We have an ICD-10 elephant in the room!

  on February 17th, 2012   by Kim Felix | No Comments

  Well, there is suddenly a big elephant in the ICD-10 room, isn’t there???  What will happen?  For those of you who have not heard, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)  has announced there will be a new compliance … Continue reading →

• Glasgow Coma Scale

  on January 12th, 2012   by Kim Felix | 2 Comments

  The Glasgow coma scale codes can be used in conjunction with traumatic brain injury codes or sequelae of cerebrovascular accident codes.  These codes are primarily used by trauma registries, but they may be used in any setting where this information … Continue reading →

• A hearty helping of ICD-10

  on December 2nd, 2011   by Kim Felix | No Comments

  ICD-10-CM defines an acute myocardial infarction as one with a stated duration of 4 weeks (28 days) or less from its onset.  This is different from ICD-9-CM which was defined as 8 weeks.  Also, a code for a ‘subsequent’ MI … Continue reading →

• Dual Coding of ICD-9 and ICD-10

  on November 7th, 2011   by Kim Felix | No Comments

  Some ICD-10 consultants are recommending dual coding of ICD-9 and ICD-10 starting six months before the Oct. 1, 2013, deadline for adoption of the new code set. Learn what this means and how to get started.

  Continue reading →

• Final ICD-9-CM Update

  on October 11th, 2011   by Kim Felix | No Comments

  Highlights of the changes, including diagnoses, procedures, and MS-DRGs (from the HFMA Revenue Cycle Strategist newsletter). Continue reading →

• A Quick Appraisal of the Facets of GEMS

  on September 16th, 2011   by Kim Felix | No Comments

  Looking for information on General Equivalence Maps (GEMs)? Find out why they’re necessary (from the HFMA Revenue Cycle Strategist newsletter). Continue reading →

• ICD-10 is Giving Me Heartache

  on September 9th, 2011   by Kim Felix | No Comments

  Goodbye coding clinics and hello combination codes! In our last blog post we visited the new combination codes for diabetes mellitus. Another area rich in combination codes is Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) and Angina. In I-10 coders will use combination … Continue reading →