Kathleen M. Romero, MSN, RN, EBP-C, Cynthia Beal, MBA-HCM, BSN, RN, and Renee Pate, MSOL, MSN Ed., RN, CCDS, explain how they implemented a CDI program in their facility’s emergency department and the how establishing this program improved coding accuracy and increased reimbursement.
E/M coding guidelines for emergency department services (CPT codes 99281-99285) were recently updated for the first time in decades. Hamilton Lempert, MD, FACEP, CEDC, reviews these changes, along with coding requirements for many other E/M services.
Despite increased expansion into outpatient CDI over the past several years, there are plenty of hang-ups that stop people from starting the journey. Though outpatient settings have in some form been reviewed by CDI specialists practically since CDI itself started, this progress remains slow and steady for a reason.
