Facility E/M coding reflects the volume and intensity of resources utilized by the facility during patient encounters. Joe Rivet, Esq., CCS-P, CPC, CEMC, CHC, CCEP, CHRC, CHPC, CICA, CPMA, CAC, CACO, describes how facilities can create internal guidelines and point systems for determining E/M level section.
It’s always been easy to show financial return on investment for inpatient CDI endeavors, but the monetary value of outpatient programs is increasing dramatically year after year, making outpatient CDI reviews more attractive to many healthcare organizations.
The most impactful overhaul to the E/M coding and documentation guidelines in 25 years went live January 1. The updated guidelines eliminate medical history and physical examination as required elements for reporting E/M codes 99202-99215. E/M coding for outpatient visits is now based on documentation of medical decision-making (MDM) or time spent on the encounter.
Regular monitoring and internal auditing are critical to ensure compliance throughout the revenue cycle and protect revenue integrity. Consider the different strategies that can be applied to documentation and chart audits, coding audits, and more.
This week’s Medicare updates include coding and payment information for the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, an OIG report on trends toward more expensive inpatient hospital stays, an MLN article on billing for services when Medicare is a secondary payer, and more!
Though the adoption of outpatient CDI has been growing steadily over the years, it’s not always easy to prove the return on investment for such efforts.
