Almost a year after the world of coding was transformed by the implementation of ICD-10-CM/PCS, CMS released the 2017 ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting along with more than 5,000 diagnosis and procedure code changes. The new codes and guidelines went into effect October 1, but not without some controversy. Many of the changes were praised for the increased clarity and level of detail they allow providers to capture. Other changes, though, raised questions and eyebrows and left some wondering what the Cooperating Parties may have intended.
It’s been a challenging year for HIPAA compliance. OCR levied more than $20 million in breach settlement fines. Ransomware rocked the healthcare industry.
Most healthcare systems already have a proven process in place to monitor revenue integrity and ensure correct reimbursement. Beyond the day-to-day revenue cycle staff involved in revenue integrity, more than 60% of hospital executives believe revenue integrity is essential to their organization’s financial stability and sustainability, according to a survey by Craneware, Inc.
As it does each year, CMS reviewed its packaging policies and proposed numerous modifications for 2017, finalizing a move to conditionally package at the claim level and deleting the controversial modifier used to identify separately reportable laboratory tests.
CMS made certain concessions from its proposed site-neutral payment policies required by Section 603 of the Bipartisan Budget Act, but it is still moving forward with implementation January 1, 2017, according to the 2017 OPPS final rule.
