Healthcare providers are used to regularly changing guidelines and regulations that drastically alter their processes for coding and billing. Despite few guideline changes since 2008, drug administration still frequently causes confusion because of all the necessary factors to properly document, code, and bill the services.
The September 23 compliance deadline for most of the provisions of the HIPAA omnibus rule has come and gone. But for covered entities (CE) and business associates (BA), now is not the time to take your foot off the gas pedal.
It's a brave new world out there for business associates (BA). BAs needed to comply with the HIPAA Security Rule and the use and disclosure provisions of the Privacy Rule in February 2010 as a result of the HITECH Act. However, the OCR held off on any enforcement activities-that is, until recently.
Q. My email remains encrypted until it is opened. I have received two requests-via email and certified letter-from the patient's parent requesting records be sent by email or mail. I know legally a person may request this, but we must provide this service when we can ensure that the person requesting is who he or she says he or she is. Does a certified letter with recognizable signature or email from a known email address of a parent qualify as verification of the parent's identity?
Using a credentialed coder with computer-assisted coding (CAC) can increase coder productivity and lead to more accurate inpatient coding than using CAC alone, according to a study conducted by the AHIMA Foundation in collaboration with Cleveland Clinic and 3M Health Information Systems.
Coding for sepsis is often easier said than done. Obstacles range from difficulty distinguishing between documentation for sepsis and related conditions to trouble with physician queries.
