Last month, CMM outlined the new CMS 2014 inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) guidelines, which revised inpatient admission standards (see correction on p. 4). This month we're going to offer some tips to assist you to help physicians document accurately, and inform you about some other changes that will affect the way case managers do business when it comes to meeting the new standard.
It's no secret that ICD-10-CM allows for more specific coding of many diseases and conditions. However, your physician's current clinical documentation may not have enough detail to allow coders to take advantage of this increased specificity.
The release of CMS' 2014 inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) final rule was a major game changer for hospitals. While you may be caught up in understanding and applying the 2-midnight rule for inpatient admissions, it's important to remember that the final rule also brings about significant changes to quality of care. We discussed these issues and their impact on the hospital landscape during HCPro's September 10 audio conference "2014 IPPS Final Rule Explained."
For many people, the new year brings the promise of a fresh start, which is one of the reasons why we often make New Year's resolutions. These resolutions date back to ancient Babylonian times, when people would make resolutions to gods during the vernal equinox. But for HIM professionals, a New Year's resolution often means establishing and abiding by organizational timelines, training your workforce, and updating technology.
