New COVID-19 ICD-10 Codes Effective January 1, 2021
As we saw in April 2020, there again will be an expedited release of ICD-10-CM codes related to COVID-19 effective January 1, 2021.
What You Need to Know About the ICD-10-CM Updates for FY 2021
October 1, 2020 is just around the corner, meaning it’s time for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to release the home health ICD-10-CM update files for FY 2021.
What to Do When Faced with a Questionable Encounter
Questionable Encounters are primary diagnosis codes that are not specific enough to support the need for home health services that result in a return to provider (RTP) and ultimately delays in payment.
OASIS-D1 Updates
For home health agencies, the holidays mean more than spending time with family and time off work. Change is a constant of the home health industry, and the introduction of OASIS-D1 on January 1, 2020 proves this to be true. Luckily, the revisions occurring under OASIS-D1 are considered minor - but as we know, even [...]
Patient Driven Groupings Model (PDGM) Readiness Series: Clinical Coding Challenges
The Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM) is the most significant change to the home health payment reform in the past two decades. The impact from PDGM is expected to significantly shift service delivery and will change the structure of home health reimbursements. A key component for calculating payment under PDGM...
How Home Health Agencies Can Support Staff with OASIS-D Education
Although the January 1, 2019 implementation date has come and gone, agencies should not lessen their focus on accurate OASIS-D data set collection. Just like any new process, agencies need to provide support through this OASIS-D learning curve. In addition to developing new assessment practices, clinicians are learning guidance that often conflict between items that assess the same functional activity.
Sequelae 101: What Coders Don’t Want to Miss
A common question asked among coders is, “is this a complication or is this a sequela”? Following specific coding guidelines will ensure that costly errors are avoided for these two very different coding situations.
OASIS-D: What You Need to Know
OASIS-D is the latest data set for home health agencies to utilize and will be effective January 1, 2019. The focus of this latest revision is on quality and comparison of those quality indicators.
CMS Releases Home Health OASIS July 2018 Quarterly Q&As
The July release of the Home Health OASIS July 2018 Quarterly Q&As brings promise that CMS is back on track to continue quarterly updates that address agency OASIS questions. Perhaps, one of the most complex responses was the insight provided on “what is” and “what is not” a surgical wound in the context of PleurX catheters.