HIAlearn – Coding Staff Development & Training
Unmatched industry expertise
Ensuring the educational development of your coding staff is of utmost importance. Whether you need additional focused education based on review findings or the tools to foster ongoing coder development, HIA has you covered with the latest coding updates and regulatory changes. Much of our material is approved by AHIMA and/or AAPC for CEUs. View our extensive HIAlearn library here.
HIAlearn Offerings
Education may take many avenues, including on-site visits, audio recordings and online education modules. Training can consist of one-on-one, group sessions or self-paced. Programs can be tailored to fit any time frame, from a few hours to monthly training and monitoring of new coding staff. We utilize a Learning Management System (LMS) to house coding education sessions. Individual participants are provided a username/password to access the LMS from a designated website.
Education Counts
Our 70-years of combined teaching experience has taught us that academic instruction fused with practical application creates a comprehensive learning experience that benefits our team and yours.
Pat Maccariella-Hafey
Executive Director of Education
Beth Martilik
Assistant Director of Education
Kim Carrier
Director of Coding Quality Assurance
Coding Tip: Unspecified Condition Codes and Combination Codes
One area that coders struggle with is when to report a separate condition code when an already assigned combination code includes the condition. For example, if an obstetric patient is admitted and delivers, and the physician documents “obstetric patient delivered with anemia,” should both code O99.02 Anemia complicating childbirth and D64.9, Anemia, unspecified be coded or should only O99.02 be assigned?
Part 5 – New 2019 CPT Codes: Category III, Evaluation and Management, etc.
This is Part 5 of a five part series on the new 2019 CPT codes. For the remaining areas we will just briefly summarize the section. Due to the intricate nature of these sections in CPT, it is recommended that the coder read the entire section notes associated with the new codes.
Part 4 – New 2019 CPT Codes: Lymphatic, Digestive, Urinary and Nervous System
This is Part 4 of a five part series on the new 2019 CPT codes. In this series we will explore the CPT changes for FY 2019 and include examples to help the coder understand the new codes. There is 1 new lymphatic code, 2 new digestive system codes with 3 deletions, 3 new urinary system codes with one deletion and 7 deleted nervous system codes with 2 revisions.
Query Tip: Choosing Reasonable Options for Response
The key to choosing reasonable options for a query response is to remember that the query must stand alone. Any clinical indicators supporting the options must be included in the query itself. In this week’s Query Tip, we provide examples of two queries in which the options for response are not reasonable based on clinical indicators used by coder.
Query Tip: Avoid Repetition in Clinical Indicators
One way to shorten a lengthy query is by avoiding repetition in the supporting documentation. Does the same diagnosis really need to be mentioned multiple times in the clinical indicators? Is it necessary to list the results of a chest x-ray twice? Does listing the same documentation multiple times give further specification or explanation to the query?
Query Tip: Avoiding a Leading Query – Don’t Be Directive
A query question that is directive in nature, indicating what the provider should document, rather than asking for his/her professional determination of clinical facts, constitutes a leading query. The provider should not be made to feel obligated to document anything.
Coding Tip: Obstetric Tidbits for PCS
Last week, we looked at tidbits for reporting the ICD-10-CM codes for pregnancy/obstetric records. Now we will look at some for the ICD-10-PCS reporting of these records. In reporting the appropriate ICD-10-PCS codes a coder must know what is included in the terminology of products of conception (POC).
Coding Tip: Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Puerperium Tidbits
There was a time when coding delivery records was considered simple. Many times, these types of records were given to the newer coders. However, as coding becomes more complex, this is no longer the case. With the implementation of ICD-10-CM came more codes for very detailed and specific issues that occur during pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium.
Most Common DRG’s with Recommendations 2018: Part 5
In part 5 of our series, we look at DRG 64—Intracranial hemorrhage or cerebral infarction with MCC. For this DRG recommendation the majority (almost all) were recommended to DRG 65 (Intracranial hemorrhage or cerebral infarction with CC) with deletion of the reported MCC.
Get Started
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter
Popular Posts
HIA Gives Back to St. Jude, ASPCA in 2018
Giving back is an important part of the HIA mission. Each year, HIA employees take a consensus and choose three National charities to support. Individuals can volunteer a portion of their wages to one of the three organizations. HIA Corporate will match each individual donation up to five dollars. We are proud to share with you our 2018 contribution totals combined with HIA matching funds.
Coding Tip: Unspecified Condition Codes and Combination Codes
One area that coders struggle with is when to report a separate condition code when an already assigned combination code includes the condition. For example, if an obstetric patient is admitted and delivers, and the physician documents “obstetric patient delivered with anemia,” should both code O99.02 Anemia complicating childbirth and D64.9, Anemia, unspecified be coded or should only O99.02 be assigned?
Find Your Routine: Set a Pattern, Follow it
When it comes to coding and documentation, finding your own rhythm can lead to positive results. For our series, Find Your Routine, we interviewed our most productive coders and asked them what steps they take to find a rhythm that works for them. This week, we talked with Donna Cowan, RHIT, CCS, Coding Specialist at Health Information Associates, about the steps she takes to find her routine.
Query Tip: Choosing Reasonable Options for Response
The key to choosing reasonable options for a query response is to remember that the query must stand alone. Any clinical indicators supporting the options must be included in the query itself. In this week’s Query Tip, we provide examples of two queries in which the options for response are not reasonable based on clinical indicators used by coder.
Coding Tip: Obstetric Tidbits for PCS
Last week, we looked at tidbits for reporting the ICD-10-CM codes for pregnancy/obstetric records. Now we will look at some for the ICD-10-PCS reporting of these records. In reporting the appropriate ICD-10-PCS codes a coder must know what is included in the terminology of products of conception (POC).
HIAlearn – Coding Staff Development & Training
Unmatched industry expertise
Ensuring the educational development of your coding staff is of utmost importance. Whether you need additional focused education based on review findings or the tools to foster ongoing coder development, HIA has you covered with the latest coding updates and regulatory changes. Much of our material is approved by AHIMA and/or AAPC for CEUs. View our extensive HIAlearn library here.
HIAlearn Offerings
Education may take many avenues, including on-site visits, audio recordings and online education modules. Training can consist of one-on-one, group sessions or self-paced. Programs can be tailored to fit any time frame, from a few hours to monthly training and monitoring of new coding staff. We utilize a Learning Management System (LMS) to house coding education sessions. Individual participants are provided a username/password to access the LMS from a designated website.
Education Counts
Our 92-years of combined teaching experience has taught us that academic instruction fused with practical application creates a comprehensive learning experience that benefits our team and yours.
Pat Maccariella-Hafey
Executive Director of Education
Coding Tip: Unspecified Condition Codes and Combination Codes
One area that coders struggle with is when to report a separate condition code when an already assigned combination code includes the condition. For example, if an obstetric patient is admitted and delivers, and the physician documents “obstetric patient delivered with anemia,” should both code O99.02 Anemia complicating childbirth and D64.9, Anemia, unspecified be coded or should only O99.02 be assigned?
Part 5 – New 2019 CPT Codes: Category III, Evaluation and Management, etc.
This is Part 5 of a five part series on the new 2019 CPT codes. For the remaining areas we will just briefly summarize the section. Due to the intricate nature of these sections in CPT, it is recommended that the coder read the entire section notes associated with the new codes.
Part 4 – New 2019 CPT Codes: Lymphatic, Digestive, Urinary and Nervous System
This is Part 4 of a five part series on the new 2019 CPT codes. In this series we will explore the CPT changes for FY 2019 and include examples to help the coder understand the new codes. There is 1 new lymphatic code, 2 new digestive system codes with 3 deletions, 3 new urinary system codes with one deletion and 7 deleted nervous system codes with 2 revisions.
Beth Martilik
Assistant Director of Education
Query Tip: Choosing Reasonable Options for Response
The key to choosing reasonable options for a query response is to remember that the query must stand alone. Any clinical indicators supporting the options must be included in the query itself. In this week’s Query Tip, we provide examples of two queries in which the options for response are not reasonable based on clinical indicators used by coder.
Query Tip: Avoid Repetition in Clinical Indicators
One way to shorten a lengthy query is by avoiding repetition in the supporting documentation. Does the same diagnosis really need to be mentioned multiple times in the clinical indicators? Is it necessary to list the results of a chest x-ray twice? Does listing the same documentation multiple times give further specification or explanation to the query?
Query Tip: Avoiding a Leading Query – Don’t Be Directive
A query question that is directive in nature, indicating what the provider should document, rather than asking for his/her professional determination of clinical facts, constitutes a leading query. The provider should not be made to feel obligated to document anything.
Kim Carrier
Director of Coding Quality Assurance
Coding Tip: Obstetric Tidbits for PCS
Last week, we looked at tidbits for reporting the ICD-10-CM codes for pregnancy/obstetric records. Now we will look at some for the ICD-10-PCS reporting of these records. In reporting the appropriate ICD-10-PCS codes a coder must know what is included in the terminology of products of conception (POC).
Coding Tip: Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Puerperium Tidbits
There was a time when coding delivery records was considered simple. Many times, these types of records were given to the newer coders. However, as coding becomes more complex, this is no longer the case. With the implementation of ICD-10-CM came more codes for very detailed and specific issues that occur during pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium.
Most Common DRG’s with Recommendations 2018: Part 5
In part 5 of our series, we look at DRG 64—Intracranial hemorrhage or cerebral infarction with MCC. For this DRG recommendation the majority (almost all) were recommended to DRG 65 (Intracranial hemorrhage or cerebral infarction with CC) with deletion of the reported MCC.
Get Started
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter
Popular Posts
HIA Gives Back to St. Jude, ASPCA in 2018
Giving back is an important part of the HIA mission. Each year, HIA employees take a consensus and choose three National charities to support. Individuals can volunteer a portion of their wages to one of the three organizations. HIA Corporate will match each individual donation up to five dollars. We are proud to share with you our 2018 contribution totals combined with HIA matching funds.
Coding Tip: Unspecified Condition Codes and Combination Codes
One area that coders struggle with is when to report a separate condition code when an already assigned combination code includes the condition. For example, if an obstetric patient is admitted and delivers, and the physician documents “obstetric patient delivered with anemia,” should both code O99.02 Anemia complicating childbirth and D64.9, Anemia, unspecified be coded or should only O99.02 be assigned?
Find Your Routine: Set a Pattern, Follow it
When it comes to coding and documentation, finding your own rhythm can lead to positive results. For our series, Find Your Routine, we interviewed our most productive coders and asked them what steps they take to find a rhythm that works for them. This week, we talked with Donna Cowan, RHIT, CCS, Coding Specialist at Health Information Associates, about the steps she takes to find her routine.
Query Tip: Choosing Reasonable Options for Response
The key to choosing reasonable options for a query response is to remember that the query must stand alone. Any clinical indicators supporting the options must be included in the query itself. In this week’s Query Tip, we provide examples of two queries in which the options for response are not reasonable based on clinical indicators used by coder.
Coding Tip: Obstetric Tidbits for PCS
Last week, we looked at tidbits for reporting the ICD-10-CM codes for pregnancy/obstetric records. Now we will look at some for the ICD-10-PCS reporting of these records. In reporting the appropriate ICD-10-PCS codes a coder must know what is included in the terminology of products of conception (POC).
See how HIAlearn
will benefit you
Overcome common coding challenges identified during audits and coding staff performance reviews with HIAlearn Action Plans.
See how HIAlearn
will benefit you
Overcome common coding challenges identified during audits and coding staff performance reviews with HIAlearn Action Plans.
