Description:-

CMS has implemented many changes in coding requirements for hospice over the last three years, requiring more detailed coding of both related and non-related diagnoses for hospice patients. There continues to be numerous questions related to coding and the 2017 changes have added more complexity for hospice. This program will provide an opportunity to discuss some of the most common questions that have arisen over the last 6 months to a year and an opportunity for attendees to ask additional questions that they might have. While the hospice medical director has primary responsibility for establishing those diagnoses most contributory to the terminal condition, the hospice agency and the Interdisciplinary Group has a responsibility and an opportunity to assist in identifying all existing current diagnoses and conditions and to ensure that Official Coding Guidelines are being followed and each patient is eligible for the hospice benefit.

This 90 minute program can assist your hospice agency with accurate and compliant ICD-10-CM coding to support the Medicare hospice benefit and avoid denials of hospice claims.

Benefits:-

Hospice agencies can quickly educate their staff about key issues in ICD-10-CM coding in their own agency without the additional travel costs associated with sending staff off site and the hassle of covering patient visits and operational needs of the agency that occur when staff are absent from the agency for several hours to attend educational offerings. This session will tackle some of the most common questions in hospice coding and address difficult diagnoses or situations that confront the hospice agency. It is imperative that hospice staff are knowledgeable in ICD-10- CM coding to assign the most appropriate codes for patients as well as maintain compliance with the Official Coding Guidelines.

Areas Covered in the Session:-

• Highlights of changes in the 2017 Official ICD-10 Guidelines for Coding and Reporting Diagnoses including:
• The use of the word “with” to indicate a causal relationship when listed in the Alphabetic Index, Tabular List, code assignment based on provider’s diagnostic statement that a condition exists and when you do not use the assumption.
• Coding signs and symptoms as opposed to disease processes
• Use of appropriate 7th characters for active treatment.
• Review of basic fundamentals of coding process and discussion of common questions related to conflicts between Medical Director diagnostic statements and official guidelines.
• Major changes in coding diabetes and hypertension with heart failure and/or chronic kidney disease or other renal disease, including when to use multiple assumptions and when not to.
• Coding dementia and other mental and behavioral disorders
• Coding sequela (residuals) of traumatic and non-traumatic cerebrovascular and neurological conditions versus use of acute codes. (coding strokes versus head injuries)
• Common questions on coding such as the number of diagnoses to include, sequencing for neoplasms, when to change codes, etc.
• An opportunity to ask questions related to situations and codes that have been problematic in your organization.

Who Should Attend?

Clinical staff, coders, hospice medical directors, individuals responsible for quality improvement and compliance, and administrative and office support staff working in hospice agencies.