January 23, 2020
By Chuck Buck Important Message from Medicare Not Clear
CMS’s IMM sends mixed messages to providers. The Important Message from Medicare (IMM) has changed significantly in its latest reiteration, and the IMM now must be presented to both Medicare and Medicare Advantage patients, according to Ronald Hirsch, MD, who explained during Monday’s edition of Monitor Mondays that both patient…
May 23, 2019
By Chuck Buck News Alert: CMS Restructures BFCC QIO Regions: KEPRO, Livanta Lose Short-Stay and HWDRG Reviews
A search for a national review HWDRG contractor is expected in the third quarter. In a restructuring of the Beneficiary and Family-Centered Care Quality Improvement Organization (BFCC-QIO) jurisdictions, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has created 10 regions across the United States and awarded KEPRO, a BFCC-QIO, a…
October 19, 2017
By Ronald Hirsch, MD Hospital Admissions: Combining Two into One Doesn’t Add Up
Should hospitals combine two admissions into one? In the absence of CMS guidance, hospitals are urged to do the right thing. Today I have a confession to make. For the last five years, I have been lying. Now, don’t get me wrong; I have not been doing it on purpose.…
April 26, 2017
By Charles Locke, MD, CHCQM-PHYADV Expect Final Decision on Appeal Cases to Take Years
For those for you who are regular listeners to Monitor Mondays, you heard Dr. Ronald Hirsch in his April 10 ”Monday Rounds” segment discuss an article recently published online by the Journal of Hospital Medicine detailing the appeal process of Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) denials at three academic hospitals. I…
April 12, 2017
By Ronald Hirsch, MD Who is Auditing the RACs?
The first five years of the Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) audit program created nightmares for many in the provider community. Deadlines were routinely missed at every step of the way. The appeal backlog at the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) level exceeded three years and does not seem to be getting…
March 29, 2017
By Ronald Hirsch, MD Using Condition Code 44 Correctly for Pre-Admissions
Gabby Nunez from Community Memorial Health System in Ventura, Calif. recently asked the RAC Relief user group about the patient who insists on being admitted as an inpatient solely to try to get the three days to qualify for a Part A nursing home payment.This is not an infrequent problem…
By Chuck Buck
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will be changing the criteria for short-stay audits in April, according to KePRO, one of the Medicare Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs), which posted the announcement on its home Web page.“CMS is changing the selection process for medical records for short-stay reviews,” the…
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- Adam J. KleinAllen Jost, PhDAlvin Gore, MD, CHCQM and Cathi Charlberg, LVN, CHCQMAmanda Gilliland, RN, BSNAmber Soucy, MSN, RNAndrew B. Wachler, Esq.Andrew B. Wachler, Esq. and Emma E. TrivaxAndrew H. Hughes, MD and Charles Locke, MD, CHCQM-PHYADVAndrew Wachler and Kaitlin NucciAndrew Wachler, Esq., and Sarah Hillegonds, Esq.Angela Phillips, PTAspen AlbrightBarbara Vandegrift, RN, BSN, MABecky Rodrian, CPC, CEMC, CBCS, MBSBenjamin Kartchner MD, CHCQM-PhyAdvBrian T. LandryChristina Panos, RHIA, CTRChristopher Halleman, DOChristopher J. Laney, Esq.Chuck BuckClark AnthonyColleen Morley, DNP, RN, CCM, CMAC, CMCN, ACM-RNDaniel Zirkman, MDDavid A. McKenzie, CAEDavid Jury MD, MSDavid M. Glaser, Esq.Delilah Davis, RN, BSN, CCADenise Coleman, LPNDenise Nash, MD, CCS, CIMDheeraj Mahajan, MD, FACPDuane Abbey, PhD, CFPEdward Roche, PhD, JDElizabeth C. Dunbar, MD, MBA, FACEP, CHCQM-PHYADVEllen Fink-Samnick MSW, ACSW, LCSW, CCM, CRPEllen Parucka Walker LCSW ACSWErica E. Remer, MD, FACEP, CCDSErin Diesel Roumayah, Esq.Frank D. Cohen, MPA, MBBGlenn Krauss, RHIA, BBA, CCS, CCS-P, CPUR, CCDS, C-CDI, PCS, FCS, C-CDAMGloryanne Bryant, RHIA, RHIT, CCS, CCDSGreg FordHolly Louie, RN, BSN, CHBMEJ. Paul Spencer, CPC, COCJanelle Ali-Dinar, PhDJeffrey D. Lehrman DPM, FASPS, MAPWCAJessica Forster, Esq.John Foggle, MDJohn K. Hall, MD, JD, MBA, FCLM, FRCPCJulia K. Brodt, PhDJuliet B. Ugarte Hopkins, MD, CHCQM-PHYADVKaitlin Nucci Esq.Kathleen K. Borchard, BSN, RN-ACMKathy Seward, MD, CHCQM-PHYADVKim T. Charland, BA, RHIT, CCSKnicole C. Emanuel Esq.Kristi Pollard, RHIT, CCS, CPC, CIRCC, AHIMA-approved ICD-10-CM/PCS trainerLaurie M. Johnson, MS, RHIA, FAHIMA AHIMA Approved ICD-10-CM/PCS TrainerLeslie Marsh, RN, BS, MSN, MBALori O’Hara, MA, CCC-SLPMadison AllenMaggie Elehwany, JDMark SpiveyMarvin D Mitchell, RN, BSN, MBAMary Beth Pace, RN, BSN, MBA, ACM, CMACMary Inman, Esq. and Anne Hayes Hartman, Esq.Mary Inman, Esq. and Max Voldman, Esq.Matt Lambert, MDMatthew AlbrightMaureen Testoni Esq,Max Voldman, Esq.Melinda Battaile, MD, FHM, MMCI, CHCQM-PHYADV, CCDSMichael A. Salvatore, MD, FACPMichael KennedyMichael Rosen, Esq.Nancy J. Beckley, MB, MBA, CHCNena Scott, MSEd, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, CCDSPhillip Angello, MDRalph Wuebker, MD, MBARichard “Dick” Beckley, YNS, USN, 1966-1970Robin Sewell, CDIP, CCS, CPC, CICRonald Hirsch, MDSarah Hillegonds, Esq.Sean M. Weiss, CEMA, CMCO, CPMA, CPC-P, CMPE, CMPM, CPC-PSean Weiss, CHC, CEMA, CMCO, CPMA, CPC-P, CMPE, CPC and David Glaser, Esq.Shannon Deconda, CPC, CPC-I, CEMC, CMSCS, CPMA®Stanley Nachimson, MSStefani Daniels, MSN, RN, CMAC, ACM and Tiffany Ferguson, LMSW, ACM
