When I have the opportunity to talk one-on-one with someone in the CDI profession for the first time, my favorite question to ask is how they found out about CDI. Some tell me that a friend or colleague recommended they look into the profession; others say they...Read More »
CMS announced it is adding 80 new procedure codes to the fiscal year (FY) 2026 ICD-10-PCS code set, available for discharges occurring from April 1 through September 30, 2026, ...Read More »
by Jessica Vaughn, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, CCDS, CCDS-O, CRC
Imagine applying for a role and during the interview being told, “We have two open positions: One is for a case manager, and the other is for a CDI specialist.” This is how my journey began!
CMS recently published a fact sheet detailing improper payments across Medicare and Medicaid programs in fiscal year (FY) 2025, including overpayments, underpayments, and payments that lacked...Read More »
In reality, the coding department may just be a short walk away from the rest of the departments at a healthcare facility. As a CDI professional first steps into the complicated world of DRG assignments, the Alphabetic Index, and the Tabular List, however,...Read More »
Kaiser Permanente has reached a settlement agreement with the United States Department of Justice over documentation practices impacting some Medicare Advantage (MA) risk adjustment payments from 2009‒2018. According to the Office of Inspector General (OIG)...Read More »
Behind every CDI professional is the story of their first days. Practice principles learned from experience gained yesterday serve as lights illuminating the path for new colleagues today. Eleven years into this fascinating discipline of CDI, I’ve...Read More »
Q: What are some documentation gaps in behavioral health encounters?
A: Many times, we see a lack of specificity regarding symptoms, severity, and treatment details required for accurate ICD-10-CM coding, as well as incomplete...Read More »
