Question

B. Prepare a summary of your findings including an education plan for the coding staff. HIM 3200 Discharge Disposition (15 points) Competency: Subdomain IV.A.1

Answer 1

Health Information Management (HIM) professional focuses on clinical research, medical and surgical inpatient services, technology and patient care. They perform diagnostic and procedural coding for inpatients management to clinical stafdfs with coding and support ambulatory surgery coding functions. They focus on the reimbursement process under federal compliance guidelines with a team including clinical documentation specialist. HIM professionals will review and they interpret the clinical documentation to form accurate and correct coders, modifiers, MSDRG's, Discharge dispositions for appropriate reimbursement. HIM coders in the development of internal auditing and monitoring protocols for DRG's concentrate on patient transfer to skilled nursing facilities and home health agencies. Discharge status codes result in overpayment or underpayment of Medicare claims. The discharge status code indicates whether the patient discharges to home or transferred to an acute facility. Incorrect billing affects payment and impact patient receiving facility and prevent them to receive Medicare claim.
For example Discharge, to SNF we should code 03, instead of that if we use 62 discharge disposition it will indicate patient discharge to a rehabilitation facility. This result incorrect payment to the hospital where the patient got a discharge and affect admitting facility may not able to be paid due to incorrect billing from the discahrge facility.
HIM professionals should train the staff and department with the educational delivery method. HIM professionals should include enticing staff to participate in the learning process by offering incentives to complete education. Educational plans can motivate staff attitudes towards training. coding managers should monitor staff to use this source for correct coding advice. HIM professionals should ensure organization coding practice for accurate and complaint regulations towards reimbursement.