Talk Ten Tuesdays

Although the proposed rule for the 2026 Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) has been released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), mastering the complexities will continue to challenge most coders and coding team members. That is why ICD10monitor producers have asked Dr. James S. Kennedy to join the upcoming edition of Talk Ten Tuesdays: to highlight potentially significant roadblocks that are likely t...

During the next live edition of the popular Talk Ten Tuesday Internet broadcast, you’ll learn how artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomous coding are quickly reshaping the day-to-day work of coders.

From inpatient DRG suggestions to outpatient evaluation and management (E&M) automation, these tools speed up workflows, reduce errors, and help prevent costly denials, according to Penny Jefferson, the special guest for the Inter...

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), accidental falls are the leading cause of injury for adults 65 and older, with more than 1 in 4 older adults reporting falls every year.

During the next live edition of Talk Ten Tuesday, Dr. James S. Kennedy will discuss the clinical concept of the “fragility fracture,” and how the under-documentation of fragility fractures results in inaccurate ICD-10-CM coding, adv...

Substance abuse is a pervasive issue with profound implications for hospitals.

It has been estimated that up to 25 percent of hospitalized patients have a substance abuse disorder. And up to 44 percent of these patients abuse some substance during hospitalization. The annual estimated hospital cost for treating substance abuse disorders is as high as $13 billion.

But it’s not limited to patients, according to physician and attorney D...

Attention, calling all coders!

Is your hospital compliantly following all the the steps in the Condition Code W2 process?

It’s imperative to understand all the details that must be followed, no matter how complex and daunting.

Implementation is mandated by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Participation is not optional. So take a moment and ask yourself: are your attending physicians re-billing for Medicare Part ...

Artificial intelligence (AI) has quickly transitioned from something to expect in the future to the here and now today. The potential for AI in health information is both exciting and daunting. Reporting the lead story during the next live edition of Talk Ten Tuesday will be longtime RACmonitor and ICD10monitor contributing author Sharon Easterling.

Sharon Easterling is slated to create an editorial series on artificial intelligence...

As state laws, federal regulations, and insurance policies continue to evolve, healthcare organizations face growing demands to ensure that gender-affirming care is appropriately documented and reported.

Reporting on these serious coding challenges and the dire consequences of failing to achieve compliance during the next edition of Talk Ten Tuesdays will be senior healthcare consultant Penny Jefferson, the special guest for the bro...

Your pets might be doing more than just keeping you company. They could be reshaping your immune system.

Early exposure to pets, especially in childhood, may reduce allergies and asthma by diversifying gut bacteria and strengthening immunity, according to Dr. Nick van Terheyden, director of Incremental Health. Dr. Nick is scheduled to be the special guest during the next live edition of Talk Ten Tuesdays, coming up at 10 a.m. EST on...

Could physician advisors become dinosaurs in healthcare, bound for extinction?

The role of the physician advisor has developed into an absolute necessity in hospitals of all sizes around the country. As the healthcare landscape rapidly evolves, physician advisors have served as critical players, bridging the gap between confusion and clarity within clinical and administrative functions.

Yet, the question remains unanswered: why are o...

One of the largest regional coding organizations in America’s healthcare universe – the California Health Information Association (CHIA) – wrapped its final workshops this past week, with delegates flying home to share their insights on what was considered to be a pivotal experience.

The ICD10monitor producers of Talk Ten Tuesdays have secured a rare appearance of CHIA’s past president, Gloryanne Byrant, who agreed to share five key...

The national conference of the largest regional coding organization chapters in America’s healthcare universe gets underway this weekend – and James S. Kennedy, MD, will be there.

Dr. Kennedy, president of CDIMD, a national coding and clinical documentation integrity (CDI) consultancy, will be reporting on major events taking place at the California Health Information Association (CHIA) conference, starting this weekend in Southern ...

UnitedHealth Group (UHG) stock is plummeting following the abrupt resignation of its CEO Andrew Witty. His sudden departure, coming on Tuesday, May 13, came amid multiple lawsuits and threatened actions by private, state, and federal agencies across the country, and amid massive criticism for the company’s tendency to deny beneficiaries coverage for services at elevated rates.

Witty’s exit from the giant payer – a long-time dominant...

Radiology reports are rich in clinical detail, yet ICD-10 codes often fail to fully capture the complexity and specificity of imaging findings.

That is why the producers of Talk Ten Tuesdays and ICD10monitor have invited Laura Manser to explore the most common disconnects between radiology documentation and ICD-10 coding – especially in areas like incidental findings, laterality, and linking imaging results to medical necessity.

Duri...

The revenue cycle can be thought of as a machine that keeps churning nonstop, making everything work, financially speaking, for your hospital.

But even the most well-oiled machinery can get clogged, meaning it doesn’t perform at its peak. And that is why the producers of ICD10monitor and Talk Ten Tuesdays have invited Jessica Miller-Dobbs to join the popular Internet broadcast as its special guest for some shop talk.

Jessica is the D...

Payer edits and denials are pervasive in healthcare reimbursement.

These problems typically arise from coding inaccuracies, insufficient documentation, or non-compliance with payer-specific guidelines. These challenges can lead to revenue loss, increased administrative burden, and frustration among healthcare providers.

A skilled coding staff plays a vital role in mitigating these issues. Proactive identification of potential red fla...

Custodial and social hospitalizations have long been a hospital challenge.

From inadequate patient support and services to medically unwarranted occupancy of inpatient beds, plus lack of payment for provision of care, prevention and management of these cases continues to be an issue.

While much has been discussed about how to proceed, many hospitals fail.
And that is why the producers of ICD10monitor and Talk Ten Tuesda...

In today’s healthcare environment, America’s hospitals are experiencing increases in payer denials as a result of incorrect application of drug HCPCS units and a drug HCPCS modifier (JW/JZ).

These denials have increased costs for providers, because the existing staff is either being redirected to spend more time on the issue or additional staff are being hired to resolve the drug charge denials. Healthcare industry professionals nee...

Effective communication is a critical skill in navigating clinical and non-clinical interactions to avoid disaster striking a facility’s bottom line.

In fact, poor communication directly impacts the bottom line. Today, amid a cacophony of competing and complex issues spanning generations and a range of viewpoints, there is an overarching need to foster collaboration.

During the next live edition of Talk Ten Tuesday, Lorie Mills, dire...

World Health Day, which will be officially observed on Monday, April 7, will mark what organizers claim will be a year-long celebration. Here at ICD10monitor and Talk Ten Tuesdays, we will celebrate a bit early, during the next edition of the Talk Ten Tuesdays live Internet broadcast.

Headlining the broadcast will be Lorraine Fernandes, immediate past president and communications chair of the International Health Information Managem...