Talk Ten Tuesdays

As global temperatures soar and heatwaves become more frequent, the connection between climate change and rising heat is undeniable. The results are not limited to uncontrolled wildfires but extend to widespread health consequences of excess heat from immediate threats like heat exhaustion and heat stroke to the exacerbation of chronic conditions such as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Vulnerable populations, including the elderly, children, and outdoor workers, face heightened risks, with heat stress also impacting mental health, leading to increased anxiety and depression. The broader implications for public health are staggering, straining healthcare systems and economic resources and further impacting populations through air quality declines, vector-borne diseases, and food insecurity. To address this burgeoning problem America need comprehensive strategies, including public health interventions, urban planning innovations, and robust updates to policies and behavior. During the next live edition of Talk Ten Tuesday, Dr. Nick will explore how we mitigate and adapt to our new warmer future. Also during the next Talk Ten Tuesday broadcast, these instantly recognizable segments will include the following: • RegWatch: Former Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) career professional Stanley Nachimson will report on the latest regulatory news coming out of Washington, D.C. • Coding Report: Laurie Johnson, senior healthcare consultant with Revenue Cycle Solutions, LLC, will report on the latest coding news. • News Desk: Timothy Powell, ICD10monitor national correspondent and regulatory expert, will anchor the Talk Ten Tuesday News Desk. • Point of View: Dr. James S. Kennedy, president of CDIMD, will report on the latest hospital rankings from U.S. News and World Reports.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released the Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) Proposed Rule for the 2025 calendar year (CY). This published information outlines significant changes impacting Medicare payment policies for hospital outpatient services. Key proposals include adjustments to payment rates, updates to the Inpatient-Only (IPO) List, and revisions to the Ambulatory Payment Classification (APC) groups. The rule also introduces measures related to tackling health inequalities, broadening access to mental health services, and fostering safe, effective, and patient-focused care. These updates aim to ensure more efficient, equitable, and high-quality outpatient care across the healthcare system, according to Angela Comfort, who will be the special guest covering the pending changes during the next live edition of Talk Ten Tuesdays. The popular live broadcast will also feature these other instantly recognizable segments: • Social Determinants of Health: Tiffany Ferguson, CEO for Phoenix Medical Management, Inc., will report on the news that is happening at the intersection of medical record auditing and the SDoH. • Coding Report: Laurie Johnson, senior healthcare consultant with Revenue Cycle Solutions, LLC, will report on the latest coding news. • News Desk: Timothy Powell, ICD10monitor national correspondent and regulatory expert, will anchor the Talk Ten Tuesdays News Desk. • TalkBack: Erica Remer, MD, founder and president of Erica Remer, MD, Inc., and Talk Ten Tuesdays co-host, will report on a subject that has caught her attention during her popular segment.

What is “Chevron deference?” And why is it important – especially to health information management (HIM) professionals? And who among the most learned and wise HIM professionals is arguably best qualified to report on this otherwise arcane judicial principle? That would be the legendary Rose T. Dunn. Dunn has offered to speak on this topic during the next edition of Talk Ten Tuesdays and is expected to highlight examples that are sure to resonate with HIM professionals. Rose is the former interim CEO for the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) and the recipient of the AHIMA Distinguished Member and Legacy Awards. By the conclusion of the live edition of the long-running Internet radio broadcast, you will have gained a practical understanding of the real essence of this otherwise obscure legal concept. The live broadcast will also feature these other instantly recognizable segments: • Social Determinants of Health: Tiffany Ferguson, CEO for Phoenix Medical Management, Inc., will report on the news that is happening at the intersection of medical record auditing and the SDoH. • Coding Report: Laurie Johnson, senior healthcare consultant with Revenue Cycle Solutions, LLC, will report on the latest coding news. • News Desk: Timothy Powell, ICD10monitor national correspondent and regulatory expert, will anchor the Talk Ten Tuesdays News Desk. • TalkBack: Erica Remer, MD, founder and president of Erica Remer, MD, Inc., and Talk Ten Tuesdays co-host, will report on a subject that has caught her attention during her popular segment.

Where in the world is G2211? Both payers and providers still report lack of information from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) about use of this code. If you remember, CMS promised stakeholders an FAQ document back in January. To date it has not been released. And yet, knowing how to document the service is probably the most-asked question when it comes to this code. Currently there are no specific documentation guidelines from CMS, but there are best-practice tips based on the code description and other documentation guidelines. During the next live edition of Talk Ten Tuesdays, Lenota Williams will review some of the questions she and her team have been hearing from providers – such as the status of reimbursement, and what coders probably should expect going forward. The live broadcast will also feature these other instantly recognizable segments: • Social Determinants of Health: Tiffany Ferguson, CEO for Phoenix Medical Management, Inc., will report on the news that is happening at the intersection of medical record auditing and the SDoH. • Coding Report: Laurie Johnson, senior healthcare consultant with Revenue Cycle Solutions, LLC, will report on the latest coding news. • News Desk: Timothy Powell, ICD10monitor national correspondent and regulatory expert, will anchor the Talk Ten Tuesdays News Desk. • TalkBack: Erica Remer, MD, founder and president of Erica Remer, MD, Inc., and Talk Ten Tuesdays co-host, will report on a subject that has caught her attention during her popular segment.

Each year the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, MedPAC, provides Congress a report on the Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) payment systems, the Medicare Advantage (MA) program, and the Medicare prescription drug program (Medicare Part D). Within the MedPAC report is also the often (until now) under-reported Chapter 12. During the next live edition of Talk Ten Tuesdays, Colleen Ejak, Solution Advisor for 3M/Solventum, will report on the particulars from Chapter 12 of this report, including the status of the MA program. Colleen will be sharing specifics from the report regarding MA enrollment trends and updates on risk adjustment reporting and risk-conscious coding practices. The live broadcast will also feature these other instantly recognizable segments: • Dateline Healthcare: Former Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) career professional Stanley Nachimson will report on the latest healthcare news. • Coding Report: Laurie Johnson, senior healthcare consultant with Revenue Cycle Solutions, LLC, will report on the latest coding news. • News Desk: Timothy Powell, ICD10monitor national correspondent and regulatory expert, will anchor the Talk Ten Tuesdays News Desk. • Point of View: Angela Comfort, guest cohost of the live broadcast, will report on a subject that has caught her attention.

With summertime fast approaching, also on the horizon are the inevitable stressors leading to increased psychiatric diagnoses and possible surges in psychopathologies. As temperatures increase, so do incidents of mental health unrest – tempers flaring, mood disorders, and possible cognitive impairment. That is why, with summer officially entering our lives on June 20, we have invited world-renowned psychiatrist Dr. H. Steven Moffic to appear on the next edition of Talk Ten Tuesdays – to provide us with strategies to help ward off such mental health issues. The live broadcast will also feature these other instantly recognizable segments: • Social Determinants of Health: Tiffany Ferguson, CEO for Phoenix Medical Management, Inc., will report on the news that is happening at the intersection of medical record auditing and the SDoH. • Coding Report: Laurie Johnson, senior healthcare consultant with Revenue Cycle Solutions, LLC, will report on the latest coding news. • News Desk: Timothy Powell, ICD10monitor national correspondent and regulatory expert, will anchor the Talk Ten Tuesdays News Desk. • TalkBack: Erica Remer, MD, founder and president of Erica Remer, MD, Inc., and Talk Ten Tuesdays co-host, will report on a subject that has caught her attention during her popular segment.

He once explained to us the value of sleep, and gave tips on how to get more of the once-devalued therapy. That was then. This is now. And during the next live edition of Talk Ten Tuesdays, Dr. Nick van Terheyden will turn his attention to another vital healthcare issue: nutrition. This buzzworthy topic is becoming increasingly relevant as the White House and federal agencies continue their interest in the pivotal role of food as medicine, particularly in the context of the social determinants of health (SDoH). The live broadcast will also feature these other recognizable segments: • Social Determinants of Health: Tiffany Ferguson, CEO for Phoenix Medical Management, Inc., will report on the news that is happening at the intersection of medical record auditing and the SDoH. • Coding Report: Laurie Johnson, senior healthcare consultant with Revenue Cycle Solutions, LLC, will report on the latest coding news. • News Desk: Timothy Powell, ICD10monitor national correspondent and regulatory expert, will anchor the Talk Ten Tuesdays News Desk. • Point of View: Angela Comfort, guest cohost of the live broadcast, will report on a subject that has caught her attention.

Welcome to the 600th live edition of the long-running Talk Ten Tuesdays broadcast, produced by ICD10monitor. In commemorating this special edition, the producers are pleased to welcome the legendary Rose T. Dunn, chief operating officer at First Class Solutions, Inc. in St. Louis, a healthcare information management leader since 1988. Rose is the author of “The Revenue Integrity Manager’s Guidebook,” available from the National Association of Healthcare Revenue Integrity. She will headline a distinguished panel of coding subject-matter experts as the broadcast continues to cement its legacy as the single most important source of ICD-10 coding news and analysis. The live broadcast will also feature these other recognizable segments: • Coding Report: Laurie Johnson, senior healthcare consultant with Revenue Cycle Solutions, LLC, will report on the latest coding news. • News Desk: Timothy Powell, ICD10monitor national correspondent and regulatory expert, will anchor the Talk Ten Tuesdays News Desk. • Social Determinants of Health: Tiffany Ferguson, CEO for Phoenix Medical Management, Inc., will report on the news happening at the intersection of medical record auditing and the social determinants of health (SDoH). • TalkBack: Erica Remer, MD, founder and president of Erica Remer, MD, Inc., and Talk Ten Tuesdays co-host, will report on a subject that has caught her attention during her popular segment.

In recognition of May’s National Mental Health Awareness Month, ICD10monitor and Talk Ten Tuesdays have invited world-renowned psychiatrist and award-winning author H. Steven Moffic, MD to update his theory of social psychopathologies for the next live edition of the weekly Internet radio broadcast. According to Dr. Moffic, those are harmful individuals and group “isms,” “antis,” and social phobias. The live broadcast will also feature these other recognizable segments: RegWatch: News Desk: Social Determinants of Health: TalkBack:

As if buried in shifting sands like a booby trap, Modifier 25 is poised to wreak havoc on claims when it’s appended incorrectly to an evaluation and management (E&M) charge – typically to indicate a separate service on the same date of service. So, what’s a provider to do? When is it actually appropriate to append Modifier 25? How do providers indicate that there was a significant yet separately identifiable E&M service that went above and beyond the typical pre- and post-work associated with the applicable procedure? And how can providers avoid a possible audit by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG)? In response to these and other questions, ICD10monitor and Talk Ten Tuesday have invited Leonta Williams, AAPC Director of Education, to serve as the broadcast’s next special guest. The live broadcast will also feature these other recognizable segments: • Coding Report: Laurie Johnson, senior healthcare consultant with Revenue Cycle Solutions, LLC, will report on the latest coding news. • News Desk: Timothy Powell, ICD10monitor national correspondent and regulatory expert, will anchor the Talk Ten Tuesdays News Desk. • Social Determinants of Health: Tiffany Ferguson, CEO for Phoenix Medical Management, Inc., will report on the news happening at the intersection of medical record auditing and the social determinants of health (SDoH). • TalkBack: Erica Remer, MD, founder and president of Erica Remer, MD, Inc., and Talk Ten Tuesdays co-host, will report on a subject that has caught her attention during her popular segment.

The ongoing consolidation of independent physician practices, in many cases resulting in ownership by private equity groups and large health systems, is causing a shift from traditional medicine to the corporate practice of medicine. The result often is not in the best interest of patients, given that the focus tends to be on maximizing profits rather than patient care. What are the solutions to this ongoing crisis? During the next live edition of Talk Ten Tuesday, Nathaniel Arana, founder and CEO for NGA Healthcare, will offer specific strategies you can implement to prevent your practice from the possibility of being acquired by private equity. The live broadcast will also feature these other recognizable segments: • Coding Report: Laurie Johnson, senior healthcare consultant with Revenue Cycle Solutions, LLC, will report on the latest coding news. • News Desk: Timothy Powell, ICD10monitor national correspondent and regulatory expert, will anchor the Talk Ten Tuesdays News Desk. • Social Determinants of Health: Tiffany Ferguson, CEO for Phoenix Medical Management, Inc., will report on the news happening at the intersection of medical record auditing and the social determinants of health (SDoH). • TalkBack: Erica Remer, MD, founder and president of Erica Remer, MD, Inc., and Talk Ten Tuesdays co-host, will report on a subject that has caught her attention during her popular segment.

There’s a renewed sense of urgency. Today’s healthcare providers must modernize their approach to patient access and financial clearance operations, according to Matt Bridge, senior vice president of AGS Health and the special guest during the next live edition of Talk Ten Tuesdays. Bridge is expected to report on the pitfalls of using outdated patient access systems. He will reveal how inefficiencies and delays contribute to revenue loss. He will also offer actionable solutions to this ever-growing problem. The live broadcast will also feature these other recognizable segments: • Coding Report: Gloryanne Bryant, independent healthcare consultant, will substitute for Laurie Johnson to report on the latest coding news. • News Desk: Timothy Powell, ICD10monitor national correspondent and regulatory expert, will anchor the Talk Ten Tuesdays News Desk. • Social Determinants of Health: Tiffany Ferguson, CEO for Phoenix Medical Management, Inc., will report on the news happening at the intersection of medical record auditing and the social determinants of health (SDoH). • TalkBack: Erica Remer, MD, founder and president of Erica Remer, MD, Inc., and Talk Ten Tuesdays co-host, will report on a subject that has caught her attention during her popular segment.

Tired of tossing and turning? You’re not alone. A Gallup poll released last Monday revealed that 57 percent of Americans said they would feel better if they could get more sleep. And that is why ICD10monitor and Talk Ten Tuesdays invited Dr. Nick van Terheyden – to investigate our national sleep crisis. During the next live edition of the long-running Internet broadcast, you’ll discover why we seem to be clocking in fewer Z’s. Dr. Nick is also expected to reveal some sneaky culprits behind your sleepless nights, while offering you practical tips to reclaim your rest. He will debunk some of the myths and explore some effective sleep hygiene practices, along with fresh insights to help you prioritize your well-being – from winding down-rituals to “tech detoxes.” Listen and learn. Benefit from the playbook to help you hit the hay right and wake up refreshed. The live broadcast will also feature these other recognizable segments: • Coding Report: Gloryanne Bryant, independent healthcare consultant, will substitute for Laurie Johnson to report on the latest coding news. • News Desk: Timothy Powell, ICD10monitor national correspondent and regulatory expert, will anchor the Talk Ten Tuesdays News Desk. • Social Determinants of Health: Tiffany Ferguson, CEO for Phoenix Medical Management, Inc., will report on the news happening at the intersection of medical record auditing and the social determinants of health (SDoH). • TalkBack: Erica Remer, MD, founder and president of Erica Remer, MD, Inc., and Talk Ten Tuesdays co-host, will report on a subject that has caught her attention during her popular segment.

Properly managed patient identity queues are the foundation of an effective master person index that minimizes issues and facilitates streamlined care coordination. Conversely, unresolved identity queue backlogs can have costly implications for patient care, safety, and revenue integrity. It’s a growing problem with a time-consuming, resource-intensive resolution that few HIM departments have the capacity to handle. During the next live broadcast of the popular and long-running Talk Ten Tuesday, the Internet broadcast produced by ICD10monitor, Rachel Podczervinski will report on what’s behind the seemingly sudden surge in identity errors and actions hospitals and health systems can take to reduce the volume and streamline patient identity queue management. The live broadcast will also feature these other recognizable segments: Coding Report: Laurie Johnson, senior healthcare consultant with Revenue Cycle Solutions, LLC, will report on the latest coding news. • News Desk: James Kennedy, MD, will substitute for Timothy Powell to anchor the Talk Ten Tuesdays News Desk. • Social Determinants of Health: Tiffany Ferguson, CEO for Phoenix Medical Management, Inc., will report on the news happening at the intersection of medical record auditing and the social determinants of health (SDoH). • Point of View: Angela Comfort, guest cohost during this live broadcast, will report on a subject that has caught her attention.

World Health Day will be observed on Sunday, April 7 but on Tuesday, April 9, 10 a.m. Eastern Time, Talk Ten Tuesday will recognize World Health Day with the special guest appearance of Lorraine Fernandes, immediate past president (2019-2022) of the International Federation of Health Information Management Association (IFHIMA). Today, Fernandes serves as the Communications Chair for IFHIMA. During the next live broadcast of the popular and long-running Talk Ten Tuesday, the Internet broadcast produced by ICD10monitor, Fernandes will delve into critical topics such as information governance in the era of digital health transformation and the implementation of ICD-11, which is set to replace the outdated ICD-10. Her insights will illuminate the evolving global health landscape, emphasizing the importance of accurate data for better health outcomes. The live broadcast will also feature these other recognizable segments:

The continued onslaught of cybersecurity attacks is only getting worse. These attacks have impacted the healthcare system in dramatic fashion, starting with the Change Healthcare payment network being brought down. Hopefully, everyone – including coders – will be more vigilant and wary of potential attacks and attempts to breach security. The constant development of new approaches and innovative tools means that if you or your facility have not yet been subject to an attack, it is likely only a matter of time before this comes knocking on your door. In helping providers get prepared, ICD10monitor and Talk Ten Tuesdays (TTT) have invited Nick van Terheyden (aka Dr. Nick), the clinical specialist at Iodine Software, to share his recent experiences and insights – and to offer some suggestions on how you might be fooled and what you can do to protect yourself, your business, and your family. The live broadcast will also feature these other recognizable segments: •RegWatch: Former Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) career professional Stanley Nachimson will report on the latest regulatory news coming out of Washington, D.C. •Coding Report: Laurie Johnson, senior healthcare consultant with Revenue Cycle Solutions, LLC, will report on the latest coding news. •Social Determinants of Health: Tiffany Ferguson, CEO for Phoenix Medical Management, Inc., will report on the news happening at the intersection of medical record auditing and the social determinants of health (SDoH). •News Desk: Timothy Powell, CPA, will anchor the Talk Ten Tuesdays News Desk. •TalkBack: Erica Remer, MD, founder and president of Erica Remer, MD, Inc. and Talk Ten Tuesdays co-host, will report on a subject that has caught her attention during her popular segment.

In a move towards greater specificity, the nation’s healthcare providers have a new ICD-10-CM code category: Code W44. Having gone into effect October 2023, the new code category (foreign body entering into or through a natural orifice) is seen as enhancing specificity, although Code W45 had already existed for foreign bodies entering through the skin. During the next live edition of Talk Ten Tuesdays, Gina Yacovelli, DHSc, associated with Coding & Billing Solutions, will report on how and why pediatricians are the most likely provider group to benefit from the increased detail, while noting that the greater level of specificity will be helpful to all providers when such encounters arise. The live broadcast will also feature these other recognizable segments: • Coding Report: Laurie Johnson, senior healthcare consultant with Revenue Cycle Solutions, LLC, will report on the latest coding news. • Social Determinants of Health: Tiffany Ferguson, CEO for Phoenix Medical Management, Inc., will report on the news happening at the intersection of medical record auditing and the social determinants of health (SDoH). • News Desk: Timothy Powell, CPA, will anchor the Talk Ten Tuesdays News Desk. • TalkBack: Erica Remer, MD, founder and president of Erica Remer, MD, Inc. and Talk Ten Tuesdays co-host, will report on a subject that has caught her attention during her popular segment.

On the horizon, looming like an ominous thunderhead, is ICD-11. But wait! There’s more: the expanding role of coding in big data, for example. The evolving healthcare IT, and how it will redefine the coding profession. All this and more is coming your way. That’s why ICD10monitor and Talk Ten Tuesdays invited senior healthcare consultant Angela Comfort, assistant vice president of revenue integrity at Montefiore, to take you on an exclusive trip into the future of ICD-11 and health informatics during the next live edition of the long-running Talk Ten Tuesdays, produced by ICD10monitor. The live broadcast will also feature these other recognizable segments: • Coding Report: Laurie Johnson, senior healthcare consultant with Revenue Cycle Solutions, LLC, will report on the latest coding news. • Social Determinants of Health: Tiffany Ferguson, CEO for Phoenix Medical Management, Inc., will report on the news happening at the intersection of medical record auditing and the social determinants of health (SDoH). • News Desk: Timothy Powell, CPA, will anchor the Talk Ten Tuesdays News Desk. • TalkBack: Erica Remer, MD, founder and president of Erica Remer, MD, Inc. and Talk Ten Tuesdays co-host, will report on a subject that has caught her attention during her popular segment.

Code G2211 continues to be a gift disguised as something else. As many nuances surrounding the code continue to linger, there are still some areas that are not as clear-cut as many healthcare professionals would prefer. As a refresher, G2211 allows providers (primary care, as well as specialists) to bill for additional cognitive work effort that is not currently captured in the evaluation and management (E&M) codes typically billed for these services. One of the gray areas surrounding G2211 is the appropriate amount and/or type of documentation that should be noted in the medical record to support billing the code. Another issue involves the specific type of condition(s) that can trigger it, and what qualifies it for a high level of complexity. During the next live edition of Talk Ten Tuesdays, AAPC’s Leonta Williams will continue to explore these nuances and provide updates based on the latest communication(s) from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on proper code usage – and the criteria needed to stay out of hot water. The live broadcast will also feature these other recognizable segments: • Coding Report: Laurie Johnson, senior healthcare consultant with Revenue Cycle Solutions, LLC, will report on the latest coding news. • Social Determinants of Health: Tiffany Ferguson, CEO for Phoenix Medical Management, Inc., will report on the news happening at the intersection of medical record auditing and the social determinants of health (SDoH). • News Desk: Timothy Powell, CPA, will anchor the Talk Ten Tuesdays News Desk. • TalkBack: Erica Remer, MD, founder and president of Erica Remer, MD, Inc. and Talk Ten Tuesdays co-host, will report on a subject that has caught her attention during her popular segment.

How many hospital star ratings does your facility have? Do you know? If you don’t, you’re not alone. Apparently, many coders and clinical documentation integrity specialists (CDISs) don’t know. But you should know. That’s why ICD10monitor and Talk Ten Tuesdays have invited Michelle Wieczorek, a registered nurse (RN) and a CDI authority, to explain what the hospital star rating means and how coders and CDISs impact those stars. Wieczorek, an independent revenue cycle consultant, will also explain how to earn back fallen stars. The live broadcast will also feature these other instantly recognizable segments: • Coding Report: Laurie Johnson, senior healthcare consultant with Revenue Cycle Solutions, LLC, will report on the latest coding news. • Social Determinants of Health: Tiffany Ferguson, CEO for Phoenix Medical Management, Inc., will report on the news happening at the intersection of medical record auditing and the social determinants of health (SDoH). • News Desk: Timothy Powell, CPA, will anchor the Talk Ten Tuesdays News Desk. • TalkBack: Erica Remer, MD, founder and president of Erica Remer, MD, Inc., and Talk Ten Tuesdays co-host, will report on a subject that has caught her attention during her popular segment.