The five “Ws” about the flu.
It is that time of year again – flu season, which occurs in the fall and winter in the United States, stretching from early October until May.
For me, it was a new experience in 2018, as I got my first flu shot! I had been diagnosed as a very small child with an egg allergy, so getting the flu shot was contraindicated. I always had to be very careful during flu season, and I tried avoiding public locations and people who were sick.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) since have made some changes to its recommendations, and people who do not have documented reactions to eggs (and people who have only experienced hives as a reaction) can now get the flu shot. If you have an egg allergy and have had major reactions, the CDC recommends that you be immunized in a medical setting, supervised by personnel who can address any reactions.
Now to the five W’s:
Who Should Be Immunized?
All people six months and older should be vaccinated. Children require two doses to be fully immunized. Older adults may require a high-dose immunization to assist their immune system.
What Vaccine Will Be Administered?
The types of flu that are prevalent for 2019-2020 are:
Where Can You Get Vaccinated?
The vaccine is available at local pharmacies, clinics, doctors’ offices, public health offices, etc. There are many free clinics looking to prepare the public to be proactive for flu season. This preventative service is included in many health plans as a covered service.
When Should You Be Vaccinated?
You should be vaccinated by the end of October. The CDC states that it takes two weeks for the body’s immune system to fully respond and be fully protected. It is not too late to get vaccinated as the peak season is from December through February, but influenza can be contracted throughout the year.
Why Should You Be Vaccinated?
As of February 4, 2020, the CDC has reported 15 million flu cases nationwide for the 2019-2020 flu season which resulted in 140,000 hospitalizations and 8,200 deaths in the U.S.
The Associated ICD-10-CM Codes
When a patient presents for immunization, the ICD-10-CM code is Z23 (Encounter for immunization). Please note that this code is not specific to the influenza immunization. That specificity will be identified by the associated HCPCS code for the actual vaccine.
For patients who have contracted the flu, the default code is J11.1 (Influenza due to the unidentified influenza virus with other respiratory manifestations). A specific code requires the following information to code the disease specifically:
For conditions that have manifestation, the code will vary depending upon the virus type. This information can be added to your physician query.
Consider getting your vaccination so you can avoid taking paid time off just for feeling under the weather. I am so happy to be vaccinated this year!
Read Laurie Johnson’s related article “How to Code the Flu in ICD-10“.
This a heads-up on a definitional change coming our way. There will be the launching of a new framework for obesity in mid-January, per a
Thanksgiving, a cherished American holiday celebrated annually on the fourth Thursday of November, is synonymous with family gatherings, gratitude, and indulgent feasting. While it holds
Please log in to your account to comment on this article.
Join Beth Wolf, MD, CPC, CCDS, for an in-depth webcast on the FY2025 spinal fusion MS-DRG updates. Discover key changes in DRG classification, understand impacts on documentation and CMI, and learn strategies to ensure compliance.
Join Angela Comfort, DBA, MBA, RHIA, CDIP, CCS, CCS-P, as she presents effective strategies to strengthen collaboration between CDI, coding, and quality departments in acute care hospitals. Angela will also share guidance on implementing cross-departmental meetings, using shared KPIs, and engaging leadership to foster a culture of collaboration. Attendees will gain actionable tools to optimize documentation accuracy, elevate quality metrics, and drive a unified approach to healthcare goals, ultimately enhancing both patient outcomes and organizational performance.
Optimize your outpatient clinical documentation and gain comprehensive knowledge from foundational practices to advanced technologies, ensuring improved patient care and organizational and financial success. This webcast bundle provides a holistic approach to outpatient CDI, empowering you to implement best practices from the ground up and leverage advanced strategies for superior results. You will gain actionable insights to improve documentation quality, patient care, compliance, and financial outcomes.
Enhancing outpatient clinical documentation is crucial for maintaining accuracy, compliance, and proper reimbursement in today’s complex healthcare environment. This webcast, presented by industry expert Angela Comfort, DBA, RHIA, CDIP, CCS, CCS-P, will provide you with actionable strategies to tackle complex challenges in outpatient documentation. You’ll learn how to craft detailed clinical narratives, utilize advanced EHR features, and implement accurate risk adjustment and HCC coding. The session also covers essential regulatory updates to keep your documentation practices compliant. Join us to gain the tools you need to improve documentation quality, support better patient care, and ensure financial integrity.
Dr. Ronald Hirsch provides critical details on the new Medicare Appeal Process for Status Changes for patients whose status changes during their hospital stay. He also delves into other scenarios of hospital patients receiving custodial care or medically unnecessary services where patient notifications may be needed along with the processes necessary to ensure compliance with state and federal guidance.
Healthcare organizations face complex regulatory requirements under the No Surprises Act and Price Transparency rules. These policies mandate extensive fee disclosures across settings, and confusion is widespread—many hospitals remain unaware they must post every contracted rate. Non-compliance could lead to costly penalties, financial loss, and legal risks. Join David M. Glaser Esq. as he shows you how to navigate these regulations effectively.
Protect your facility from unwanted audits! Join Becky Jacobsen, BSN, RN, MBS, CCS-P, CPC, CPEDC, CBCS, CEMC, and take a deep dive into both the CMS and AMA guidelines for reporting post operative pain blocks. You’ll learn how to determine if the nerve block is separately codable with real life examples for better understanding. Becky will also cover how to evaluate whether documentation supports medical necessity, offer recommendations for stronger documentation practices, and provide guidance on educating providers about documentation requirements. She’ll include a discussion of appropriate modifier and diagnosis coding assignment so that you can be confident that your billing of post operative pain blocks is fully supported and compliant.
During this RACmonitor webcast Dr. Ronald Hirsch spotlights the areas of the OIG’s Work Plan and the findings of their most recent audits that impact utilization review, case management, and audit staff. He also provides his common-sense interpretation of the prevailing regulations related to those target issues. You’ll walk away better equipped with strategies to put in place immediately to reduce your risk of paybacks, increased scrutiny, and criminal penalties.
Copyright © 2024 ICD10monitor. Powered by MedLearn Media.
Prepare for the 2025 CMS IPPS Final Rule with ICD10monitor’s IPPSPalooza! Click HERE to learn more
Get 15% OFF on all educational webcasts at ICD10monitor with code JULYFOURTH24 until July 4, 2024—start learning today!
CYBER WEEK IS HERE! Don’t miss your chance to get 20% off now until Dec. 2 with code CYBER24
