The phased elimination of Medicare’s Inpatient-Only List (IPOL) represents more than a regulatory change that will impact utilization review and the surgical authorization process; it
Here’s the uncomfortable truth: many hospitals and state Medicaid plans, under pressure from HR1 data analysis needs, are paying eye-watering markups to for-profit CPA and
Clinical documentation integrity (CDI) professionals work in a variety of settings, and although I mostly focus on topics related to hospital inpatient billing, this week
I think many have heard me discuss a common scenario with which hospitals are grappling: patients who are medically ready for discharge, but have no
This week, let’s focus on coding guidelines associated with reporting diagnoses occurring during an outpatient visit subject to the Medicare Three-Day Payment Window Rule. Remember,
There are few perfect things in this world, and hospital operations are not one of them. While multitudes of individuals – clinical and non-clinical –
You have heard Dr. Ronald Hirsch, and I present on CMS-4204-F which introduces a process for expedited determinations for traditional Medicare beneficiaries who are reclassified
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article updates the final ruling that was initially reported on by Ronald Hirsch, MD in January 2024. CMS Proposes New Appeal Process
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the first portion of a two-part series of articles by Erica Remer, MD, who routinely offers guidance for determining the correct
EDITOR’S NOTE:While there have been attempts to phase out the IPO List, the reality is that it continues to be a significant factor in healthcare
A new quarter began on Oct. 1, an event that usually brings updates to National Coverage Determinations (NCDs). The coding updates included for Oct. 1
EDITOR’S NOTE: The following op-ed is exclusively comprised of the opinions of the individual author, which are not necessarily shared by RACmonitor or Monitor Mondays.
Stay ahead of the 2026-2027 audit surge with “Top 10 Audit Targets for 2026-2027 for Hospitals & Physicians: Protect Your Revenue,” a high-impact webcast led by Michael Calahan, PA, MBA. This concise session gives hospitals and physicians clear insight into the most likely federal audit targets, such as E/M services, split/shared and critical care, observation and admissions, device credits, and Two-Midnight Rule changes, and shows how to tighten documentation, coding, and internal processes to reduce denials, recoupments, and penalties. Attendees walk away with practical best practices to protect revenue, strengthen compliance, and better prepare their teams for inevitable audits.
As AI reshapes healthcare compliance, the risk of biased outputs and opaque decision-making grows. This webcast, led by Frank Cohen, delivers a practical Four-Pillar Governance Framework—Transparency, Accountability, Fairness, and Explainability—to help you govern AI-driven claim auditing with confidence. Learn how to identify and mitigate bias, implement robust human oversight, and document defensible AI review processes that regulators and auditors will accept. Discover concrete remedies, from rotation protocols to uncertainty scoring, and actionable steps to evaluate vendors before contracts are signed. In a regulatory landscape that moves faster than ever, gain the tools to stay compliant, defend your processes, and reduce liability while maintaining operational effectiveness.
Get clear, practical answers to Medicare’s most confusing regulations. Join Dr. Ronald Hirsch as he breaks down real-world compliance challenges and shares guidance your team can apply right away.
Federal auditors are zeroing in on Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility (IRF) and hospital rehab unit services, with OIG and CERT audits leading to millions in penalties—often due to documentation and administrative errors, not quality of care. Join compliance expert Michael Calahan, PA, MBA, to learn the five clinical “pillars” of IRF-PPS admissions, key documentation requirements, and real-life case lessons to help protect your revenue.
Expert presenters Kathy Pride, RHIT, CPC, CCS-P, CPMA, and Brandi Russell, RHIA, CCS, COC, CPMA, break down complex fracture care coding rules, walk through correct modifier application (-25, -57, 54, 55), and clarify sequencing for initial and subsequent encounters. Attendees will gain the practical knowledge needed to submit clean claims, ensure compliance, and stay one step ahead of payer audits in 2026.
Accurately determining the principal diagnosis is critical for compliant billing, appropriate reimbursement, and valid quality reporting — yet it remains one of the most subjective and error-prone areas in inpatient coding. In this expert-led session, Cheryl Ericson, RN, MS, CCDS, CDIP, demystifies the complexities of principal diagnosis assignment, bridging the gap between coding rules and clinical reality. Learn how to strengthen your organization’s coding accuracy, reduce denials, and ensure your documentation supports true medical necessity.
Denials continue to delay reimbursement, increase administrative burden, and threaten financial stability across healthcare organizations. This essential webcast tackles the root causes—rising payer scrutiny, fragmented workflows, inconsistent documentation, and underused analytics—and offers proven, data-driven strategies to prevent and overturn denials. Attendees will gain practical tools to strengthen documentation and coding accuracy, engage clinicians effectively, and leverage predictive analytics and AI to identify risks before they impact revenue. Through real-world case examples and actionable guidance, this session empowers coding, CDI, and revenue cycle professionals to shift from reactive appeals to proactive denial prevention and revenue protection.
Sepsis remains one of the most frequently denied and contested diagnoses, creating costly revenue loss and compliance risks. In this webcast, Angela Comfort, DBA, MBA, RHIA, CDIP, CCS, CCS-P, provides practical, real-world strategies to align documentation with coding guidelines, reconcile Sepsis-2 and Sepsis-3 definitions, and apply compliant queries. You’ll learn how to identify and address documentation gaps, strengthen provider engagement, and defend diagnoses against payer scrutiny—equipping you to protect reimbursement, improve SOI/ROM capture, and reduce audit vulnerability in this high-risk area.
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