The COVID-19 pandemic has focused attention on the need for culturally competent care. The racial and ethnic inequities in healthcare have been made more apparent by the pandemic, leading to protests in our country and worldwide.
If your organization is not already screening short inpatient stays, now may be a good time to start, says Ronald Hirsch, MD, FACP, CHCQM, CHRI, a vice president at R1 RCM Inc. in Chicago.
The fiscal year (FY) 2022 Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) proposed rule makes broad efforts to cushion the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on hospital revenue and resources. The proposed rule, released April 27, also eliminates sweeping changes to MS-DRG rate-setting finalized in the 2021 IPPS final rule.
The widespread adoption of electronic medical records and software has made it easier for coders to ensure that all necessary query elements are present. Nonetheless, coders must understand what these elements are.
Q: Is it considered a HIPAA violation for facilities to keep patient charts outside of exam rooms or at a patient's bedside? Most providers prefer to have the charts handy to review just before seeing the patient. However, anyone could walk by the room and potentially get a glance at the information. Would this be considered an incidental disclosure?
