Donna Smith, RHIA

Donna: Sue, do you remember when we started our blog back in 2012? Didn’t the idea present itself at a conference we were attending? Sue: Yes, it did! We were […]

L. Gordon Moore and Donna Smith discuss how appropriate documentation and coding of hierarchical condition categories (HCCs) can have a significant impact on payment in a value-based system.

This article details how coders can enhance their careers by becoming proficient in the finer points of the latest payment methodologies.

3M research conducted by HIMSS Analytics sought to understand how organizations manage data in support of value-based payment models based on HCCs.

Donna:  Hi, Sue – I’ve been hearing that many hospitals are getting denials for records with sepsis coded as the diagnosis. Sue: Why are they getting denied for that? Donna: […]

Donna Smith of 3M Consulting Services explores crucial oversight processes, audit techniques, escalation policies & 2017 ICD-10-CM guidelines.

HCCs are not new, but many organizations are only starting to recognize their importance. 3M’s Donna Smith dives into how to manage HCCs in her new article.

Donna: Hi, Sue! Do you ever see something on a problem list that isn’t correct? Sue: Yes, often!  You know I always say, “The problem list is a problem.” Donna: […]

Donna: Eh Sue. What did you think of our experience in Canada reviewing charts for accurate coding? Sue: I would say that they have a similar challenge to ours in […]

Donna: Happy Holidays, Sue! In the spirit of the season, here’s a gift for you — some information about ICD-11 that I learned at the recent ICD-11 Revision Conference in […]

Donna: Sue, do you know how many unspecified codes there are in ICD-10-CM? Sue: No, haven’t had time to count them!  Why do you ask? Donna: Well, as you know, […]

This webinar reviews the Total Performance Score calculation and how the Value-Based Purchasing Program measures will impact payment.

Cheryl:  Hey fellow bloggers, have you heard what people are saying about the new ICD-10-CM coding guideline 19? Sue: I’ve heard a few things. . . Donna: There’s certainly a […]

Donna: Hi Sue. Have you had a chance to read through the FY 2017 Final Rule since our last chat? Sue: I haven’t read all 2,434 pages if that’s what […]

Cheryl:  So Donna, I have been getting a lot of questions from clients about ICD-10-CM and PCS lately. I was in elementary school when the last code switch occurred.  Can […]

Donna:  Hi, Sue – how was your 4th of July holiday weekend? Sue:  Full of fireworks and time with my family. Hope yours was good as well! Donna:  I had […]

Donna: Hi, Sue! I saw you at the ACDIS conference last week. How were the sessions you  attended? Sue: Really good – I liked the diversity and range of topics […]

Donna: Sue, have you been reading about the new definitions for sepsis and septic shock, and the new clinical guidance for physicians about diagnosing sepsis in their patients? Sue: Yes, I […]

Donna: Sue, it has been way too long. What’ve you been up to? Sue: I’ve been auditing a lot of ICD-10 documentation and coding post go-live. Donna: Same here – […]

Donna: Hey, Sue! We haven’t talked since AHIMA. Did you get back in time for ICD-10 go-live? Sue: Yes, I was in my office, bright and early on October 1. […]

Donna: Sue, can you believe it? We’re going live with ICD-10 in less than two weeks – this has to be the longest pregnancy in history! Sue: I know. You […]

Donna and Sue are joined this month by fellow 3M HIS blogger Jill Devrick. Donna: Hi Sue. How was the AHIMA-AHDI summit? Didn’t you give a presentation? Sue: The summit […]

Can HCCs be used to improve patient outcomes? Learn more from 3M’s Donna Smith.

3M’s Donna Smith explains why the differences can impact a clinical documentation improvement program.

As we move towards a care system focused on population health, HCCs can determine patient disease risk and help hospitals analyze their populations.

Donna: You know Sue, I think that people are really stepping up their ICD-10 game as we enter the home stretch. Sue: The way I look at it, they’ve been […]

3M’s Donna Smith explains how Hierarchical Condition Categories (HCCs) are beings used to predict care costs using various data points.

Donna: Sue, what results are you hearing about ICD-10 coder agreement as sites get ready to implement October 1, 2015? Sue: What do you mean by “ICD-10 coder agreement?” Donna: Well, […]

Sue: Happy New Year, Donna! Did you enjoy the holidays? Donna: The holidays were wonderful, and you know I always feel reenergized in the new year! Sue: Me, too! Instead […]