The Basics

Course Description
The impact of coding on enhancing patient outcomes, correct case mix payment, and audit proofing the patient record is significant in our current health care environment. This training course will serve as an introduction to ICD-9-CM for anyone seeking to improve their understanding of home health and hospice coding. It will specifically introduce home health and hospice professionals to the ICD-9-CM code set, by improving understanding of the relationship between coding guidelines, patient needs, and the assignment of appropriate codes. Administrative staff will gain enhanced confidence from the fundamental knowledge achieved from learning to appropriately code, utilizing best practice guidelines and conventions. Learning how to utilize the ICD-9 guidelines will facilitate the transition to ICD-10, and appropriate previews of ICD-10 will be provided.

Learning Objectives

• Review the ICD-9-CM guidelines and conventions
• Learn to differentiate between types of wounds
• Gain knowledge of coding and sequencing of common wound types
• Learn when to code complications versus wounds