My First Telehealth Visit

Featured coffee – Mudslide Flavored Coffee

My specialist referred me to another specialist for a second opinion, and because he’s self-quarantining due to possible COVID-19 exposure, we had to have a telehealth visit.

As an auditor and provider educator, I am very comfortable coding and teaching providers how to compliantly document these visits.  But, as a patient, it’s a different experience.

So, we did the Zoom call, and I used my phone instead of the laptop.  I joined early so that I’d be ready for the doctor.

There I am, in the virtual waiting room and as soon as the doctor joined, my phone went on mute, and I could not unmute it!  Finally figured that out, but then my camera mode changed and he couldn’t see me!

Okay, fixed the camera after a couple of attempts, but the train had not completely derailed yet.  There was a lot of static on the line, and I had to move from room to room to find a good spot.

I always tell providers to document everything, but I’m really hoping he leaves out these details.

Stay Up to Date In The Industry

Featured coffee –Summer Sunset Coffee

About twenty years ago, I participated in a coding workshop. I told the group that coding as we know it was going to go away. That software programs were being created/perfected that could abstract CPT and ICD codes and that coders would take on the roles of auditors and educators.

Well, one of the attendees stood up, pointed his finger at me, and told me that I didn’t know what I was talking about.

So, here we are. We have had computer-assisted (CAC), Natural Language Processing (NLP), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Machine Learning (ML) for many years now.

Will they replace coders? No. Should coders redefine their responsibilities in the coding industry? Yes, and here’s why.

CAC and other software can perform very well for assigning codes to straightforward cases, leaving coders to abstract the more complex cases.

That means coders are expected to be subject-matter experts, to audit the codes suggested by the software, identify deficiencies in the documentation, and provide documentation improvement education to their providers.

Also, subject-matter expert coders will always be necessary to “teach” the computer-assisted software.

CPT® is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association

ICD-10® is copyrighted by the World Health Organization (WHO)

ICD – ICD-10-CM – International Classification of Diseases …. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/icd/icd10cm.htm

Guest Bloggers Invitation

Churro Latte 5-Pack

I have received so many requests from readers interested in guest blogging!

Thank you so much!

If you would like to be a guest blogger, send me an email at diaryofamedicalcodingauditor@gmail.com.

I do have a few rules.

Cite your sources or provide hyperlinks to your reference material

No political content

Keep discussions to coding, billing, and revenue cycle topics