The delegates from VHIMA will participate in the vote on updates to the AHIMA House of Delegates Policy and Procedures manual at the House of Delegates meeting this coming Sunday. A copy of the manual is attached here.
Please let us know if you have any comments related to the updates that you want your delegates to voice at the meeting this Sunday, September 23, 2018.
As Hurricane Florence makes landfall, the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and its federal partners remain in close coordination to help ensure that emergency officials effectively address the needs of at-risk populations as part of disaster response. To this end, emergency responders and officials should consider adopting, as circumstances and resources allow, the following practices to help make sure all segments of the community are served:
Being mindful of all segments of the community and taking reasonable steps to provide an equal opportunity to benefit from emergency response efforts will help ensure that the disaster management in all areas affected by Hurricane Florence is successful.
For more information regarding how Federal civil rights laws apply in an emergency, visit OCR’s Civil Rights Emergency Preparedness page.
For information about emergency requirements for long-term care facilities, visit the CMS Emergency Preparedness Rule page.
For information regarding Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and other civil rights authorities that HHS OCR enforces, visit the Laws and Regulations Enforced by OCR civil rights page.
DISCLAIMER: These guidance documents are not final agency actions, do not legally bind persons or entities outside the Federal government, and may be rescinded or modified in the Department’s discretion. Noncompliance with any voluntary standards (e.g., recommended practices) contained in these documents will not, in itself, result in any enforcement action
All HIM professionals have a vested interest in the draft competencies. Two key considerations are progression and laddering. Progression means that the competencies were designed to provide a foundation in which HIM skills and knowledge can be acquired in a learning hierarchy across all academic levels. Laddering is closely-related to progression in education as well as within industry. Both are critical components of HIMR, intended to deliver a thoughtful, purposeful educational roadmap across all academic levels and professional practice. Academic competencies outline progression through the academic environment. AHIMA’s Career Map demonstrates promotion and transition pathways for HIM practitioners to move from entry to mid to advanced to mastery-level positions.
The public comment period will be open from June 25 to September 14. After further refinement following the public comment period, the final competencies are planned to be handed-off to CAHIIM in December.
Please review and provide comment by September 14!
Click here or go to www.VHIMA.org to access the curricula information.
Comparison: Draft 2018 HIM Competencies and 2014 Competencies
Optional Specialty Track Competencies (2015 CEE Associate Education Coalition)
VHIMA will be hosting Round 3 of its Coding Roundtable Lunchbucket series featuring topics focused on coding audits and coding validation reviews. Round 3 will focus on evaluating and using The Program for Evaluating Payment Patterns Electronic Report (PEPPER) Reports that are distributed and summarize provider-specific Medicare data statistics for target areas often associated with Medicare improper payments due to billing. This webinar is intended to assisted auditors to determine the areas in which their facility may fall short of the targets.
This webinar will be held on Friday, August 31st at 12:00 p.m. EST until 1:00 p.m. EST and will be awarded one (1) continuing education unit from VHIMA. Registration is available online at www.vhima.org and the cost is $25 for VHIMA members and $30 for non VHIMA members.
Register
Hope you will join us. If you have questions, please contact:
Gloria Litton, RHIA, CHDA, CCS
VHIMA Coding Roundtable Coordinator
Gloria.litton@mwhc.com
(540) 741-1650
Cast your vote for the 2019 elected officials.
Polls open Monday, July 9, 2018 – 8 am CST through Monday, July 23, 2018 – 5 pm CST.
The entire AHIMA membership, with the exception of students are eligible to vote.
To find out more about the candidates, please go to: http://www.ahima.org/about/elections
VHIMA Members,
A VHIMA member and former VHIMA Board Member is running for AHIMA Board of Directors. Allison Viola would appreciate your support for her candidacy in the 2018 AHIMA Ballot for the Board of Directors. Polls open on July 9 at 8 am CT through July 23 at 5 pm CT.
Sincerely,
The VHIMA Board
Allison Viola, MBA, RHIA 2018 Candidate AHIMA Board of Directors
For most coders, the term “Ding” represents an error or opportunity that is identified during a coding review preformed either internally or externally. Since auditing is based on the idea that review and identification of these “Dings,” they will lead to consistency and education for coding staff. That is why this series has been called “Ding! Ding! Saved By The Bell.”
The VHIMA Coding Roundtable will host a 2nd Round in its coding audit and compliance series. The 2nd Round will be hosted by the Organization Integrity and Compliance staff at Carilion Clinic in Roanoke, VA. Presenters from Carilion Clinic will review their organization’s program for auditing and compliance and will share their sampling methodology and how they report and use their results to ensure coding compliance in their organization. The presenters include:
Kristin Meador, MHA, RHIT, CHC
Compliance Audit Director
Organizational Integrity & Compliance
Carilion Clinic
Jennifer D. Smith, BBA, CHC, CPMA, CPC, COC, CRC
Compliance Senior Auditor
Organizational Integrity & Compliance
Stacey Barbour, BS, CCS
DRG Compliance Auditor
Organizational Integrity & Compliance
This live event will occur on Friday, June 29th from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. EST. One (1) AHIMA continuing education unit will be awarded for this program. The cost is $25 for VHIMA members and $30 for non VHIMA members.
Click here to register.
Inside This Issue:
We are reaching out to you because we are asking for your assistance in a grassroots effort to advance HR 3545 over the next two weeks.
As those that attended AHIMA’s Advocacy Summit know, one of our “asks” this year was for our elected U.S. Representatives to support and co-sponsor HR 3545, the Overdose Prevention and Patient Safety Act. HR 3545 seeks to align the 42 CFR Part 2 regulation, a law that regulates the sharing of substance use disorder records, with HIPAA for purposes of treatment, payment and healthcare operations.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee hopes to consider HR 3545 at the full committee level the week of May 14 but we need your help!
We have heard that Democratic support and co-sponsorship of HR 3545 is critical to advancing the bill. We are asking your assistance with the following:
Contact your U.S. Representative via AHIMA’s Advocacy Action Center to express your support for HR 3545. To expedite correspondence, we have generated a message to your U.S. Representative. Members must type in their zip code and personal information to send their support for HR 3545. To go directly to the link, click here.
Your assistance is critical to advancing HR 3545. The Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee is committed to advancing a legislative package that will address our current opioid crisis before Memorial Day – we want to make sure that HR 3545 is part of the solution!
Please let us know if we can answer any questions or concerns that you may have. Thank you for everything that you do for the HIM profession and AHIMA.
Best,
AHIMA’s Policy and Government Relations Team
Revision of the Virginia Health Information Management Association (VHIMA/Association) to be Voted on at the May 17, 2018, Annual Meeting
Please review the changes made to our bylaws by clicking on the button below.
This year at the 2018 VHIMA Convention, we will be having another track on Information Governance (IG). Since Information Governance remains one of the focus areas for AHIMA and building on the IG presentation from last year, we will be doing a deeper dive into IG topics that affect our members. Join us for the half-day session that will focus on:
Katherine Downing is an industry expert in information governance (IG) and has over 15 years of HIM experience as an HIM Director, Privacy Officer, and IT System Analyst. Kathy has focused much of her career on Electronic Health Records and Patient Privacy. As a Director of Patient Health Information Protection at a hospital systems’ corporate office, she led the creation of the Privacy Program for over 300 hospitals, surgery centers, and physician practices including the training of over 1000 privacy officers. She has expertise in Electronic Health Records and has worked with numerous sites during implementations.
Kathy is a Vice President of Information Governance, Informatics, Standards, Privacy and Security at the American Health Information Management Association in Chicago. Kathy provides her professional expertise toward developing AHIMA products and services through toolkits, articles, and training. She is a graduate of the Ohio State University and has been involved in American Health Information Management Association activities since she received the National Outstanding Student Recognition award in 1995. She received her Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership from Gonzaga University in 2007.
So Do Not delay. Register today! for the 2018 VHIMA Annual Conference in Newport News on May 16 -17.
The VHIMA Coding Roundtable would like to invite you our next series of webinars focused on coding reviews and audit programs within various organizations. Each event (webinar) will by hosted by a facility who will discuss the aspects of their coding validation review program. They will discuss their coding audit plans, how they select records for review, the number of charts reviewed, and how they report the findings of their reviews. Each webinar will be awarded one continuing education unit as recognized by AHIMA.
Since most of the coders today refer to audit findings as “dings”, the roundtable committee decided to call this series “Ding! Ding! Saved By The Bell.” We all recognize that the purpose of coding reviews is to evaluate coding practices and identify areas where we can make improvements and provide consistency amongst coding personnel. Identifying these issues “saves” coders from continuing to make these same errors. We have a lot of talent in the state of Virginia and am excited about sharing that knowledge with other HIM professionals.
So register for these webinars via the VHIMA website at www.vhima.org. The first round will be held on April 13st at 12:00 PM EST. The tickets are $25.00 for VHIMA members and $30.00 for Non Members.
Please contact Gloria Litton (VHIMA Coding Roundtable Coordinator) at (540) 741-1650 or Gloria.litton@mwhc.com for questions.
Click here to register.
AHIMA is introducing a very exciting opportunity at the 2018 AHIMA Convention in Miami, FL! AHIMA will be launching a volunteer program for current students or new graduates to attend the 2018 AHIMA convention with all expenses paid (within the AHIMA travel policy guidelines). The selected volunteers will be assigned activities throughout the convention. This is a great opportunity for our future leaders to become more engaged in the profession! Applications for this program will open March 1st until April 30th, 2018. There will be 25 people selected so be to share this with all eligible candidates!
For more information visit the AHIMA webpage. http://www.ahima.org/careers/volunteer-convention
Dear Members and Attendees,
The 2018 VHIMA Annual Conference will be held at the Newport News Marriott at City Center on Wednesday, May 16 and Thursday, May 17, 2018. The room rate of $115 per night will be available for the dates of Tuesday, May 15 – Friday, May 18. The last day to book for the conference rate is Monday, April 16 or until block is full (whichever comes first).
Individuals may use the following link below or call our reservation system at 866-329-1758 and ask for the VHIMA ANNUAL CONF group block.
Don’t wait book your room now. See you in May.
Book your group rate for Virginia Health Information Management Association Annual Conference
Dear VHIMA Members:
The votes are in and location for our 2019 VHIMA Annual Conference will be Richmond Va! We have begun looking for a venue and will communicate the details as soon as we have more information.
Thank you!
Kathleen Scott
VHIMA President-Elect
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VHIMA Membership,
We are looking for 5-6 VHIMA members who are interested in volunteering their time to be on the 2018 VHIMA Annual Convention program committee. If you would like to be involved in programming decisions that will help make the 2018 Annual Convention relevant and meaningful to our members, this is the job for you! Here are some of the duties that will be assigned to the program committee members:
All meetings will be held via conference call/WebEx so no travel is required.
If you are interested in creating a program that is meaningful to our members, please contact Kathleen Scott via email: mary.scott@parallon.com or phone: 804-647-1809 by November 15, 2017.
Thank you,
Kathleen Scott
VHIMA President-Elect
Hello VHIMA Members,
The 89th AHIMA Annual Convention is underway. The House of Delegates (HoD) met Sunday October 8th to work on several SBARS topics that have a significant impact on the profession. The breakout sessions addressed the following topics:
Each session resulted in a review of the objectives, an assessment of the situation and recommendations. The results of the information that was completed for each breakout session is being complied for all CSAs. Once received, all the information will be distributed to the VHIMA membership. If you are not familiar with the topics, I would suggest that you go to the AHIMA.org website and search for each SBAR. The information was sent out to the entire AHIMA membership between July – August 2017. Please continue to check your email. More information will be forthcoming.
Michelle Lakins-Waller, VHIMA President
On Behalf of the VHIMA Delegates
Dear VHIMA Members,
With all the recent devastation of fires, hurricanes, and flooding impacting so many areas of the U.S. and its territories, AHIMA has set up the Health Information Relief Operation (HIRO) Fund to assist their members in these areas. If would like to donate or know of someone in the affected areas who is in need of assistance, please click here and follow the instructions.
Thank you from the VHIMA Executive Board.
Thank you,
Tonya Deborde, RHIA
VHIMA VP
Health Information Management Program Director
June 16, 2017
12:00 – 1:00 PM ET
Hello Fellow HIM Professionals,
I am pleased to announce another webinar hosted by the VHIMA Coding Roundtable Committee. We are excited to Laura Legg, RHIT, CCS, CDIP from Healthcare Resource Group as our guest presenter. She will be sharing information regarding the following:
Title: A Coder’s Response to Recovery Auditors: Understanding the Top 6 Most Expensive Inpatient Diagnoses
Objectives:
-Receive specific guidance for facilities responding to Recovery Auditors 2018 statement of work
-Provides targeted experience with top diagnoses and documentation challenges
-Learn information regarding regulations and concepts regarding ICD-10-CM coding and DRG assignment
-Facilitating staff compliance with the Official Coding Guidelines and AHA’s Coding Clinic instructions
Click here to register.
Greetings Fellow HIM Professionals,
The Virginia Health Information Management Association will be hosting another webinar in their VHIMA Coding Roundtable Lunchbucket series on Friday, May 12th at 12:00 p.m. EST. This webinar will be a review of some of the highlights of the 1st Quarter Coding Clinics published by AHA.
This webinar discussion will last one hour and will be worth one (1) continuing education hour as recognized by AHIMA. Gloria Litton, RHIA, CCS, AHIMA Approved ICD-10-CM/PCS Trainer will be the presenter for this event.
The cost is $20.00 per registrant.
Note: If multiple participants will be participating from the same location, all participants should register individually in order to receive a CEU certificate.
Please contact Gloria Litton at (540) 741-1650 or Gloria.litton@mwhc.com if you have questions prior to the event.
December 16, 2016
1:00 – 2:00 PM ET
Our VHIMA Coding Roundtable Lunchbucket Series continues. On Friday, December 16th at 1:00 p.m. EST, VHIMA will be hosting another one hour webex event.
ICD-10-PCS- Focus on Spinal Procedures
Ed O’Beirne PA, MHS, CCS, CDIP
• 5 years EMT and respiratory therapist
• 11 years physician assistant in emergency medicine
• 9 years coding supervisor, auditor, consultant
• ICD-10 educator of providers and coders
• Specialization in procedure coding ICD and CPT
• Amateur drone designer, builder, and pilot
• The most valuable knowledge is that which can be shared
November 28, 2016
1:00 – 2:00 PM ET
VHIMA is excited to offer a webinar directed towards HIM students and new graduates and for current HIM professionals wanting to explore the opportunities that the HIM field provides. A guest panel of current HIM professionals will offer information regarding their current roles in HIM and offer insight on what these roles entail. Topics to be discussed include:
It is a free event for those who are interested. One CEU will be offered.
Friday, October 28, 2016
1:00 – 2:00 PM ET
CEU: 1.0 – Clinical Data Management
Review highlights from the ICD-10-PCS updates effective October 1, 2016.
Ed O’Beirne PA, MHS, CCS, CDIP
• 5 years EMT and respiratory therapist
• 11 years physician assistant in emergency medicine
• 9 years coding supervisor, auditor, consultant
• ICD-10 educator of providers and coders
• Specialization in procedure coding ICD and CPT
• Amateur drone designer, builder, and pilot
• The most valuable knowledge is that which can be shared
Inside this Issue:
Inside this Issue:
Look for Upcoming Announcements Soon!
Visit the regional association page and calendar for more information.
Inside this Issue:
Inside this Issue:
Write Congress Today!
Recently, physicians requested Congress delay ICD-10 until 2017. The most recent delay of the code sets has already cost the healthcare industry approximately 6.8 billion dollars. We cannot afford another delay. Write your legislators today and ask them to support the October 1, 2015 compliance date. We would also like to encourage you to tweet at your Members of Congress using the hashtag #ICD10Matters.
New Medical Coder Career Program Provides Foundational Building Blocks for the Demanding Facility-based Inpatient Coding Career.
Systematic program combines rigorous study and hands-on coding practice.
BEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS – November 12, 2014 – Libman Education announced the release of its new Medical Coder Career Program (MCCP) – Facility-based Inpatient Coding. The six course curriculum is designed to meet the growing challenges of hospitals dependent on their medical coders to ensure that valid codes are applied to medical diagnoses and procedures to facilitate reimbursement, analyze patient outcomes, and support research.
Because of the complexity of these jobs, skilled and experienced coders able to perform facility- based coding are in high demand. Libman Education’s MCCP will help aspiring and experienced medical coders efficiently attain foundational tools for a successful coding career.
“The Medical Coder Career Program provides foundational building blocks for a successful coding career,” said the program’s instructor, Pamela J. Haney, MS, RHIA, CCS, CPC-H, a recognized HIM expert and AHIMA-approved ICD-10 trainer with over thirty years of experience as a Director of HIM and Coding Services. “The program is structured to progressively develop your skills and knowledge over the course of six courses – while providing the educational and technical support to help you finish in a reasonable time.”
Susan Pepple, Libman Education COO, added, “Courses are available as stand-alone or as a complete six course program. MCCP is perfect for someone with a related healthcare background, such as a transcriptionist or other HIM professional, to learn the skills necessary to become an entry-level coder. It is very focused on the specific skills and knowledge that coders need to be successful.”
Following assessments to insure that foundational skills in anatomy, physiology and medical terminology are in place, students receive real-world training in ICD-9 and CPT hospital facility coding as well as training in Diagnosis Related Groups (DRGs); Resource-based Relative Value Scale (RBRVS); and Ambulatory Payment Classifications (APCs). The program helps students to understand the crucial role of coding in reimbursement; identify and correct common coding errors; recognize data quality impact and characteristics; appreciate the benefits and limitations of using encoders and groupers; become aware of the legal aspects of healthcare and HIPAA; and prepare for AHIMA’s Certified Coding Assistant (CCA) credential exam.
For more about the Medical Coder Career Program (MCCP) – Facility-based In-Patient please click here
About Libman Education
Libman Education Inc. is a leading provider of training for the health care workforce. Libman Education offers self-paced online courses designed and developed by leading industry experts in Health Information Management (HIM) and Medical Record Coding. Courseware is designed for individuals as well as health care providers and institutions, public and private workforce development training programs, and professional and volunteer associations interested in preparing their employees and members for the challenges facing the HIM workforce.