•  Implementation guide for the severity-adjusted DRG system. Tips and recommendations for a successful conversion to the new severity–adjusted DRG system.
•  Optimal reimbursement indicators. Updated for the new MS-DRG system. Know the major factors involved in moving a patient from a lower-paying DRG to a higher one to receive optimal payment while staying in compliance.
•  Recovery audit contractor (RAC) program resource. Strategies to meet the challenges of documentation and coding in preparation for the RAC program.
•  Present-on-admission (POA) tutorial with source documentation table. Summarizes AHA Coding Clinic references concerning documentation issues and how they relate to assigning appropriate diagnosis codes.
•  Special reports. Stay abreast of regulatory changes posted on the website created exclusively for DRG Desk Reference customers.
•  Revenue cycle management tutorial. Tips and recommendations for the roles and responsibilities of each department for successful revenue cycle management.
•  DRG decision trees. Clearly understand the logic behind assigning a DRG within an MDC. Available on the eBook and our exclusive DRG Desk Reference website.
•  DRG history and overview. Includes an overview of the basic characteristics of the DRG classification system and development of the MS-DRG system, history and relationship to the IPPS.
• Documentation specificity tables. Locate diagnoses that require additional physician specificity in documentation in order to assign a code that is designated an MCC or CC such as CHF, COPD, arthropathies and ESRD.
• Abnormal EKGs, noninvasive diagnostic test findings and abnormal laboratory finding indicators. Recognize key indicators of possible missed CC and MCC condition reporting based upon clues found in the medical record.
• Newly deactivated and most commonly missed CC and MCC references. Perform accurate audits by knowing the most commonly missed CCs in the medical record.
• ICD-9-CM codes for common diagnoses and procedures. Quickly identify the key diagnosis or procedure by ICD-9-CM code.
• Case mix index section. Discusses the importance of calculating and tracking case mix on a regular basis as well as tips for documenting case mix index changes and their causes.
• Key fields for coder abstracting. Includes abstracting basics, elements, code edits and compliance-related issues associated with abstracting.
• Complete CC and MCC list. Know how codes considered MCCs and CCs will affect DRG assignment—helping to legitimately improve reimbursement.
• Relative weights of every valid DRG. A quick reference of the relative weights of all DRGs presented as options for optimizing.
• Drug usage and treatment indicators. Help coders identify drugs, determine actions and know the common CC and MCC conditions with which they are associated to help ensure the appropriate DRG is assigned.
• Organisms. Improve DRG accuracy by knowing each specimen of organism that indicates a CC condition.
• Summary of changes to the IPPS. Understand the new provisions for identifying new medical services and technology that affect add-on payments.

Exclusive to eBook:

• Complete CC and MCC exclusion list. Comprehensive listing of the CC or MCC condition and the principal diagnoses with which the condition will not serve as CC or MCC to move the case to a higher-paying DRG.
• DRG assignment tutorial.
• Table of contents instantly links user to any chapter.
• PDF features allow user to move back and forth between views quickly.
• User may create additional bookmarks.