lwconsulting

Understanding ICD-10-CM Codes: The Important, Comprehensive, and Distinct Facts [Part 1 of 6]

The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification, known as ICD-10-CM, is the required standard for reporting diagnoses or condition codes on all healthcare claims, including Medicare. When attending an ICD-10-CM course, one of the first instructions is to obtain and use the current ICD-10-CM Coding Manual, which is updated every October. It is emphasized NOT to search for code(s) from the internet, the phone, or a list of codes. Yes, use the actual…

F-Tags in Review: F-Tag 949 Behavioral Health Training-Implementation November 2019

One regulation pending Phase 3 implementation is F-Tag 949 Behavioral Health Training. This regulation has significant connections to two other regulations for skilled nursing facilities: §483.70 Administration F-Tag 838 Facility Assessment (which should have been completed and submitted by November 2017) and §483.40 F-Tags 740-745 Behavioral Health Services. As part of the facility assessment, skilled nursing facilities should have included in their plan a procedure to educate and provide competencies for behavioral health services through…

F-Tags in Review: F940 General Training

Regulations for skilled nursing are changing again in 2019. This implementation is the last of a 3-phase execution of new regulations which began in November 2017. This year, November 2019, will introduce survey review and compliance training requirements for various focused subjects. Let’s take a look at the overview of what will be required and surveyed beginning in November 2019 under F-TAG 940 – General Training Requirements. This regulation spells out, for the first time,…