Patient mortality is closely monitored. If a patient dies, the hospital wants to be sure the documentation accurately portrays the acuity of the patient, with all diagnoses, so that when the risk of mortality is calculated with the complex algorithm used by federal agencies, it demonstrates that the death was not unexpected, and is not indicative of poor-quality care. 

Reporting the lead story during this episode of Monitor Mondays is Melinda Battaile, MD, physician advisor and clinical documentation advisor for Vidant Health in Greenville, N.C.

Other segments to be featured on the broadcast include the following:

• RAC Report: Healthcare attorney Knicole Emanuel reports on the status of the Medicaid lawsuit filed after more than two dozen plaintiff Virginia behavioral healthcare providers had their managed care contracts terminated by six managed care organizations (MCOs).
  
  
• Monday Focus: Algorithms are a trending topic, made even more so with recent accusations of gender bias in the Goldman Sachs Apple Card leveled by presidential candidate and U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren. RACmonitor investigative reporter and New York attorney Ed Roche returns to the broadcast to continue his reporting on algorithms and their use in claims auditing.
  
  
• Policy Update: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) intends to press forward with payment cuts for some hospital clinic visits, as well as cuts to the 340B drug discount program, despite an adverse court ruling in September. Matthew Albright, chief legislative affairs officer for Zelis, reports on this developing story.
   
• Risky Business: Healthcare attorney David Glaser returns to Monitor Mondays with his trademark segment, in which he reports on CMS's final rule’s reference to “shoppable” services.
   
• Monday Rounds: Ronald Hirsch, MD, vice president of R1 RCM, makes his Monday Rounds with another installment of his popular segment.