UnitedHealth Group (UHG) stock is plummeting following the abrupt resignation of its CEO Andrew Witty. His sudden departure, coming on Tuesday, May 13, came amid multiple lawsuits and threatened actions by private, state, and federal agencies across the country, and amid massive criticism for the company’s tendency to deny beneficiaries coverage for services at elevated rates.

Witty’s exit from the giant payer – a long-time dominant force related to revenue cycle, provider staffing, utilization, and managed and commercial health insurance plans – seems to have rattled many in America’s sprawling health delivery system. So, how could these recent events affect other hospitals and health systems?

During the next live edition of the popular Talk Ten Tuesdays, the Internet broadcast produced by ICD10monitor, Dr. Juliet Ugarte Hopkins will share what she thinks of what might lie ahead. Dr. Ugarte Hopkins is the medical director for Phoenix Medical Management, Inc. and the Immediate Past President of the American College of Physician Advisors.

Also part of the live broadcast will be these instantly recognizable panelists, who will report more news during their segments:

• Social Determinants of Health: Tiffany Ferguson, CEO for Phoenix Medical Management, Inc., will report on the news that is happening at the intersection of medical record auditing and the SDoH;

• CDI Report: Cheryl Ericson, Director of Clinical Documentation Integrity (CDI) for the vaunted Brundage Group, will have the latest CDI updates;

• The Coding Report: Christine Geiger, Assistant Vice President of Acute and Post-Acute Coding Services for First Class Solutions, will report on the latest coding news;

• News Desk: Timothy Powell, ICD10monitor national correspondent, will anchor the Talk Ten Tuesdays News Desk; and

• MyTalk: Angela Comfort, veteran healthcare subject-matter expert, will co-host the long-running and popular weekly Internet broadcast. Comfort is the Assistant Vice President of Revenue Integrity for Montefiore Health.

Radiology reports are rich in clinical detail, yet ICD-10 codes often fail to fully capture the complexity and specificity of imaging findings.

That is why the producers of Talk Ten Tuesdays and ICD10monitor have invited Laura Manser to explore the most common disconnects between radiology documentation and ICD-10 coding – especially in areas like incidental findings, laterality, and linking imaging results to medical necessity.

During the next edition of the weekly broadcast, Manser is also expected to highlight common errors, such as coding suggestive findings as definitive diagnoses, and provide practical guidance on bridging the gap between documentation and compliance.

Also part of the live broadcast will be these instantly recognizable panelists, who will report more news during their segments:

• Social Determinants of Health: Tiffany Ferguson, CEO for Phoenix Medical Management, Inc., will report on the news that is happening at the intersection of medical record auditing and the SDoH.

• The Coding Report: Christine Geiger, Assistant Vice President of Acute and Post-Acute Coding Services for First Class Solutions, will report on the latest coding news.

• News Desk: Timothy Powell, ICD10monitor national correspondent, will anchor the Talk Ten Tuesdays News Desk.

• MyTalk: Angela Comfort, veteran healthcare subject-matter expert, will co-host the long-running and popular weekly Internet broadcast. Comfort is the Assistant Vice President of Revenue Integrity for Montefiore Health.

The revenue cycle can be thought of as a machine that keeps churning nonstop, making everything work, financially speaking, for your hospital.

But even the most well-oiled machinery can get clogged, meaning it doesn’t perform at its peak. And that is why the producers of ICD10monitor and Talk Ten Tuesdays have invited Jessica Miller-Dobbs to join the popular Internet broadcast as its special guest for some shop talk.

Jessica is the Director of Health Information Management (HIM) and Revenue Cycle for Datavant. She is scheduled to appear during the next live edition of Talk Ten Tuesdays, 10 a.m. Eastern on May 6, for a refreshingly new approach in learning how to get your revenue cycle humming.

Also part of the live broadcast will be these instantly recognizable panelists, who will report more news during their segments:

• Social Determinants of Health: Tiffany Ferguson, CEO for Phoenix Medical Management, Inc., will report on the news that is happening at the intersection of medical record auditing and the SDoH.

• The Coding Report: Christine Geiger, Assistant Vice President of Acute and Post-Acute Coding Services for First Class Solutions, will report on the latest coding news.

• News Desk: Timothy Powell, ICD10monitor national correspondent, will anchor the Talk Ten Tuesdays News Desk.

• MyTalk: Angela Comfort, veteran healthcare subject-matter expert, will co-host the long-running and popular weekly Internet broadcast. Comfort is the assistant vice president of revenue integrity for Montefiore Health.

Payer edits and denials are pervasive in healthcare reimbursement.

These problems typically arise from coding inaccuracies, insufficient documentation, or non-compliance with payer-specific guidelines. These challenges can lead to revenue loss, increased administrative burden, and frustration among healthcare providers.

A skilled coding staff plays a vital role in mitigating these issues. Proactive identification of potential red flags at the time of coding can decrease the number of edits and denials being returned from the payer.

Join our special guest Lorie Mills, director of health information services for Primeau Consulting Group, during the next live edition of Talk Ten Tuesday, April 29, 10 Eastern for a refreshingly new approach to understanding how and what smart coding can do to avoid these expensive and frustrating issues.

Also part of the live broadcast will be these instantly recognizable panelists, who will report more news during their segments:

• Social Determinants of Health: Tiffany Ferguson, CEO for Phoenix Medical Management, Inc., will report on the news that is happening at the intersection of medical record auditing and the SDoH.

• CDI Report: Cheryl Ericson, Director of Clinical Documentation Integrity (CDI) for the vaunted Brundage Group, will have the latest CDI updates.

• The Coding Report: Substituting for Christine Geiger will be Amy Jo Combs, Senior Coding Compliance Consultant for First Class Solutions. She will discuss the significant difference between “History of” and “in remission” when reporting leukemia.

• News Desk: Timothy Powell, ICD10monitor national correspondent, will anchor the Talk Ten Tuesdays News Desk.

• MyTalk: Angela Comfort, veteran healthcare subject-matter expert, will co-host the long-running and popular weekly Internet broadcast. Comfort is the assistant vice president of revenue integrity for Montefiore Health.

Custodial and social hospitalizations have long been a hospital challenge.

From inadequate patient support and services to medically unwarranted occupancy of inpatient beds, plus lack of payment for provision of care, prevention and management of these cases continues to be an issue.

While much has been discussed about how to proceed, many hospitals fail.
And that is why the producers of ICD10monitor and Talk Ten Tuesday have invited Dr. Juliet B. Ugarte Hopkins to be the special guest during the next live edition of Talk Ten Tuesday.

Dr. Ugarte Hopkins is the medical director for Phoenix Medical Management, Inc. and immediate past president of the American College of Physician Advisors. Dr. Ugarte Hopkins will report on this developing crisis

Also part of the live broadcast will be these instantly recognizable panelists, who will report more news during their segments:

• Social Determinants of Health: Tiffany Ferguson, CEO for Phoenix Medical Management, Inc., will report on the news that is happening at the intersection of medical record auditing and the SDoH.

• CDI Report: Cheryl Ericson, Director of Clinical Documentation Integrity (CDI) for the vaunted Brundage Group, will have the latest CDI updates.

• The Coding Report: Christine Geiger, Assistant Vice President of Acute and Post-Acute Coding Services for First Class Solutions, will report on the latest coding news.

• News Desk: Timothy Powell, ICD10monitor national correspondent, will anchor the Talk Ten Tuesdays News Desk.

• MyTalk: Angela Comfort, veteran healthcare subject-matter expert, will co-host the long-running and popular weekly Internet broadcast. Comfort is the assistant vice president of revenue integrity for Montefiore Health.

In today’s healthcare environment, America’s hospitals are experiencing increases in payer denials as a result of incorrect application of drug HCPCS units and a drug HCPCS modifier (JW/JZ).

These denials have increased costs for providers, because the existing staff is either being redirected to spend more time on the issue or additional staff are being hired to resolve the drug charge denials. Healthcare industry professionals need an easy-to-use and cost-effective resource to submit their claims correctly the first time.

During the next live edition of Talk Ten Tuesdays, senior healthcare consultant Tiffani Bouchard will review the current environment in which coders work while explaining how new technology tools and solutions have the potential Drew Updike to expedite the drug lookup process.

Also part of the live broadcast will be these instantly recognizable panelists, who will report more news during their segments:

• Social Determinants of Health: Tiffany Ferguson, CEO for Phoenix Medical Management, Inc., will report on the news that is happening at the intersection of medical record auditing and the SDoH.

• CDI Report: Cheryl Ericson, Director of Clinical Documentation Integrity (CDI) for the vaunted Brundage Group, will have the latest CDI updates.

• The Coding Report: Christine Geiger, Assistant Vice President of Acute and Post-Acute Coding Services for First Class Solutions, will report on the latest coding news.

• News Desk: Timothy Powell, ICD10monitor national correspondent, will anchor the Talk Ten Tuesdays News Desk.

• MyTalk: Angela Comfort, veteran healthcare subject-matter expert, will co-host the long-running and popular weekly Internet broadcast. Comfort is the assistant vice president of revenue integrity for Montefiore Health.

Effective communication is a critical skill in navigating clinical and non-clinical interactions to avoid disaster striking a facility’s bottom line.

In fact, poor communication directly impacts the bottom line. Today, amid a cacophony of competing and complex issues spanning generations and a range of viewpoints, there is an overarching need to foster collaboration.

During the next live edition of Talk Ten Tuesday, Lorie Mills, director of health services for Primeau Consulting Group, will report on the importance of identifying both effective and ineffective communication practices, and their impact on organizational success.

Also part of the live broadcast will be these instantly recognizable panelists, who will report more news during their segments:

• Social Determinants of Health: Tiffany Ferguson, CEO for Phoenix Medical Management, Inc., will report on the news that is happening at the intersection of medical record auditing and the SDoH.

• CDI Report: Cheryl Ericson, Director of Clinical Documentation Integrity (CDI) for the vaunted Brundage Group, will have the latest CDI updates.

• The Coding Report: Christine Geiger, Assistant Vice President of Acute and Post-Acute Coding Services for First Class Solutions, will report on the latest coding news.

• News Desk: Timothy Powell, ICD10monitor national correspondent, will anchor the Talk Ten Tuesdays News Desk.

• Point of View: Dr. James S. Kennedy, founder of CDI MD, will serve as the guest cohost, and will report on a topic that has caught his attention.

World Health Day, which will be officially observed on Monday, April 7, will mark what organizers claim will be a year-long celebration. Here at ICD10monitor and Talk Ten Tuesdays, we will celebrate a bit early, during the next edition of the Talk Ten Tuesdays live Internet broadcast.

Headlining the broadcast will be Lorraine Fernandes, immediate past president and communications chair of the International Health Information Management Association.

This year’s World Health Day theme focuses on efforts to end preventable maternal and newborn deaths, and “to prioritize women’s longer-term health and well-being.”

The World Health Organization (WHO) cites published estimates that nearly 300,000 women lose their lives due to pregnancy or childbirth annually. The WHO also states that more than 2 million babies die during their first month of life, and that 2 million more are stillborn.

Also part of the live broadcast will be these instantly recognizable panelists, who will report more news during their segments:

• Social Determinants of Health: Tiffany Ferguson, CEO for Phoenix Medical Management, Inc., will report on the news that is happening at the intersection of medical record auditing and the SDoH.

• CDI Report: Cheryl Ericson, director of clinical documentation integrity (CDI) for the vaunted Brundage Group, will have the latest CDI updates.

• The Coding Report: Christine Geiger, Assistant Vice President of Acute and Post-Acute Coding Services for First Class Solutions, will report on the latest coding news.

• News Desk: Timothy Powell, ICD10monitor national correspondent, will anchor the Talk Ten Tuesdays News Desk.

• MyTalk: Angela Comfort, a veteran healthcare subject-matter expert, will co-host the long-running and popular weekly Internet broadcast. Comfort is the assistant vice president of revenue integrity for Montefiore Health.

National Doctors’ Day is Sunday, March 30. Even though the national one-day observance is only a few days away, the ICD10monitor producers of Talk Ten Tuesdays want to ensure that everyone is aware of the significant contributions made daily by America’s doctors. Hence, our recognition of the occasion will continue during the next live edition of the popular weekly Internet broadcast.

As part of the celebration, physician and attorney Dr. John K. Hall has been invited to be the special guest on Talk Ten Tuesdays. Dr. Hall, a popular panelist on Monitor Mondays, has distinguished himself as an astute reporter of healthcare news: he introduced the audience to the concept of Chevron Deference at the time when little information was available on an unprecedented development.

Dr. Hall will report on two virus outbreaks in particular that have captured the attention of Americans.

Also part of the live broadcast will be these instantly recognizable panelists, who will report more news during their segments:

• Social Determinants of Health: Tiffany Ferguson, CEO for Phoenix Medical Management, Inc., will report on the news that is happening at the intersection of medical record auditing and the SDoH.

• CDI Report: Cheryl Ericson, Director of clinical documentation integrity (CDI) for the vaunted Brundage Group, will have the latest CDI updates.

• The Coding Report: Christine Geiger, Assistant Vice President of Acute and Post-Acute Coding Services for First Class Solutions, will report on the latest coding news.

• News Desk: Timothy Powell, ICD10monitor national correspondent, will anchor the Talk Ten Tuesdays News Desk.

• MyTalk: Angela Comfort, a veteran healthcare subject-matter expert, will co-host the long-running and popular weekly Internet broadcast. Comfort is the assistant vice president of revenue integrity for Montefiore Health.

Time is money. And nowhere is that adage more relevant than in today’s American hospitals.

For example, consider the patient who is medically ready for discharge, but still waiting for a skilled nursing facility (SNF) bed to open up. Or the case in which a patient might medically require a cardiac catheterization before being safely cleared to discharge to home, but there’s a delay until the procedure can be performed on Monday.

So, when is it okay to delay?

Answering that question as well as reporting on the nuances of such delays will be Juliet Ugarte Hopkins, MD, the special guest during the next edition of the long-running and popular Talk Ten Tuesdays broadcast produced by ICD10monitor.

Also part of the live broadcast will be these instantly recognizable panelists, who will report more news during their segments:

• Social Determinants of Health: Tiffany Ferguson, CEO for Phoenix Medical Management, Inc., will report on the news that is happening at the intersection of medical record auditing and the SDoH.

• CDI Report: Cheryl Ericson, Director of CDI for the vaunted Brundage Group, will have the latest CDI updates.

• The Coding Report: Christine Geiger, Assistant Vice President of Acute and Post-Acute Coding Services for First Class Solutions, will report on the latest coding news.

• News Desk: Timothy Powell, ICD10monitor national correspondent, will anchor the Talk Ten Tuesdays News Desk.

• MyTalk: Angela Comfort, veteran healthcare subject-matter expert, will co-host the long-running and popular weekly Internet broadcast. Comfort is the assistant vice president of revenue integrity for Montefiore Health.