Observation Services: Coding, Billing and Compliance

Format: Audio CD-ROM (includes presentation materials)
Estimated Duration: 60 minutes
Member Price: $195
Non-Member Price: $225

OVERVIEW

In this THA audioconference recorded on July 31, 2008, an expert discusses answers to these questions: 

• What is the new payment logic for observation for CY 2008? 
• Is observation a status or location? 
• What needs to be documented for observation services? 
• What is the definition of Condition Code 44? 
• Why do hospitals have difficulty with observation?

Outpatient service area personnel, coding personnel, billing and claims transaction staff, chargemaster coordinators, financial analysts, compliance personnel, utilization review personnel, physicians and other interested staff will benefit from this program.

At the completion of this program, the participant will be able to: 

• Review the definition and utilization of observation services.
• Discuss the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ approach to observation services and the relationship to inpatient admissions.
• Describe the ambulatory payment classification (APC) grouping logic for observation services under APCs for CY2008.
• Discuss CMS pronouncements about observation services as provided in Federal Register entries.
• Explain the chargemaster entries and pricing for observation services.
• Discuss how observation services should be coded and billed for different third-party payers.
• Recognize how hospitals can meet documentation and associated compliance issues.
• Appreciate the use of care paths in providing observation services.
• Describe the need to educate physicians for proper documentation of observation admissions.