Catalog Number : cra1721
Title : Observation: Basics
Speaker : Duane Abbey

Webplay Recording Date : 4-26-2012
Webplay Price : $ 200 for two weeks viewing

Webinar Objectives:

• Discuss the CMS approach to observation services and the relationship to inpatient admissions
• Identify how nursing services, documentation and charge capture are important for proper observation reimbursement
• Recognize the confusion regarding start and stop times for observation
• Explain the APC approach for observation services payment including changes starting in CY2008
• Review the use of care paths in providing observation services
• Define key compliance issues surrounding observation
• Discuss the EDs role in observation services

Webinar Outline/Agenda:

• Overview of Observation Services
• Outpatient Services versus Inpatient Admissions
• Observation as a Status versus Being a Bed
• Documenting Observation Services
• Care Paths for Observation Services
• APC Grouping Logic for Observation
• The CMS Composite Approach to Observation Payment
• Composite APC Payment Process
• Impact on Coding, Billing & Reimbursement
• CMS's View of Observation Services
• The 'Bed' Concept
• Start and Stop Times
• Direct Admissions to Observation Status
• Observation for More Than 48 Hours
• Inpatient Status to Observation Status
• Condition Code 44
• CMS Definition
• Counting Hours After Changing to Outpatient
• Injections and Infusion in Observation
• Encounter Approach
• Who Is Coding and Billing?
• Post-Operative Observation and Inpatient-Only Procedures
• ED Involvement in Observation
• Compliance for Observation Services
• Care Paths
• Observation Log
• Special Challenges for Observation Services
• Driven by Physicians
• Quality of Care
• Need for On-Going Training and Education
• Exercises and Case Studies

Target Audience:

• Outpatient Nursing Staff
• Medical/Surgical Nursing Staff
• Nurse Managers
• ED Nursing Staff
• Utilization Review Personnel
• Quality Assurance Personnel
• Physicians
• Billing and Claims Transaction Personnel
• Chargemaster Coordinators
• Financial Analysts
• Compliance Personnel
• Other Interested Personnel

Contact Hours:

• Nursing participants: Instruct-online has approved this program for 1.8 contact hours, Iowa Board of Nursing Approved Provider Number 339.
• All other participants: Must attend the entire Webinar and complete a Webinar critique to receive a 1.5 Hour Attendance Certificate for each program.

Full tuition is refunded immediately on request if the participant has not been sent the program materials and instructions. Once the instructions (including access codes) have been sent, a full refund will be issued only after the program runs and it is verified that the participant did not access the program.