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Pre-conference workshop

1:00pm - 4:00 pm

Surefire Methods for Defensible Coding:
Know What Makes it Correct - $149.95 $99.95
3.0

Reed Pew
Enjoy this opportunity to meet AAPC CEO Reed Pew and network with fellow coders and physicians at the Hawaii Regional Conference Golf Scramble. As part of your Regional Conference experience, you can golf at the exclusive Ko Olina Golf Club while having fun and mingling with your colleagues. It doesn't get any more beautiful or relaxing than this! Tee times begin at 12:40 p.m. on Sept. 10, and prizes will be awarded.

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Honolulu Local Chapter

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Reed Pew
Conference welcome address will be given by Reed Pew, CEO and President of AAPC

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Gary Katz, MD
This session will review the case mix that an emergency physician might encounter on a night shift at a typical urban ER. Dr. Katz will review the pathologies one might encounter, as well as the dynamics that might impact how one might successfully document these encounters. (Caution: some graphic pictures or video may be used).

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Glade B Curtis, MD, MPH, FACOG, CPC, COBGC
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) can be confusing and frustrating. In 2002 the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) study of HRT was stopped early because of concern for increased risks of breast cancer and stroke. Doctors and patients have struggled to find solutions and alternatives. Main-stream and big name pharmacies are advertising compounded products, natural or bio-identical hormone solutions. And for men, male menopause – finally, andropause. Medical science and coding issues will be explored.

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Sarah L Goodman, CPC-H
This session will focus on coding for facility infusion and injection services. Some topics that will be covered include an overview of the infusion/injection hierarchy, a look at the differences between hydration therapy and diagnostic/therapeutic infusions, a review of actual chart documentation and how it might be improved, an interactive discussion of some actual coding examples, and much more. References to CMS guidelines and other helpful sources will be provided wherever applicable.

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Timothy P Blanchard ,JD
Course Description: This session will discuss the aspects of EHR development that affect coding and billing for services and related compliance issues and traps for the unwary. While the EHR holds great promise of improved quality of care and efficiency of documentation, failure to consider coding and billing implications at the outset can lead to inadvertently improving the efficiency of submitting erroneous claims. Forewarned is forearmed, and this session will highlight the key risk areas and how physicians can help their health care organization avoid these pitfalls.

Course Objectives: To enable you to identify coding and compliance issues in the development of EHR systems, and assist your health care organization in avoiding significant compliance pitfalls when seeking efficiencies through an EHR.

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Gary Katz, MD
This session will review the criteria to use remote video technology to augment medical care, and the opportunity telemedicine offers to reduce crowding in the ER while improving rural community access to emergency medicine experts. In addition to coding and documentation criteria, the essential business components will be reviewed to help determine if such technology can be implemented in a cost effective or profitable manner.

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Carolyn Duncan, CPC, CPC-H
This presentation clarifies for RHCs and FQHCs the guidelines relating to qualifying visits, reimbursement methodology, productivity requirements, and RHC/FQHC services versus non-RHC/FQHC services, etc. Specific examples are given to understand appropriate bundling of services on claims, encounter counting, and billing for incident-to services, medical necessity documentation, and documentation requirements for visits with procedures per CMS regulations.

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Terry Fletcher, CPC, CCC
In this session, you will master endoscopy coding and understand the modifier rules for optimum reimbursement. We will also discuss and educate on consultations, shared visits, and incident-to rules for a GI practice. The screening patient will also be discussed; and the AGA and Medicare position and reimbursement options will be clarified. Are you capturing all of your office and hospital services? Our objective is to make sure you are!

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Donna SanGiovanni, CPC, CASCC
Coders face unique challenges and ever-changing policies in an ambulatory surgery center setting. Join us to explore ASC coding, including CPT and ICD-9-CM review, proper use of modifiers, hands-on operative note coding, contract negotiation skills, and management tips.

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Douglas T. Hutchinson , MD
The best way to understand the complex anatomy of the hand is to view hand surgery up close and personal. Step into the operating room with Dr. Hutchinson and view live video filmed from cameras tucked into the lights! Don't worry about the blood - we always use a tourniquet! Thumb arthroplasty, tendon transfers, and rhuematoid reconstruction will be just a small part of what you will see. You won't want to miss it!

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Kathy Giannangelo, MA, RHIA, CCS, CPHIMS
The CMS-HCC models function by categorizing ICD-9-CM diagnosis codes into disease groups called Hierarchical Condition Categories (HCCs). Each HCC includes diagnosis codes that are related clinically and have similar cost implications. Only selected ICD-9-CM codes are included in the model. Attend to learn methods for extracting data for Medicare Risk Adjustment codes for streamlined reporting.

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Timothy P Blanchard ,JD
Course Description: This session will discuss legal issues in medical recordkeeping focusing on key areas of scrutiny by various types of reviewers, areas in which greater attention on the front end can enable a provider to avoid considerable expense and exposure down the road. The session will also review the connection between medical record documentation and false claims liability.

Course Objectives: Help physicians and medical office personnel understand the key legal issues and common areas of legal exposure arising from medical record keeping practices, and how to avoid mistakes that can turn an easily manageable situation into a federal case.

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Deborah Grider, CPC, CPC-H, CPC-P, CPC-I, CDERC, CEMC, COBGC
ICD-10-CM is the diagnostic coding system that is expected to replace ICD-9-CM sooner than you think. In a world in which documentation remains a coder's number one problem with physicians, how can we seamlessly move from a system with 17,500 codes to a system with 155,000 codes? We'll give you some ideas. We will discuss preparation of implementation and analysis of ICD-10-CM for physician practices, hospital departments, and payers small or large. This session will provide a basic understanding of the new classification's conventions, guidelines, and specifications; develop your familiarity with new terminology; accelerate the learning curve; demonstrate your understanding and preparedness with this important new classification; help you understand the latest regulatory issues involved with the conversion to ICD-10-CM; and provide guidance as to steps you can take to get ready.

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Cedric Lorenzo, MD
Obesity is an epidemic that impacts about 50,000 people in Hawaii. Bariatric surgery is a rapidly growing specialty that has proven to be a durable and effective means of treating obesity and its related comorbidities. This session will go over the growing obesity epidemic in our nation and explain why bariatric surgery has become a viable solution. This session will have videos allowing you to step into the operating room to witness the latest laparoscopic and robotic procedures.

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William Dang, MD
Dr. Dang is an interventional cardiologist in practice in Honolulu. He will review many of the cardiac diagnoses and therapeutic procedures that coders may be exposed to. These will include a discussion of coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease, myocardial disease and electrical conduction defects. He will also present and explain various cardiac interventional procedures.

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Charleen M Yamasato, CPC, CPC-I
Come prepared to roll up your sleeves and get involved during this session. The session begins with a short presentation on documentation requirements, the differences between 1995 and 1997 CMS guidelines, CPT category requirements, and the elements of history, exam and medical decision-making. Types of audits, what's involved, and how to approach an audit for your practice will also be discussed. A portion of the session will be working with your fellow coders for hands-on coding of actual progress notes. Come prepared to have a good time.

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Georgette Gustin, CPC
Course Description: This session will provide attendees with an awareness of what to look for when designing and/or using templates for documenting patient care. Regardless of whether your practice is using paper templates or has implemented an Electronic Medical Record (EMR), there are key areas that you need to be aware of.

Course Objectives: Explain what requirements the carriers are looking for with regard to templates; Restate three key areas that need to be taken into consideration when designing templates; Describe what steps can be taken to avoid using non-compliant templates.

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Douglas T. Hutchinson , MD
Learn about the importance of each digit on your hand, including how to use these digits for hand gestures, some good, some not so good! And what can surgeons do to create missing digits? Come find out!

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Deborah Grider, CPC, CPC-H, CPC-P, CPC-I, CDERC, CEMC, COBGC
In today’s regulatory environment, it is not a question of if, but rather of when your practice will receive a letter from an insurance carrier or a RAC requesting medical records or planning a visit to your practice. It is imperative that all healthcare professionals understand how to handle a request for medical records or refund of payments received. The stability and income of your practice depends on it.

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Georgette Gustin, CPC
This session will describe various types of information and tools that can be used to identify potential vulnerabilities in your coding and documentation practices. Understanding common myths and misconceptions around coding and documentation is critical. Using the Office of Inspector General (OIG) reports and other information will assist you in understanding where potential hot spots are. What is the Provider's Responsibility? What can the Comprehensive Error Rate Testing (CERT) findings tell you? How can using all of this information plus data mining help with your auditing and monitoring efforts?