jo.west
New
Hey all,
I've got a provider who really doesn't want to document obesity, morbid obesity, etc. in the notes because of how it's interpreted by patients. They also believe that it's outdated nomenclature and don't want to document it for that reason. They would rather just document the BMI and call it good. Nowhere in the note will it state "obesity, etc". I've had a couple of meetings with them about it and have provided multiple resources (including guidelines and coding clinics) backing up that BMI cannot be the only documentation. That BMI codes are just measurements and require that the underlying condition also be added. This also affects the HCC scores as they're missing out on morbid obesity codes.
I would like to ask if anyone has ever allowed their providers to document something like 'over ideal bodyweight' in lieu of 'obesity' and such. If you have, did you come up with internal guidance and how did you audit these types of documentation?
I've got a provider who really doesn't want to document obesity, morbid obesity, etc. in the notes because of how it's interpreted by patients. They also believe that it's outdated nomenclature and don't want to document it for that reason. They would rather just document the BMI and call it good. Nowhere in the note will it state "obesity, etc". I've had a couple of meetings with them about it and have provided multiple resources (including guidelines and coding clinics) backing up that BMI cannot be the only documentation. That BMI codes are just measurements and require that the underlying condition also be added. This also affects the HCC scores as they're missing out on morbid obesity codes.
I would like to ask if anyone has ever allowed their providers to document something like 'over ideal bodyweight' in lieu of 'obesity' and such. If you have, did you come up with internal guidance and how did you audit these types of documentation?