HIM Scene, a leading industry blog for health information management professionals, recognizes the need to carefully weigh outsourced coding options in a post ICD-10 environment in their October post. With 70 percent of outsourcing clients expected to extend current outsourcing contracts through 2020 , now is the time to re-evaluate coding partnerships with a careful eye on privacy, security and quality.
In this HIM Scene article, Sarah Humbert, RHIA, ICD-10 AHIMA Certified Trainer, Coding and Compliance Manager for KIWI-TEK, lists the common concerns reported by hospitals and health systems using offshore coding services:
- Increased audit costs
- Higher denial rates
- Missed procedure codes
Humbert suggests HIM professionals carefully explore, vet and secure detailed service level agreements before even considering the offshore option. Three important caveats are provided.
- Verify and test privacy and security for offshore coding including annual attestations
- Watch offshore coding quality and confirm who is actually doing the coding: instances of bait-and-switch with offshore personnel have been reported
- Re-evaluate outsourced coding partnership options in lieu of higher domestic coder availability post ICD-10
Read the complete HIM Scene article to learn more.