State Associations Now Included in the 40%

 

Since last autumn, OHIMA has been fighting the new CCHIIM requirement that stated a minimum of 40% of CEUs must come directly from AHIMA resources starting January 1, 2025. To learn more about the history:   Read the full December update from OHIMA: OHIMA Opposes AHIMA Recertification Update Read post about January petition: Sign Petition Opposing 40% Requirement   Originally, the Component Associations (i.e. state associations including OHIMA) were not included in this 40%. As of April 22, 2024, AHIMA has announced that component state associations are now included in the 40%. Read the full message from AHIMA below. Thank you to all the members who contacted AHIMA and CCHIIM opposing this change. The OHIMA Board and Staff are so grateful for your support! Thank you to AHIMA and CCHIIM for listening to member concerns and including the state associations in the 40%. Reach out to OHIMA's Senior Executive Director, Lauren Manson, RHIA, CAE at ohima@ohima.org should have you have questions.

Message from AHIMA on April 22, 2024: Update on Recertification Requirements and Policy Changes We want to provide you with an update on the recent changes to the recertification requirements for AHIMA certifications. After a thorough review and discussion among the Commission on Certification for Health Informatics and Information Management (CCHIIM), the AHIMA board of directors, and AHIMA leadership along with your feedback, additional information, and other industry factors, CCHIIM made the decision to adjust certification requirements.       Beginning January 1, 2025, 40% of the CEUs needed in a 2-year recertification period must come from AHIMA and/or the Component Associations (CAs). As an AHIMA member, you will still receive complimentary CEUs annually as part of your membership benefits designed to support your credential maintenance while reducing out-of-pocket expense; these CEUs count towards fulfilling the 40% requirement. Moreover, you still have the flexibility to earn an additional 60% of CEUs from Approved Continuing Education Program®(ACEP) providers, or alternative sources. The ACEP program offers third-party providers the opportunity to award AHIMA credit hours for their continuing education products. This will allow you to explore a broader range of learning opportunities and enhance your professional development. To add value and flexibility, up to 20% of any additional CEUs earned from AHIMA, CAs, or ACEP providers in the last three months of a recertification cycle can be carried over to the next one.      The updated recertification policy aims to enhance the relevancy, authority, and validity of AHIMA certifications, demonstrating a strong commitment to competency for Health Information (HI) professionals. It ensures ongoing competence among certified professionals and provides employers with confidence in the rigor and quality of AHIMA certifications.  As a reminder, AHIMA offers numerous ways for you to earn the required CEUs, including newly improved complimentary CEUs for Professional and Professional Premier members, and an annual quarterly member-exclusive webinar series.   The new CEU options implemented in January 2024 enable you to excel further, providing increased value, flexibility, and professional growth opportunities in your certification journey. They include: Earning additional AHIMA certifications Earning an AHIMA Microcredential Being an author in a research journal or educational article in a professional or trade journal Serving as an AHIMA/CA volunteer Serving as an AHIMA volunteer in an industry-relevant, non-AHIMA professional or trade association  These resources facilitate compliance with recertification requirements for HI professionals like yourself, ensuring up-to-date knowledge in the field without having to spend a substantial amount of money, if any.     We are dedicated to supporting you throughout the recertification process, ensuring a seamless transition to the new requirements. You can find more information on our recertification page.      Warm regards,    Mona Calhoun, AHIMA Board President and Chair  Linda Williams, CCHIIM Chair

Gamma Tile™

The April 2024 ICD-10-PCS updates have a guideline change, and this installment of “In the kNOW” will explain it.

The ICD-10-PCS guideline change is in Brachytherapy at D1.a. The main section of the guideline has not changed. The update takes place under Exceptions and is bolded below.

Exceptions: Implantation of Cesium-131 brachytherapy seeds embedded in a collagen matrix to the treatment site after resection of brain tumor is coded to the root operation Insertion with the device value Radioactive Element, Cesium-131 Collagen Implant.

Similarly, implantation of Palladium-103 brachytherapy seeds embedded in a collagen matrix to the treatment site after resection of brain tumor is coded to the root operation Insertion with the device value Radioactive Element, Palladium-103 Collagen Implant.

The change is that another very specific type of brachytherapy seed (Palladium103) is embedded in a collagen matrix. Both Palladium-103 and Cesium-131 are embedded in collagen matrices in an effort to treatment any remaining brain tumor cells after a resection has been performed. This guideline addition of Palladium-103 specifies that the root operation Insertion is appropriate for these procedures.

Let’s look at how this procedure is accomplished.

Source: https://gammatile.com/

 

Above is a picture of a Gamma Tileä. The tiny, titanium-covered rods are the source of the brachytherapy seeds. The collagen matrix is resorbable, so it will dissolve over time.

After a patient has their brain tumor removed, the remaining deficit is lined with individual Gamma Tilesä as illustrated below.

The brachytherapy is delivered in this manner to be in close proximity to any remaining tumor cells. This focuses treatment at the site where recurrence is most likely to occur. It reduces exposure of normal tissue to the radiation, allowing treatment to occur continually with minimal hair loss.

 

Over time, the collagen matrix dissolves and all that is left are the titanium rods.

Source: https://gammatile.com/

In the Medical and Surgical section of ICD-10-PCS, in the body system “Central Nervous System and Cranial Nerves”, coding professionals will use the “Insertion” root operation as directed by the guideline (00H). From there, use the body part of “brain” (0), the approach of “open” (0), the device either “radioactive element Cesium-131 collagen implant” (4) or “radioactive element Palladium-103 collagen implant” (5), with no qualifier (Z). The final codes will be:

00H004Z Cesium-131

00H005Z Palladium-103

NOW you are In the kNOW!!

 

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About the Author 

Dianna Foley, RHIA, CHPS, CCS, CDIP, is an HIM professional with over 25 years of experience.  She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Cincinnati and holds RHIA, CHPS, CDIP, and CCS certifications from AHIMA, along with being an AHIMA-approved ICD-10-CM/PCS trainer.  Dianna has held many positions in HIM and is now an independent coding consultant.  She previously served as the program director for Medical Coding and HIT at Eastern Gateway Community College. Dianna is an AHIMA-published author and has volunteered with AHIMA on projects including certification item writing, certification exam development, coding rapid design, and most recently has served on AHIMA’s nominating committee.  She is a presenter on coding topics at the national, state, and regional levels and serves as OHIMA’s Education Coordinator. Dianna mentors new AHIMA members and also provides monthly educational lectures to coders and clinical documentation specialists.