The 2nd Quarter, 2001 edition of the AHA Coding Clinic for ICD-9-CM newsletter is now available.

• 
  
• Nissen Fundoplication (Revision and Takedown)
  
• Ask the editor
  
• Aborted Myocardial Infarction
  
• Argon Laser Suture Lysis for Glaucoma and Low Filtration Bleb Arthroscopic Tibial and Talus Repair with Removal of Loose Bodies
  
• Congestive Heart Failure with Fluid Overload and Chronic Renal Failure
  
• Diabetic Manifestations Status Post Pancreatic Transplant
  
• EGD with Kinevac Stimulation of Gallbladder
  
• Endoscopic Stent Placement across Gastrojejunostomy
  
• Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis Syndrome
  
• Hyperkalemia and Chronic Renal Failure
  
• Iliotibial Band Syndrome
  
• Infection Due to Peritoneal Dialysis
  
• Liver Dialysis
  
• Maggot Therapy
  
• Ocular Torticollis
  
• Rhabdomyolysis Resulting in Acute Renal Failure
  
• Septic Bursitis
  
• Subacute Renal Failure Secondary to Urinary Obstruction
  
• Tension Free Vaginal Tape (TVT)Clarifications
  
• Cerebral Angiogram with Stent Placement
  
• Intracoronary Stent Placement
  
• Thrombolytic Therapy for Arteriovenous Graft with Angioplasty
  

The AHA Central Office’s new web site provides Advice Request section. Within this section you will find instructions and a submission form for sending in your questions.

The AHA Central Office welcomes your ICD-9-CM and HCPCS coding questions. We recognize the frustration that can arise from the uncertainty of how to find the correct code and we are here to provide help. If you have a question you would like to submit, go to the Advice Request section for additional information.

The AHA Central Office’s web site provides you with the option of taking your Coding Clinic quiz on-line. This new feature provides:

• 
  
• Easy access to the CE quiz
  
• Immediate scoring and display of correct and incorrect answers
  
• A downloadable certificate for passing scores
  
• Storage and retrieval of quizzes previously taken online
  

August 23: Coding Clinic Update Are your coding skills up to date? This seminar discusses diagnosis code selection topics contained in AHA's Coding Clinic on ICD-9-CM, and how to apply information from AHA's Coding Clinic on ICD-9-CM. For more details, visit www.ahima.org and click on AHIMA Catalogue.

Advanced orders are now being taken for the ICD-9-CM Workbook for Beginning Coders, 2002 Edition (see ICD-9-CM Product Section). Release date is projected for August, 2002.

NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Contact: Christina Pearson, (202) 626-2342
Jacqueline Harvey, (202) 626-2963


AHA SELECTS INFO-X TO ENSURE ‘MEDICAL NECESSITY’
REGULATORY COMPLIANCE

WASHINGTON (October 2, 2001) - The American Hospital Association (AHA) has selected Info-X to offer a new tool that will help health care organizations meet the complicated Medicare rules that determine “medical necessity” -- whether services provided are appropriate for a patient’s complaint.

Medicare’s rules for “medical necessity” are complicated and vary across the country. Every Medicare fiscal intermediary has their own requirements called Local Medical Review Policies (LMRP). Info-X developed and maintains a complete 50-state LMRP database that can be embedded into diverse hospital care settings and existing information systems. The Medical Necessity Dictionaries ™ product enables hospitals to deal with the complex Medicare medical necessity regulations.

(more)


Info-X/Page 2

Info-X and AHA are offering a special price for AHA members. For more information, visit www.AHACoding.com or contact Jim Te Winkle, director of product development, at 312-893-6838 or via e-mail at jtewinkle@healthforum.com.

About AHA
The American Hospital Association (AHA) is a not-for-profit association of health care provider organizations and individuals that are committed to the health improvement of their communities. The AHA is the national advocate for its members, which includes more than 4,800 hospitals, health care systems, networks, and other providers of care, and 37,000 individuals. Founded in 1898, the AHA provides education for health care leaders and is a source of information on health care issues and trends. For more information, visit the AHA Web site at www.aha.org.

About INFO-X, Inc.
Info-X is the leading source of medical coding and compliance intelligence for US healthcare providers. Info-X's primary goal is to deliver products that simplify compliance regulations and reimbursement issues. Info-X solutions combine state-of-the-art technology with the latest medical coding and government program compliance information. The company's offerings can be seamlessly integrated into existing systems utilized by hospitals, physicians and diagnostic service providers. Corporate website: www.Info-X-Inc.com