Mike Brett, MD, Senior Vice President of Consulting Services and Chief Medical Officer for TRHC’s risk adjustment services, explores proper documentation and coding in an article for Managed Healthcare Executive. In particular, he explains how proper documentation and coding provide better patient care and help value-based care plans optimize revenue.
Detailed documentation, according to Mike, provides a more complete picture. This supports patient care and may also result in a higher CMS risk score for the patient. In addition, Mike points out that erroneous coding leaves plans at risk of violating the False Claims Act, which could result in fines.
As Mike notes, proper documentation becomes second nature when providers are effectively trained, which means charts are more accurate and clinicians can focus on their patients. Not to mention, with more money for plans to put back into their programs, plans can better serve their participants.
