Effects of computer-assisted documentation in orthopedic surgery on budgetand reimbursement

Citation
J. Fritz et al., Effects of computer-assisted documentation in orthopedic surgery on budgetand reimbursement, UNFALLCHIRU, 102(2), 1999, pp. 92-97
Citations number
18
Categorie Soggetti
Surgery
Journal title
UNFALLCHIRURG
ISSN journal
01775537 → ACNP
Volume
102
Issue
2
Year of publication
1999
Pages
92 - 97
Database
ISI
SICI code
0177-5537(199902)102:2<92:EOCDIO>2.0.ZU;2-N
Abstract
Since 1995 German health maintenance laws require hospitals to document and code all referals, admissions and discharges using the 4-digit ICD. Operat ive procedures are documented and coded using the ICPM. Beginning in Januar y 1996, reimbursement for health services requires a diagnosis-related bill ing and payment for special procedures. The decision for billing is based o n documented diagnosis and thera py. This extended request for documentatio n makes an online access to diagnosis and therapy with a computer-assisted coding system advisable. In 1996 in our hospital each diagnosis and operati on was manually documented and coded on a form. Since the beginning of 1997 , documentation and coding has been exclusively computer-assisted. On the b asis of documented diagnosis and therapy the computer provides the route of reimbursement. Retrospectively we evaluated the number of charged diagnosi s-related billings and payments for special procedures from January to Apri l of 1996 and 1997. It became evident that with computer-assisted documenta tion and coding the number of detected and charged diagnosis-related billin gs and payments for special procedures was significantly increased in compa rison with the previous year.