August 1, 2018
2018 AHIMA Election Results
The results are in for the 2018 AHIMA Election. Congratulations to these newly elected leaders; their terms will begin on January 1, 2019.

Thanks to all the candidates who participated in this year's ballot. 5% of the AHIMA membership voted in this year's election, with 2.19% of California's members voting. Visit the AHIMA Membership and Business community on Engage to see the voter turnout report by state.
 
Thanks also go to the 2018 AHIMA Nominating Committee for their work in developing the ballot, monitoring the discussions with candidates on the AHIMA Membership and Business Engage Community, and encouraging members to vote.
 
President/Chair-elect of the AHIMA Board of Directors
Virginia (Ginna) E. Evans, MBA, RHIA, CPC, CRC, FAHIMA

Board Directors
Sharon B. Easterling, MHA, RHIA, CCS, CDIP, CRC, FAHIMA
Jennifer E. Mueller, MBA, RHIA, FACHE, FAHIMA
Godwin I. Okafor, MSHI, RHIA, FAC-P/PM

CCHIIM Commissioners
Kelly V. Canter, RHIT, CCS
Lori A. Nobles, RHIA, CHTS-IM, PMP, CPHIMS

Council for Excellence in Education (CEE) Members
Lisa M. Delhomme, MHA, RHIA
Laurie A. Rinehart-Thompson, JD, RHIA, CHP, FAHIMA
Scott M. Sittig, PhD, MHI, RHIA
AHIMA Foundation Offering Free HIM Training
for Your Staff - Time is Limited
Is your company seeking solutions to the training and development of employees or additional support to assist your organization in advancing healthcare technology? Consider connecting with AHIMA's Registered HIM Apprenticeship Program. Apprenticeships are paid positions that bridge education and employment.

Apprenticeships help sponsors:
  • Prepare the next generation of HIM professionals hired in your organization
  • Attract new talent with the right education, skills, and credentials
  • Develop associates for your organization with skills to keep pace with advances in healthcare technology 

AHIMA and AHIMA Foundation's National Guidelines for Apprenticeship Standard were certified by the United States Department of Labor (DoL). The certification of the guidelines will help to bridge the gap for graduating or post-certification student seeking a career in HIM through paid apprenticeships, which will provide a clear pathway to full-time employment. The Foundation acts as a bridge between interested employers (sponsors), apprentices, and the Employment and Training Administration of the Department of Labor. The updated list of HIM roles currently available includes the following:

  • Medical Coder/Biller leading to a CCA through a program based on AHIMA’s Coding Basics Program (current staff only)
  • HIM Hospital Coder leading to a CCS (even staff who already have that credential can be upskilled)
  • Clinical Documentation Improvement Specialist leading to a CDIP
  • HIM Data Analyst leading to a CHDA
  • Privacy & Security Officer leading to a CHPS 
  • Professional Fee Coder leading to a CCS-P (even staff who already have that credential can be upskilled)
  • Pending – Inpatient Coding Auditor

Visit the Registered Apprenticeship Program - Employers website for qualifications for this online training, to register for our next interested employers Webinar and/or to listen to a recording.  
CCHIIM Recertification Policy Updates Coming Nov. 1
The Commission on Certification for Health Informatics and Information Management (CCHIIM) is a volunteer group of HIIM professionals responsible for establishing, implementing, and enforcing standards and procedures for certification and recertification of HIIM professionals and strategic oversight of AHIMA certification programs. They have approved an overhaul of:

  • The HIIM continuing education domains 
  • And a more easily-understood recertification timeline

These policies go into effect November 1. Learn more.
Call for Presentations - 2018 CHIA Convention & Exhibit
CHIA is currently accepting presentation proposals for the upcoming 2019 CHIA Convention & Exhibit in Indian Wells, California on June 8 - June 12. This the most popular HIM event on the West Coast and includes more than 30 educational sessions and several pre-convention tutorials. With hundreds of HIM professionals in attendance, this is a presenting opportunity you don’t want to miss. The #CHIACON19 theme is Empowering Patients, Breaking Boundaries, and Bridging Gaps

Submit a CHIA Convention Program Proposal. Proposals due October 12 for consideration.
Latest HIM News Updates
Special Open Door Forum: Sharing Federal Strategies to Address the Opioid Epidemic
U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services; Jul 12, 2018

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will host a Special Open Door Forum (SODF) on Wednesday, August 15, 2018 from 1:30 -3:00pm (ET)  for opioid prescribers to educate them on federal resources and strategies to combat the opioid epidemic.

The misuse of and addiction to opioids—including prescription pain relievers, heroin, and synthetic opioids such as fentanyl—is a serious national crisis that affects public health as well as social and economic welfare. This SODF brings together representatives from various federal agencies to discuss strategies and resources for safe prescribing as well as other opioid-related topics. You will hear information from the following federal agencies:

  • Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • Food and Drug Administration
  • Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
  • Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services 
2018 Hospital Financial and Utilization Data
Office of Statewide Health Planning & Development Information Services Division; July 18, 2018

New data sets from OSHPD's Hospital Quarterly Financial and Utilization Reports are now available with summary data on service capacity, utilization, expenses, and revenue by payer source.

  • 1st Quarter, 2018 Hospital Quarterly Financial and Utilization Complete Data Set
  • The Hospital Quarterly Profile Characteristics query system can be used for customized quarterly data for individual and/or groups of hospitals.
CHIA Events Calendar
Medicare Provider Audits and Probes: Purpose, Action & Response
Thursday , August 2 - Live Webinar

Basics and Fundamentals of ICD-10-CM Coding
Tuesday, August 21 - Garden Grove
Thursday, August 23 - Dublin

IG Web Series Part 5: Return on Investment
Friday, August 24 - Live Webinar

FY2019 ICD-10-CM/PCS Update
Tuesday, September 18 - Ontario
Thursday, September 20 - Fairfield

IG Web Series Part 6: Driving IG - Data Governance within the IG Framework
Friday, September 28 - Live Webinar

IG Web Series Part 7: Compliance, Security, and Privacy as a Path to IG
Friday, October 26 - Live Webinar