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Friday, May 7, 2021
Webinar highlights importance of resetting patient risk scores
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Confused about risk coding? Not sure what diagnosis codes make sense for risk coding? Want to become more efficient with documenting in the medical record? Don't miss the upcoming Lunch with the Coder webinar!

Lunch with the Coder:
Hierarchical Condition Category (HCC) and Risk Coding
Risk Scores Reset Every Year
Wednesday, June 16, 2021; 12-1pm
 
Patient risk scores reset and need to be coded every year. Demystify coding challenges and gain valuable insight into HCC by attending this educational event.

  • What is HCC? What is risk coding?
  • Which diagnosis codes should be added for risk coding?
  • What should be documented in the medical record to support these diagnoses?
  • How do HCC and risk coding affect specialists?

Target audience: primary care and specialty physicians, coders, billers, practice directors and office managers
 
Presenter: Mary Mallory, CEMC, ambulatory coding education specialist, The Physician Alliance  
 
Webinars are complimentary and open to TPA members only
More antibody treatment locations open for COVID-19 patients
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is working to expand the use of monoclonal antibody treatment for COVID-19 patients. Monoclonal antibodies can help "reduce viral load, symptoms, and risk of hospitalizations and emergency room visits associated with COVID-19," according to MDHHS.

The therapy is administered through an intravenous infusion within 10 days of symptom onset to people testing positive for COVID-19 with mild to moderate symptoms. It is not intended for hospitalized patients. These treatments are allowed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under an Emergency Use Authorization. 

Local antibody treatment locations can be found on the state's coronavirus website. There are also many other resources on this treatment, including insurance coverage, a helpful overview and frequently asked questions.
Free aquarium admission to health care workers
SEA LIFE Michigan Aquarium is offering free admission for health care workers May 3-28, 2021 for Health Care Appreciation Days.

Health care workers can receive free entry to Michigan's largest aquarium, home to underwater exhibits and over 250 species including sharks, stingrays, rescued green sea turtles and more. Health care workers can also bring up to four guests at 50 percent admission (children ages 2 and under are free). An employee badge or paystub is required as proof.

Tickets must be purchased online. Click here for more details, hours and to purchase tickets.
HR snapshot: A quick answer to employee relations
Managing employees requires creating and understanding policies and processes to ensure a content workforce and smooth running business. Here is a quick answer to a commonly asked human resources question:

Can we ask for more detail when an employee marks “personal” for the reason they’re requesting a vacation day?

You can generally ask employees to provide more information when they indicate that their vacation or paid time off request is for personal reasons, but it's not recommended. The specific reasons for the day off shouldn’t affect whether you grant the request, and you don’t want to give the impression that you’re accepting or denying requests based on the reasons given. It may also be information an employee doesn’t want to share.
If the time off requested is problematic for scheduling and you’re trying to assess whether the employee could take off a different day or time (or if the company should grant the request despite the inconvenience), it is recommended to have a conversation with the employee rather than digging for details without telling them why you’re asking.
This advice applies only to time off that is offered as a company benefit; time off that is required by federal, state, or local law will have its own requirements about what you can or cannot ask.
 
Source: DynamicHR provides human resources management and payroll processing services. As a TPA Affiliate Partner, DynamicHR offers preferred pricing on services, exclusive access to proprietary medical health plans and workers compensation coverage, and more.
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