V Codes

Specialties Home Health

Published

Our HH agency is behind the times and never used V codes until 10/1/03. Now all the nurses are completely confused. I have a list of V-codes that "Clinical Supervisor Alert" published back in May 2003, but it doesn't seem very complete.

We don't have a special home care trained coder (still on our wish list).

Anyone else confused? Anyone have any good resources?

I've submitted a request to my manager for the Nancy Mcguire Coding course materials but they are pricey and may not get approved.

Specializes in MS Home Health.

Hey there. I assume you have an updated code book? Check there. I used Vcodes a long time ago, then you were not supposed to. Full circle.

renerian:rolleyes:

We don't have a coder either...it's VERY hard to get into this Vcode mindset now that we are SUPPOSED to use them. ugh.

Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

See my prior post about V codes in 10/1 OASIS changes thread

https://allnurses.com/forums/showthread.php?postid=543903#post543903

The coding book in that thread is less than $150.00---better than Nancy McGuire's!

ICD-9-CM Expert for Home Health Services, Nursing Facilities, and Hospices, Volumes 1,2 & 3 2004

http://www.codingbooks.com/static/664.html

Specializes in Home Health.

OMG I have had to deal w this too, sub-ing in intake a lot these days. It is very hard to change your mindset!! I use a code book at work, it's pretty good, otherwise, I also call doc's offices for codes as needed, we have been getting some already coded from the more professional referral sources, that is nice!!

I'll check out your link Karen.

Specializes in home health/hospice - QAPI.

Hello,

I just found this forum today. I work as a QI analyst in a home care agency in California. I also publish my own website designed to share ideas with other home health professionals.

Recently I received 3 V code cheat sheets from peers and have posted them on my website on the RESOURCES page.

You can print them from the site, or email them to yourself so that you have an electronic copy that you can incorporate into your own documents.

They have been very helpful to me in my job as the so-called coding expert.

Check them out and if you have copyright free documents to share.... such as QI audits that I also see others here looking for .... contact me abouut posting them to share.

Hope this is helpful!

~ Kathy

http://housecalls-online.com

:cool:

Specializes in Home Health.

Kitty, your site is AWESOME!!!!!!!!! Thank you so much for putting it together for everyone to partake in!!

Here is my site, not nearly as awesome as yours, aimed more toward recruiting, and woefully lacking in updates...

http://www.geocities.com/vnarn_nj

May I link you to my site? If you feel mine has any value, you may link to yours, but I understand if you don't. :cool:

And welcome to the forum!!!!

Specializes in Home Health.

Ummm, sorry, I should have said Kathy, I don't know where I got Kitty from! Software bugs will still not allow me to edit my typos :( :imbar

Specializes in home health/hospice - QAPI.

I love your site and will place a link to it from mine. We all have the same idea, and networking is how we'll all survive! and hopefully retain some sanity.

Yes, please add alink to my site on yours as well.

Thanks.... and thanks for all of your efforst in your site!

Kathy

Specializes in MS Home Health.

I am knee deep in the coding thing. None of the field understand it.

renerian:eek:

Specializes in MS Home Health.

I am in the QM/RM/IC control position and I am coding even though it was not part of my job description. The person in that role resigned with 24 hours afer I got there so they are not filling her position just making me pick up her work. She was full time and I am working in the full time QI role too. I spend about 5 to 6 hours per day doing so. I asked for more training but my company said sorry.

Anyone out there work for a company that sent you for more training?

renerian

Specializes in home health/hospice - QAPI.

If you can get them to pay for one of Nancy McGuirre's upcoming V-code tele-conferences, it's well worth the $$$ and you can have as many people as you want listening in for the one fee.

I had no "formal" training just what I had picked up over the years from others in the QI role while I was a clinical supervisor.

Have "attended" 2 of these teleconferences each Septmeber now and they have been great.

At Myhomehealth.com they have the info on her next teleconference. I think it's actually to be 3 of them. My company won't foot that bill, but I think it would be worthwhile.

I've been in your shoes with being the new hire and having more and more thrust on me, and it's not fun!!!!!! Hopefully something in the "trade off" makes it worth it at least for awhile until you can have time to search out something else.

I think the V codes are finally beginning to make sense to me. I do all the coding.... our staff of princesses will NEVER understand it, and we'd go absolutely BROKE if we had to depend on them to figure out a reimbursible code, much less a diagnosis for what they're doing.... or what SKILL they're actually providing!!!!

Sorry..... had to vent.... been one of those days.... and the staff are the ones making the $$$$$. I really think I'm going to set up a fee system for all the stuff I have to do for them.

There are some helpful V code cheat sheets posted on my website..... I use them all the time, and bless the contributors every day!. http://housecalls-online.com

If anyone reading has any others to share please let me know.

Hang in there, and email me if you have specific QI questions.... I'll give it my best shot for you.

[email protected]

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