Better WC Care through Better Documentation and Coding Requirements

CME/MOC: 1.0
TRACK: OEM Clinical Practice

Marianne Cloeren, MD, MPH, FACOEM, Managed Care Advisors, Baltimore, MD

The documentation requirements for workers’ compensation care follow rules designed for a different purpose. Clinicians providing and documenting care consistent with evidence-based practice standards are usually not rewarded for this because the coding system does not recognize the different cognitive work needed for good care in workers’ compensation. ACOEM is trying to change this with the publication of a position paper on Defining Documentation Requirements for Coding Quality Care in Workers’ Compensation, and multiple support documents for putting these recommendations into practice. This multi-year effort has gained the interest and support of many industry experts. This session will review the status of this effort, share tools for implementation, and address how ACOEM members can champion this initiative. This session was organized by the Work Fitness and Disability Special Interest Section, in conjunction with the OEM Practice Council.