The AHIMA Standards of Ethical Coding are intended to assist coding professionals and managers in decision-making processes and actions, outline expectations for making ethical decisions in the workplace, and demonstrate coding professionals’ commitment to integrity during the coding process, regardless of the purpose for which the codes are being reported.
What is the purpose of the AHIMA code of ethics?
The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) Code of Ethics sets forth these principles. ( See also AHIMA Mission, Vision, Values .) The code is relevant to all AHIMA members and non-members holding an AHIMA certification. These purposes strengthen the HIM professional’s efforts to improve overall quality of healthcare.
What are the standards of ethical coding and CDI professionals?
AppendixB The Standards of Ethical Coding and the Ethical Standards for Clinical Documentation Improvement (CDI) Professionals are both based on the American Health Information Management Association’s (AHIMA’s) Code of Ethics.
What are the AHIMA ethical standards for clinical documentation improvement professionals?
The AHIMA Ethical Standards for Clinical Documentation Improvement Professionals are intended to assist in decision-making processes and actions, out- line expectations for making ethical decisions in the workplace, and demonstrate the professionals’ commitment to integrity.
What is a code of ethics in health information management?
Rather, a code of ethics sets forth values and ethical principles to which a Health Information Management (HIM) professional can aspire and by which actions can be judged. Ethical behaviors result from a personal commitment to engage in ethical practice.
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What is the purpose of the Standards of Ethical Coding issued by AHIMA?
The AHIMA Code of Ethics serves six purposes: Promotes high standards of HIM practice. Summarizes broad ethical principles that reflect the profession's core values. Establishes a set of ethical principles to be used to guide decision-making and actions.
Why are ethical standards important for CDI professionals?
A Code of Ethics is important in helping to guide the decision-making process and can be referenced by individuals, agencies, organizations, and bodies (such as licensing and regulatory boards, insurance providers, courts of law, government agencies, and other professional groups).
What are the objectives of the code standards of ethics in coding?
A code of ethics sets out an organization's ethical guidelines and best practices to follow for honesty, integrity, and professionalism. For members of an organization, violating the code of ethics can result in sanctions including termination.
Why code of ethics is important in healthcare?
Code of Ethics for Healthcare Quality Professionals A code of ethics clarifies roles and responsibilities within a profession and provides guidance to the professional for addressing common ethical questions.
What is the CDI code of ethics?
The CDI Code of Ethics covers the professional behaviour and practice required of all CDI members and informs the public of the ethical principles to which all CDI members adhere.
What are the roles of professional ethics in the practice of health information management?
The ethical obligations of the health information management professionals include the safe guarding of the privacy and security of health information, appropriate disclosure of health information, development, use and maintenance of health information systems and ensuring the accessibility and integrity of health ...
What is the AHIMA code of ethics?
The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) Code of Ethics sets forth these principles. ( See also AHIMA Mission, Vision, Values .) The code is relevant to all AHIMA members and non-members holding an AHIMA certification. These purposes strengthen the HIM professional’s efforts to improve overall quality of healthcare.
Why is a code of ethics important?
A Code of Ethics is important in helping to guide the decision-making process and can be referenced by individuals, agencies, organizations, and bodies (such as licensing and regulatory boards, insurance providers, courts of law, government agencies, and other professional groups). Ethics Self-Assessment.
What is the purpose of ethical principles?
Summarizes broad ethical principles that reflect the profession's core values. Establishes a set of ethical principles to be used to guide decision-making and actions. Establishes a framework for professional behavior and responsibilities when professional obligations conflict or ethical uncertainties arise.
What is the role of a mentor in the field of ethics?
Provides ethical principles by which the general public can hold the HIM professional accountable. Mentors practitioners new to the field to HIM's mission, values, and ethical principles. The code includes principles that are enforceable and aspirational.
What are the standards of ethical coding?
The Standards of Ethical Coding are important established guidelines for any coding professional and are based on the American Health Information Management Association's (AHIMA's) Code of Ethics. Both reflect expectations of professional conduct for coding professionals involved in diagnostic and/or procedural coding, ...
What is the code of ethics?
The Code of Ethics 1 is relevant to all AHIMA members, students, and CCHIIM credentialed HIM and coding professionals, regardless of their professional functions, the settings in which they work, or the populations they serve.
What is coding in healthcare?
Coding is recognized as one of the core health information management (HIM) functions within healthcare. Due to the complex regulatory requirements affecting the health information coding process, coding professionals are frequently faced with ethical coding and coding-related challenges. The Standards of Ethical Coding are important established ...
What are ethical guidelines?
Guidelines for each ethical standard are a non-inclusive list of behaviors and situations that can help to clarify the standard. They are not meant to be a comprehensive list of all situations that can occur. Apply accurate, complete, and consistent coding practices that yield quality data.
Why is the Code of Ethics important?
A Code of Ethics is important in helping guide the decision-making process and can be referenced by individuals, agencies, organizations, and bodies (such as licensing and regulatory boards, insurance providers, courts of law, government agencies, and other professional groups). The Code of Ethics 1 is relevant to all AHIMA members, students, ...
What is a coding professional?
Coding Professional: Individuals whether credentialed or not; including but not limited to coding staff, coding auditors, coding educators, clinical documentation improvement (CDI) professionals, and managers responsible for decision-making processes and operations as well as HIM/coding students.
Be Mindful of Varied Data Uses
Coding is not just about reimbursement, but has many other uses that need to be considered. “Coders should focus on coding completely and accurately so that it can be used for various purposes,” notes Sue Bowman, AHIMA’s senior director of coding policy and compliance.
Know Your Sources
Coding professionals need to have a clear understanding of the authoritative sources of coding advice for each code set. AHIMA’s webpage on Authoritative Coding Advice, www.ahima.org/coding/advice.aspx [webpage no longer available], provides information on the sources of authoritative coding advice for ICD-9-CM, CPT, and HCPCS Level II code sets.
Code Ethically
Coding is a very complex process involving knowledge of coding rules, anatomy, pathophysiology, documentation requirements, payer policies, and regulations and standards. This complexity results in many challenging situations in which coding professionals must carefully review the facts in order to make appropriate, ethical decisions.
Make Professional Development a Priority
Continuous lifelong learning is a must for coding professionals because of the need to remain current on changes in codes, coding guidelines, regulations, new technology, and advances in healthcare.
Table 3: 2013 Maintenance Timeline for HCPCS Level II
Changes to the HCPCS Level II code set are expected throughout the year.
Notes
American Hospital Association. “ICD-10-CM/PCS Rollout Plans for the AHA Central Office.” Coding Clinic for ICD-9-CM. First Quarter 2013: 20.
What are the CDI professional values?
CDI professional values are: Honesty and integrity. Acting in an manner that brings honor to self, peers, and profession.
What are ethical obligations for CDI?
Ethical obligations are central to CDI professionals’ responsibilities, regardless of the employment site or the method of collection, storage, and security of health information. Sensitive information (genetic, adoption, drug, alcohol, sexual, and behavioral information) requires special attention to prevent misuse.
What is ACDIS code of ethics?
The ACDIS Code of Ethics outlines aspirational principles and guidelines. It reflects the commitment of all individuals, agencies, organizations, and bodies allied with the association to uphold the profession's values. The Code of Ethics does not provide a set of rules prescribing how to act in all situations.
What is ethical responsibility?
Ethical responsibilities flow from all human relationships, from the personal and familial to the social and professional. Further, the ACDIS Code of Ethics does not specify which values, principles, and guidelines are the most important and ought to outweigh others in instances when they conflict.
What is the role of the Health Information Protection Officer?
Advocate, uphold, and defend the individual's right to privacy and the doctrine of confidentiality in the use and disclosure of information. Preserve, protect, and secure personal health information in any form or medium and hold in the highest regard the contents of the records and other information of a confidential nature, taking into account the applicable statutes and regulations.
Does the Code of Ethics provide rules?
The Code of Ethics does not provide a set of rules prescribing how to act in all situations. Specific applications of the code must take into account the context in which it is being considered and the possibility of conflicts among the code's values, principles, and guidelines.