6.3.4.1 Admission Denials, Continued Stay Denials, DRG Revisions, and Cost/Day Outlier DenialsIf a hospital is dissatisfied with the original retrospective review conducted by the HHSC OIG UR Unit, it may submit a written request for an appeal to the HHSC Medical and Utilization Review Appeals Unit. The HHSC Medical and UR Appeals Unit is responsible for conducting an independent review in response to a provider's appeal. The professional staff uses all of the documentation in the medical record to determine whether an inpatient admission was appropriate and whether the diagnoses and procedures were correct. The HHSC OIG UR Unit screening criteria that are described in 1 TAC §371.204 are not used by this unit to determine the appropriateness of an inpatient admission. The Associate Medical Director for Medicaid/Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) performs a complete review for the medical necessity of admission, DRG validation, quality of care, continued stay medical necessity, and ancillary charges (Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982 [TEFRA] cases) using the medical record documentation submitted on appeal. After completion of the review, the physician renders a final decision on the case. The final decision may include determinations regarding multiple aspects of the admission. The hospital is notified in writing of the final decision. Inpatient admission denials cannot be rebilled as outpatient claims except as noted in "Hospital Outpatient Observation Room Services" . The request for an appeal must include a copy of the complete medical record, a letter explaining the reasons why the HHSC OIG UR decision is incorrect, a copy of the HHSC OIG UR decision letter, and an original, properly completed, and notarized affidavit in the format approved by HHSC. The affidavit allows the hospital to certify the record as a business and legal document. Complete medical records must be provided to HHSC at no charge. A complete medical record must include, but is not limited to, a discharge summary, history and physical, emergency room record, operative report, pathology report, anesthesia record, consultation reports, physician progress notes, physician orders, laboratory reports, X-ray reports, special diagnostic reports, nurses' notes, and medication records. Refer to: "Affidavit". The HHSC Medical UR Unit will notify hospitals if a complete medical record or a properly completed, notarized affidavit is not submitted with the initial appeal request. The hospital has 21 calendar days from the date of notification to submit the requested information. If the required documentation is not received within this time frame, the case is closed without an opportunity for further review, and the original HHSC OIG UR decision is considered the final decision. If the hospital is still displeased with the appeals decision, the attending physician or medical director of the hospital may request an educational conference with the HHSC Associate Medical Director for Medicaid/CHIP. The educational conference is held by telephone between the Associate Medical Director for Medicaid/CHIP and the hospital medical director or attending physician. It is an opportunity for the physicians to discuss the deciding factors in the case and any hospital billing processes that may have affected the adjudication of the case. The educational conference will not alter the previous appeal decision. The HHSC Medical and Utilization Review Unit recognizes that hospital staff may use guidelines, such as the American Hospital Association's Coding Clinic, to assist them in identifying diagnoses and/or procedures for statistical and billing purposes. However, the HHSC Medical and Utilization Review Appeals Unit determines the appropriate diagnoses and/or procedures for reimbursement purposes using the documentation in the medical record (submitted on appeal) and the following guidelines:
•
• If the principal diagnosis, secondary diagnoses, or procedures are not substantiated in the medical record, not sequenced correctly, or have been omitted, the codes may be changed, added, or deleted by the HHSC Associate Medical Director for Medicaid/CHIP. When it is determined the diagnoses or procedures are substantiated and sequenced correctly, a final DRG assignment is made. |
Principal diagnosis assignment. The diagnosis (condition) established after study to be chiefly responsible for causing the admission of the client to the hospital for care. The principal diagnosis must be treated or evaluated during the admission to the hospital.
