Talk Ten Tuesdays

Latest Episodes:

At the Intersection of Healthcare and the Death of a Super Star Oct 13, 2026

Show notes

She was America’s songbird. A sassy lady whose voice was her claim to fame. She was revered and loved. Her upbeat, joyful attitude brought thousands of Americans to their feet whenever she sang.

With her trademark blonde hair and statuesque silhouette frame now gone, she continues to live on as an American icon.

The legendary Rose T. Dunn, twice the CEO for the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), has been reflecting on what might have caused the death of songstress and songwriter Dolly Parton.
Join us on a remarkable journey during the next live edition of Talk Ten Tuesdays, when Rose T. Dunn reveals more.

The popular weekly Internet broadcast will also feature these additional instantly recognizable panelists, who will report more news during their segments:

• POV: Penny Jefferson, Manager of Coding & Clinical Documentation Integrity Services for the University of California-Davis Medical Center, will share her point of view during the broadcast.

• CDI Report: Cheryl Ericson will provide an update on all things clinical documentation integrity (CDI).

• Field Report: Tiffany Ferguson will report on news happening at the intersection of compliance and medical record coding.

• The Coding Report: Christine Geiger will report on the latest coding news.

• Talk Ten Tuesday News Desk: Timothy Powell, deliver the latest news from the Talk Ten Tuesday News Desk.

Cardiac Coding Confusion: Why the New MI Definition Conflicts with the 2027 Final Rule Oct 06, 2026

Show notes

The Fifth Universal Definition of Myocardial Infarction (MI), better known colloquially as a heart attack, has replaced the previous Type 1-5 clinical classification with primary, secondary, and procedure-related MI.

Yet the ICD-10-CM Final Rule for the 2027 fiscal year (FY) retains the existing numerical MI types, creating an obvious and daunting mismatch.

What’s a coder to do?

It’s a question Karen Davis plans to answer during her appearance as Special Guest during the next upcoming edition of Talk Ten Tuesdays. Pending desperately needed guidance from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and/or the American Hospital Association (AHA), Davis says, dual terminology may be the way to go – for now. But it must be a team effort.

Don’t miss this exclusive live broadcast, coming up at 10 a.m. EST on Tuesday, Oct. 6.

The popular weekly Internet broadcast will also feature these additional instantly recognizable panelists, who will report more news during their segments:

• POV: Penny Jefferson, Director of Clinical Documentation Integrity Services for the University of California, Davis Medical Center, will share her point of view during the broadcast.

• CDI Report: Cheryl Ericson will provide an update on all things clinical documentation integrity (CDI).

• Field Report: Marie Steinbuck, substituting for Tiffany Ferguson, will report on news happening at the intersection of compliance and medical record coding.

• The Coding Report: Christine Geiger will report on the latest coding news.

• Talk Ten Tuesday News Desk: Timothy Powell, deliver the latest news from the Talk Ten Tuesday News Desk.

The Inside Story: What’s Happening at AHIMA? Sep 29, 2026

Show notes

Angela Comfort is a prominent national healthcare executive who, for more than 30 years, has achieved recognition as a revenue cycle integrity specialist for her work at Montefiore Hospital in New York. Today, she is the president of the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), an undisputed leader in the world of healthcare associations.

In a rare, unscripted conversation during the next live edition of Talk Ten Tuesday, “Angie” will share timely updates on the latest developments at AHIMA.

Don’t miss this exclusive live broadcast on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, at 10 a.m. EST.

The popular weekly Internet broadcast will also feature these additional instantly recognizable panelists, who will report more news during their segments:

• POV: Penny Jefferson, Manager of Coding & Clinical Documentation Integrity Services for the University of California-Davis Medical Center, will share her point of view during the broadcast.

• CDI Report: Cheryl Ericson will provide an update on all things clinical documentation integrity (CDI).

• Field Report: Dr. Ryan Greiner will report on news happening at the intersection of compliance and medical record coding.

• The Coding Report: Christine Geiger will report on the latest coding news.

Coordination and Maintenance Committee Meeting: Highlights and Takeaways Sep 22, 2026

Show notes

The gavel came down at last Tuesday’s Coordination and Maintenance Committee meeting—and professional coders wasted no time digging into the new codes and critical updates that will help their colleagues stay ahead in the fast-changing world of coding.

Now, ICD10monitor is bringing those timely insights directly to coders and HIM professionals. If you missed the meeting, this is your chance to catch up fast.

Senior healthcare consultant Christine Geiger, Assistant Vice President of Acute and Post-Acute Coding Services for First Class Solutions and a regularly scheduled panelist on Talk Ten Tuesday, will break down the biggest highlights and must-know takeaways from the Sept. 15 meeting. Other knowledgeable guests are expected to join the conversation.

Don’t miss this fast-moving update Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, at 10 a.m. EST.

Learn Why “Inpatient” and “Observation” are Insufficient Indicators Sep 15, 2026

Show notes

Clear, rationale-based documentation in utilization review (UR), especially for status recommendations by physician advisors, is essential.

During the next edition of Talk Ten Tuesdays, Dr. Juliet Ugarte Hopkins, Chief Medical Officer for Phoenix Medical Management, Inc., will explain why one-word descriptors such as “inpatient” or “observation” are insufficient when cases are later reviewed, denied, appealed, or audited.

She’ll also highlight how physician advisor notes should connect the patient’s clinical circumstances, severity of illness, intensity of service, and expected course of care to the recommended status. Learn how thoughtful documentation protects an organization, supports compliance, strengthens appeals, and helps educate utilization management teams.

Brief Segment: AHIMA-ACDIS Practice Brief Sep 01, 2026

Show notes

The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) and the Association of Clinical Documentation Integrity Specialists (ACDIS), an HCPro professional community, have released the 2026 update to Guidelines for Achieving a Compliant Query Practice.

The practice brief’s guidance applies equally across inpatient, outpatient, ambulatory, and professional fee environments, with specific considerations for outpatient and ambulatory contexts noted throughout.

During this exclusive Talk Ten live edition broadcast, Rebecca Hendren, ACDIS director, and Laurie Prescott, RN, MSN, CCDS, CCDS-O, CDIP, former interim ACDIS director, will discuss the process for updating the guidance and share insight about the 2026 updates.

ICD-10-CM/PCS Coordination and Maintenance Committee Fall Meeting: Preview of Coming Attraction Coming Tuesday Aug 25, 2026

Show notes

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) along with the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) jointly announced the agenda of its September 15-16, 2026, Coordination and Maintenance committee meeting.
During the live event, the public can view and provide feedback on proposed amendments to the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Edition (ICD-10), Clinical Modification (CM), and the HIPPA-sanctioned diagnosis reporting convention required on most provider claims.
Among the challenging subjects expected to be presented during the two-day meeting, include whether ICD-10-CM should transition from Sepsis-2 to Sepsis-3 terminology, amending heart failure terminology to coincide with the Second Universal Definition of Heart Failure, and whether to apply the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions (SCAI) staging classification (A, B, C, D, and E) for cardiogenic shock, and other topics submitted by the public.
During the live edition of the popular Internet broadcast, Talk Ten Tuesday, James S. Kennedy, MD, president of CDIMD, will provide his perspective on identifying proposals and outline how the public can participate in a meaningful way.
The popular weekly Internet broadcast will also feature these additional instantly recognizable panelists, who will report more news during their segments:
• POV: Penny Jefferson, Manager of Coding & Clinical Documentation Integrity Services for the University of California-Davis Medical Center, will share her point of view during the broadcast.
• CDI Report: Cheryl Ericson will provide an update on all things clinical documentation integrity (CDI).
• SDoH Report: Tiffany Ferguson will report on news happening at the intersection of compliance and medical record coding.
• The Coding Report: Christine Geiger will report on the latest coding news.
• Talk Ten Tuesday News Desk: Timothy Powell, deliver the latest news from the Talk Ten Tuesday News Desk.

When the Doctor Crossed the Line Aug 18, 2026

Show notes

Like the virtual line between actors and the audience, an invisible line exists between doctors and patients.

Yet, Dr. Juliet B. Ugarte Hopkins will explore the sharp contrast in how pediatric and adult medicine address patient pain and fear. Reflecting on her own career choices and a lifelong needle phobia stemming from childhood medical experiences, Dr. Ugarte Hopkins will highlight how pediatric care could (and should) routinely integrate proactive comfort measures to ease distress, while, in contrast, her recent experiences as an adult patient reveal a system that frequently expects adults to simply endure discomfort.

She urges adult medicine practitioners to adopt a more empathetic, patient-centered approach that actively mitigates both fear and physical pain during routine procedures.

The popular weekly internet broadcast will also feature these additional instantly recognizable panelists, who will report more news during their segments:

• POV: Penny Jefferson, Manager of Coding & Clinical Documentation Integrity Services for the University of California-Davis Medical Center, will share her point of view during the broadcast.

• CDI Report: Cheryl Ericson will provide an update on all things clinical documentation integrity (CDI).

• SDoH Report: Tiffany Ferguson will report on news happening at the intersection of compliance and medical record coding.

• The Coding Report: Christine Geiger will report on the latest coding news.

• Talk Ten Tuesday News Desk: Timothy Powell will deliver the latest news from the Talk Ten Tuesday News Desk.

The False Claims Act and the Role Played by Coders Aug 11, 2026

Show notes

The recent $14.1 million False Claims Act settlement against Complete Health Partners Holdings, a management services organization operating provider groups in Florida, Alabama, and Colorado, brings to light the role coders can play in False Claims Act cases.

In this instance, it was alleged that Complete Health Partners Holdings directed physicians to add high-value, risk-adjusting codes for Drug and Alcohol Dependence and Major Depressive, Bipolar, and Paranoid Disorders to the medical records of Medicare Advantage patients when those codes were not indicated.

So, listen and learn when special guest Liz Soltan, counsel for Whistleblower Partners, will discuss the role of coders in these cases.

The popular weekly Internet broadcast will also feature these additional instantly recognizable panelists, who will report more news during their segments:

• POV: Penny Jefferson, Manager of Coding & Clinical Documentation Integrity Services for the University of California-Davis Medical Center, will share her point of view during the broadcast.

• CDI Report: Cheryl Ericson will provide an update on all things clinical documentation integrity (CDI).

• SDoH Report: Tiffany Ferguson will report on news happening at the intersection of compliance and medical record coding.

• The Coding Report: Christine Geiger will report on the latest coding news.

• Talk Ten Tuesday News Desk: Timothy Powell, will deliver the latest news from the Talk Ten Tuesday News Desk.

Hospital’s Latest Status Symbol: Utilization Managers Aug 04, 2026

Show notes

Utilization managers (UMs) have long served as a resource for clinicians determining the appropriate patient status.

Key considerations include which clinicians are involved, how communication occurs, and how status orders are entered.

Because these processes can vary widely, it is essential to understand what is compliant, what carries risk, and what is simply not allowed.

That’s why it’s essential to stay current on the latest developments in utilization management.

So, listen and learn when special guest Dr. Juliet B. Urgarte Hopkins, chief medical officer for Phoenix Medical Management discusses the role of utilization managers.

The popular weekly Internet broadcast will also feature these additional instantly recognizable panelists, who will report more news during their segments:

• POV: Penny Jefferson, Manager of Coding & Clinical Documentation Integrity Services for the University of California-Davis Medical Center, will share her point of view during the broadcast.

• CDI Report: Cheryl Ericson will provide an update on all things clinical documentation integrity (CDI).

• SDoH Report: Tiffany Ferguson will report on news happening at the intersection of compliance and medical record coding.

• The Coding Report: Christine Geiger will report on the latest coding news.

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