AHDAM Webinar

Clinical Validation Appeals – Back to the Basics, Part 2:  Questions and Answers

February 21 | 2:00 - 3:00 pm ET

We asked for questions, and you sent them! Join us as we answer questions from Part 1 of Clinical Validation Appeals – Back to the Basics. Because clinical validation denials continue to rise, it is imperative that denial and appeal management professionals understand the differences between coding and clinical validation denials and how to successfully appeal clinical validation denials. 

Presenters: 

• Christi Drum, RN, BSN, CCDS, CCS, Senior Director of Clinical Appeals for Clinical Validation and Coding, PayerWatch/AppealMasters 
  

  Christi is a registered nurse with over 17 years of experience in emergency services, interventional radiology, cardiovascular services, and administration.  In 2013, Christi joined the Clinical Documentation Integrity department where she completed concurrent and retrospective reviews with a broad work scope of DRG reimbursements, CC/MCC capture, SOI/ROM improvements, mortality reviews, and HAC and PSI improvements.  She found great success in query writing with excellent capture/agreement rates.  Christi also became the first CDI Educator for the health system and was privileged to share her CDI passion through teaching and training nurses and physicians. 

  Currently, Christi works for PayerWatch where she is the Senior Director of Clinical Appeals for Clinical Validation and Coding, leading a team of expert appeal writers who generate high quality appeal letters for clients across the nation.  She also presents cases at the Administrative Law Judge level.  Christi has presented in past webinars for ADHAM and PayerWatch and was a previous speaker at the national ACDIS conference.

• Karla Hiravi, RN, BSN, President, AHDAM and Vice President, Clinical Resources, PayerWatch/Appeal/Masters
  

  Karla is a registered nurse and holds a BSN from the University of Pittsburgh, Johnstown. She has over thirty years of varied experiences in healthcare, including Clinical Documentation Improvement (CDI), management of a CDI department, development of a hospital-based denial and appeal program, development of an oncology research program, nurse and physician education, appeal writing, presentations at the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) level, and direct management of appeals at every level, up to post ALJ appeals.

  She was a frequent guest speaker at the University of Pittsburgh, Johnstown for many years, and served as a preceptor for nurse practitioner and Pharm D. students while they studied medical research through the University of Pittsburgh. Karla has been with PayerWatch – AppealMasters since 2016 and continues to participate in and educate clinicians and coders about the medical appeal process.

You must register with a business or provider email domain. General email accounts such as Gmail or Yahoo will not be approved for attendance. Now offering CMEs! CEUs and CMEs for AHDAM Members Only. *