I've not read a single thing regarding "post-payment review" of covid payments...

And yes, I was referring to the first 6 months of the outbreak, where everything was deemed to be covid...

No related symptoms here post covid.

Yes, and so deemed by physicians! So what are you blaming hospital admins and billing clerks for? Your original post suggested questionable activity on their parts, and it just ain't so. I do understand the hospital/physician politics, always a love/hate relationship. But I bristle that your followers believe that administrators and billing clerks are responsible for everyone being diagnosed w covid. And they will believe what you wrote, you are a respected voice on this forum. I think I've made my point, we can drop this line of discussion. It's been fun though, thank you for your always respectful responses.

I'm respected? Well, shame on you! ;)

But yes, administrators/billing depts are most definitely trying to find ways to maximize charges, including changing diagnoses...

I've seen it in person... And I've seen the arguments that ensued...

It says a lot about someone when all they can say about your post is that it was “stupid” hahhahaha

Well, keep in mind that after the human trials (on most of the US population and much of the world) are finished, you can always decide to get the shot if that's what you want. However, if you get the shot now and find out later (when the trials are done) that there is a major downside, you can't "un-get" it.
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By the way, it has been determined now that I had COVID-19 in February 2020 (anti-body test). My experience was a short flu-like event; fever for 2-3 days. Did not lose smell / taste. No lasting effects of any kind. Apparently, my wife was also infected but had no symptoms then or later. So, while the FDA / CDC / NIH / blah blah blah will not say that survivors continue to have immunity, I think the fact that I have been around many infected people over the last 16 months speaks for itself. Spent 6 hours in a car with my wife's sister (who we later learned was infected at the time) and did not get re-infected ourselves. I'm quite sure we are immune. I'm 64, wife is 60.

And, I don't give any weight to the "asymptomatic spreader" message. The common flu and common cold can also be acquired from someone without symptoms; and, yes, the common flu can and does KILL every year. I never got the annual flu shot and never ever got the flu. I also don't remember anyone ever pressuring me to get a flu shot or trying to guilt me into doing so "for others"; or calling me selfish for not getting a flu shot. It's just nonsense. Look around at all the people who got the shot and still think they are at risk from this thing - they wear masks while alone in the car; they insist others get the shot when they themselves are theoretically protected; they worry about wearing a mask (themselves & others); they won't get on a cruise ship unless every plays by their rules; they are indoctrinated. I refuse to be indoctrinated.

To paraphrase one of my favorite people: "If you are vaccinated, act like it".

No, I don't think it says anything about her. It MAY speak volumes for the post:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

Sometimes, less is more...

I think the fact that the FDA/CDC/NIH/blah blah blah decides based on well designed medical studies involving thousands of people and that you have decided, for yourself, based on a "study" of two that you are immune SPEAKS FOR ITSELF

I do , however, agree that getting vaccinated and then driving around in your car alone with a mask is idiotic. Of course, it was just as idiotic before that person got vaccinated as well.

Maximizing payments is a must and you know it. Changing a diagnosis is absolutely fine IF the medical record documentation supports that change. And that's the bottom line. Do you know how frequently the coder has to chase down a doc that picked the wrong diagnosis in the electronic system? Or left out a supported dx? Picking the wrong dx is so easy to do too but it's the hospital, and just as often, the patient that loses because of a wrong key stroke entry. Now I would never say there isn't greed out there, all you need to do for proof of that is take a gander at the OIG's Fraud&Abuse Enforcement page. Those providers are not only greedy, they're incredibly arrogant to think they can scam the system and keep getting away with it. But it's not generally hospital administrators or billing clerks being prosecuted and convicted of fraud, can you guess which profession is the usual culprit? Have a look, it's actually quite interesting Enforcement Actions | Office of Inspector General | Government Oversight | U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Perhaps. But, I am not stating that my "study of two" should be evidence for anyone to follow suit. I am justifying my own decision to forego the shot. I consider myself protected enough and further consider the shot to be a higher risk than not getting it. The person I replied to was "on the fence" and I gave him/her my take on the matter. And I was explaining that you can't go back in time and not get it later. That's all. Studies or not, I'm not obligated to base my decisions to get the shot on how well it will protect others.

Yeah, they go for the low hanging fruit...

The docs are always on the hook... For everything...

And as I said before, I've served on multiple hospital committees. I've seen, first hand, the arguments over "correct" diagnoses...

I realize you must have worked in medical billing/coding at a hospital and therefore tend to blame all coding irregularities on the physicians. However, with a 20% premium on the DRG cohort at stake, if you don't think the word went out to medical staffs at every hospital in the country to add COVID as a diagnosis, even if only suspected, then you are living in Fantasyland.

Actually, the word you are looking for is "rationalizing". I wouldn't recommend getting the vaccine for others----you should do it for yourself. And you are right---with any new vaccine/drug/treatment there is a SMALL risk of the unknown----but right now the risk of COVID is greater. I probably had COVID early this year. My fiancee, her sister and husband were staying with us and they all became symptomatic and tested positive. I didn't have any symptoms, and didn't get tested because a positive result wouldn't have changed anything I was doing, and I was going to get the vaccine regardless (and I did)

PS: love the picture, and there is some truth in it

Going back to the over diagnosis of covid deaths, please view this short video...

Dr. Ngozi Ezike | How COVID Deaths are Classified - YouTube