Preventing Denials at the Front Line: Documentation at the Point of Decision

Course Description

Revenue integrity has shifted significantly in recent years, moving from a retrospective focus on coding and documentation review to a real-time process that begins at the point of admission. As payer review timelines accelerate and access to clinical documentation becomes more immediate, the expectation for clear, accurate, and timely documentation—particularly related to medical necessity—has increased.

This session will examine how documentation at the time of admission directly impacts inpatient level of care determinations, denial risk, and overall revenue integrity. Participants will explore common gaps in documentation that lead to medical necessity denials, including lack of clinical specificity, insufficient articulation of risk, and failure to clearly support the need for inpatient care.

The session will also highlight the importance of early alignment between Clinical Documentation Integrity (CDI), Utilization Review (UR), and Physician Advisor teams. By focusing on the first 24 hours of the patient encounter, organizations can identify and address documentation gaps before payer review occurs.

Attendees will be introduced to practical, workflow-based strategies to improve documentation at the point of decision-making, enhance interdisciplinary collaboration, and proactively reduce denials. The session is designed to provide actionable insights that can strengthen documentation practices and support more effective revenue integrity processes.

Learning Outcomes

• Describe how revenue integrity has shifted to begin at the point of admission
• Explain the impact of documentation timing on medical necessity and denial risk
• Identify key elements required to support inpatient level of care at admission
• Recognize common documentation gaps that lead to medical necessity denials
• Analyze how the first 24 hours of documentation influence payer review outcomes
• Describe the roles of CDI, UR, and Physician Advisors in early documentation review
• Apply strategies to improve documentation at the time of clinical decision-making
• Implement workflow approaches to identify and address documentation gaps in real time

Areas Covered in the Session

Recommended Participants

• Clinical Documentation Integrity (CDI) Directors and Managers
• Clinical Documentation Integrity (CDI) Staff
• Utilization Review (UR) / Case Management Professionals
• Physician Advisors
• HIM / Coding Directors and Managers
• Coding Staff
• Revenue Integrity Directors and Managers
• Revenue Integrity Staff
• Revenue Cycle Leaders
• Denials and Appeals Staff
• Quality and Compliance Teams
• Hospital Administrators
• Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) / Finance Leaders
• Revenue Integrity Analysts
• Denials Management Specialists
• Patient Access / Registration Teams
• Nursing Leadership (e.g., Nurse Managers, Directors)
• Medical Directors
• Compliance Officers
• Health Information Technology (HIT) / EHR Specialists
• Audit and Appeals Specialists

Penny Jefferson, MSN, RN, CCDS, CCDS-O, CDIP, CCS, CRC, CHDA, CRCR, CPHQ, ACPA-C is the Director of Clinical Documentation Integrity at UC Davis Health, where she leads enterprise-wide initiatives focused on improving documentation accuracy, medical necessity support, and revenue integrity. She brings extensive experience in CDI, revenue cycle operations, and regulatory compliance, with a focus on aligning documentation practices to meet evolving payer and regulatory expectations.

Additional Information

Snippets From Our Previous Session