Leveraging CDI to reduce revenue leakage and denials

Editor’s note: Deanne Wilk, MPS, BSN, RN, CCDS, CCDS-O, CDIP, CCS, will present “Ensuring Appropriate Reimbursement and Preventing Denials: The Role of CDI in Office Visit and Ancillary Service Documentation” on day one of the 2025 Revenue Integrity Symposium, which will take place September 25–26 in Westminster, Colorado. Wilk is the director of CDI education at HCPro in Chicago, Illinois. Get an exclusive insider’s look at what RIS attendees will learn and experience at the event, discuss highlights from the agenda, and more during our upcoming free webinar! Use NAHRI’s justification letter template as a guide to gain your organization’s support for attending. Consider applying for the NAHRI Scholarship, which awards free registration to RIS (the application deadline is June 6).

Q: In what ways does your session challenge attendees to think outside the box?

Wilk: The session challenges attendees to think proactively about clinical documentation integrity (CDI) and encourages a preventative approach. Instead of reacting to denials and revenue issues after they occur, the session emphasizes the importance of partnering with clinicians upfront to improve documentation. By addressing documentation gaps early in the process, healthcare organizations can reduce errors and ensure appropriate reimbursement, which is a shift from the traditional reactive mindset.

Q: In your opinion, what’s the biggest challenge in revenue integrity and/or revenue cycle right now? How does your session help tackle this?

Wilk: One of the biggest challenges in revenue integrity today is the increasing complexity of coding and documentation requirements, which can lead to denials or underpayment. As regulations and coding standards evolve, ensuring accurate and complete documentation becomes critical. This session addresses the issue by focusing on how CDI professionals can collaborate with clinicians to enhance the accuracy and completeness of documentation, particularly in office visits and ancillary services, ensuring proper reimbursement and minimizing the risk of denials.

Q: What’s one of the key pieces of information you would like people to take away from your session?

Wilk: A key takeaway from the session is that proper clinical documentation is essential for accurate coding and reimbursement. By ensuring that documentation fully reflects the care provided, healthcare organizations can not only avoid denials but also ensure they receive the appropriate payment for services rendered. CDI professionals play a vital role in this process by working with clinicians to improve the quality and completeness of documentation.

Q: What are you most excited about for this year’s conference?

Wilk: This year’s conference offers a fantastic opportunity to share insights and strategies for addressing the growing challenges in revenue cycle management. I'm excited about the chance to engage with other healthcare professionals, exchange ideas, and learn from one another on how to improve documentation processes and revenue integrity. The focus on real-world applications and practical strategies makes this conference particularly valuable.

Q: What's a great piece of advice you've received regarding revenue integrity and/or revenue cycle? Or, what advice do you like to give people about revenue integrity and/or revenue cycle?

Wilk: A great piece of advice I've received is to always view revenue cycle management as a team effort, not just a finance or coding issue. Collaboration between CDI professionals, clinicians, and the entire healthcare organization is key to success. I always advise others to prioritize clear communication and ensure that documentation fully reflects the care provided, as this is the foundation for accurate coding, appropriate reimbursement, and reduced risk of denials.