AMS Revenue Integrity Group • Course 01
Risk Adjustment Coding: Documentation, Accuracy & Impact
Documentation First. Accuracy Before Impact.
Risk adjustment isn't just about codes—it's about the medical record. This course breaks down the complexities of HCC models by starting at the source: clinical documentation. We explore how specific diagnostic language translates into data, and how that data ultimately drives healthcare outcomes and reimbursement. Designed for those seeking a principled foundation in risk adjustment.
On-Demand
Free
Foundational–Intermediate
Course Overview
Risk adjustment isn't just about codes—it's about the medical record. This course breaks down the complexities of HCC models by starting at the source: clinical documentation. We explore how specific diagnostic language translates into data, and how that data ultimately drives healthcare outcomes and reimbursement. Designed for those seeking a principled foundation in risk adjustment.
Course Details
Format
On-Demand Video
Duration
Approx. 30 minutes
Learning Objectives
- Define Medicare Advantage risk adjustment and HCC models.
- Identify the relationship between clinical documentation and valid ICD-10-CM coding.
- Apply the principals of documentation completeness to HCC risk capture.
- Recognize common compliance risks in risk adjustment coding.
Start With the Medical Record — Not With the HCC.
DOCUMENTATION
→
ICD-10-CM CODE ASSIGNMENT
→
RISK-ADJUSTMENT DATA
→
PAYMENT
Course Curriculum
01 — Risk Adjustment Fundamentals
Understand the basic purpose of Medicare Advantage risk adjustment and its connection to documented health status.
02 — Diagnoses & the Medical Record
Examine how medical-record documentation supports diagnosis reporting and risk-adjustment data.
03 — Documentation & Coding Accuracy
Apply applicable ICD-10-CM conventions and guidelines while assigning only the specificity supported by the documentation.
04 — Common Risk-Adjustment Coding Risks
Review historical information, unsupported specificity, HCC-first thinking, setting-specific rules, and financial influence.
05 — Practical Case Application
Apply the AMS Documentation Check to a practical risk-adjustment coding scenario.
Module 06: Key Takeaways & Compliance
Reinforce documentation-first coding, appropriate specificity, clarification when appropriate.
Alisa Shackelford, CPC, CRC, AAPC Approved Instructor
Founder, AMS Revenue Integrity Group
With over 30 years of healthcare experience, Alisa leads revenue integrity initiatives through a combination of clinical depth and regulatory expertise. As an educator and consultant, she simplifies complex Medicare Advantage models by focusing on the core requirement of any successful program: documentation excellence.
How The Course Works
01
02
03
Instant Enrollment
Self-Paced Video
Foundational Knowledge
Access the course immediately upon registration through our student portal.
Watch the modules at your own pace, on any device, whenever you have time.
Conclude with a clear roadmap for strengthening integrity in your medical coding career.