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Using ICD-10-AM, ACHI, ACS

Coding Queries

New Zealand Coding Authority (NZCA)

The NZCA is a group of people who collaboratively and co-operatively resolve clinical coding queries and related issues. This promotes the collection of consistent, complete and accurate hospitalisation data in New Zealand.

Terms of Reference

Responsibilities of NZCA

NZCA will undertake the following activities in order to achieve its purpose:

1. Collaboratively resolve coding queries and provide clarification on coding standards and directives
2. Ensure that standards of definition and conventions are maintained during resolution process
3. Engage in open discussion and information sharing within the members’ respective organisations to assist in the query resolution process
4. Evaluate the impact of the query resolution on morbidity data collection
5. Ratify coding query resolutions prior to distribution and publication on the Ministry’s Classification and Terminology website
6. Provide consultation and support to the Ministry of Health on clinical coding issues as required eg, classification upgrade papers
7. Advise the Ministry on the development of new procedures, clinical trials etc, eg, acute appendicitis treated with antibiotics but no procedure, potential anomalies in the classification (ICD-10-AM/ACHI/ACS) and the Diagnostic Related Groups (DRGs)
8. Advise the Ministry on coder education requirements as they relate to NZCA activities
9. Advise the Ministry on other issues related to clinical coding using ICD-10-AM/ACHI/ACS.

Members for the term 1 July 2011 – 30 June 2012

Group Member:	Organisation:
Tracy Thompson (Chair)	Ministry of Health
Andrew Wooding	Auckland DHB
Chris Rodley	Counties Manukau DHB
Donna Holley	Southern DHB (Otago)
Mary-Ellen Wetherspoon	Canterbury DHB
Nicky Williams	Waikato DHB
Robert Campbell	Capital and Coast DHB
Vivienne Hansen	Nelson Marlborough DHB

Meetings

Meetings will be held approximately every two months depending on the number of queries/topics on the agenda at any given time. The majority of the meetings will be held by teleconference with one face to face meeting during the 12 month term. The required minimum quorum for the meetings will be half of the members plus one.

The meeting schedule will be:

1. Thursday 4 August 2011 – Teleconference – Completed
2. Thursday 6 October 2011 – Teleconference
3. Wednesday 30 November 2011 – Face to face in Wellington
4. Thursday 16 February 2012 – Teleconference
5. Thursday 19 April 2012 – Teleconference
6. Thursday 14 June 2012 – Teleconference

The meeting schedule is subject to change and additional meetings over and above the schedule may be required.

To contact the Chair of the New Zealand Coding Authority (NZCA) email: coding_helpdesk@moh.govt.nz.

Coding Query Database

View the Coding Query Database.

Submitting a coding query

Before submitting a coding query to the NZCA Chair:

1. Refer to the Australian Coding Standards, Coding Matters, National Casemix and Classification Centre (NCCC) Q&As and New Zealand Conventions for advice and direction
2. Review ICD-10-AM/ACHI tabular and index for further instructions
3. Consult with clinicians, clinical coders and other stakeholders
4. Check the NZCA coding query database for any similar or related queries.

Submitting a coding query

Ensure that you have a clear and well defined question, supported with comprehensive background information. This will assist NZCA to deliver an accurate timely response.

To submit a coding query to the NZCA, please email the coding helpdesk with ‘NZCA – coding query’ in the subject line: coding_helpdesk@moh.govt.nz.


Page last updated 29 August 2011


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