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Cheat sheet

RHIT Cheat Sheet

Data Content Structure Governance

24-28%of exam

Access Disclosure Privacy Security

12-16%of exam

Data Analytics and Use

14-18%of exam

Data QualityStatisticsRegistriesReportingVisualization

Revenue Cycle Management

14-18%of exam

Coding SystemsPayment MethodsClaims FlowDenialsCDI

Compliance

13-17%of exam

Audit ControlsFraud AbuseQuality ProgramsRisk Response

Leadership

11-15%of exam

WorkflowTrainingPoliciesChange ControlStaffing

Quick Facts

Exam
RHIT
Owner
AHIMA
Questions
150 total
Scored
130 scored
Pretest
20 unscored
Time
3.5 hours
Pass
300 scaled
Delivery
Pearson VUE center
Fee
$229/$299
Resources
None required
Retake
30-day wait
Eligibility
CAHIIM associate path

Domain Order

Govern, protect, analyze, bill, comply, lead

Governance biggestAnalytics ties revenueLeadership smallest

LHR vs Designated Set

LHR

  • Business record
  • Legal evidence
  • Organization defined

Designated set

  • Access scope
  • HIPAA defined
  • Patient rights

Evidence vs access

Record Source Picker

  1. Patient care proofLegal record(Official business)
  2. Patient access requestDesignated set(HIPAA scope)
  3. Changed entryAudit trail(Integrity proof)
  4. Identity mismatchMPI review(Correct linkage)
  5. Missing signatureDeficiency process(Completion tracking)

Exam Control

Total
150 items
Scored
130 items
Pretest
20 random
Time
3.5 hours
Pass
300 scaled
Scale
100-400
Site
Pearson VUE
Resources
None listed

Duplicate vs Overlay

Duplicate

  • One patient
  • Multiple records
  • Merge needed

Overlay

  • Multiple patients
  • One record
  • Unmerge needed

Split vs mixed

Blueprint Weights

Governance
24-28%
Privacy
12-16%
Analytics
14-18%
Revenue
14-18%
Compliance
13-17%
Leadership
11-15%

Record Content

H&P
Admission picture
Orders
Provider directions
Progress notes
Ongoing status
Operative report
Procedure detail
Discharge summary
Final summary
Consent
Treatment permission
Lab
Clinical evidence
Problem list
Active issues

Data Governance

Stewardship
Assigned accountability
Standards
Consistent definitions
Dictionary
Element definitions
Metadata
Data about data
Integrity
Trustworthy data
Completeness
All required elements
Timeliness
Available when needed
Validity
Allowed values

MPI Integrity

MPI
Patient identity index
Duplicate
One patient, two records
Overlay
Two patients, one record
Overlap
Cross-facility duplicate
Merge
Combine duplicates
Unmerge
Separate overlay
Demographics
Identity matching data
Registration
Prevention point

Coding Basics

ICD-10-CM
Diagnosis coding
ICD-10-PCS
Inpatient procedures
CPT
Physician procedures
HCPCS II
Supplies services drugs
UHDDS
Inpatient data set
Principal dx
After-study reason
POA
Admission timing
Query
Clarify documentation

ROI Flow

Request, verify, authorize, limit, track, send

Verify identityCheck authorityLog disclosure

Privacy vs Security

Privacy

  • Use rules
  • Disclosure limits
  • Patient rights

Security

  • ePHI safeguards
  • Access controls
  • Audit logs

Rules vs protections

Disclosure Picker

  1. Patient wants copyAccess right(30 days)
  2. Outside party asksAuthorization check(Verify scope)
  3. Treatment requestPermitted disclosure(Care purpose)
  4. Public health reportRequired disclosure(Law driven)
  5. Curiosity accessSanction process(Impermissible use)

Patient Rights

Access
Inspect or copy
Timeline
30 days
Extension
One 30-day delay
Amendment
Request correction
Accounting
Disclosure list
Restriction
Limit request
Confidential comm
Alternate contact
Notice
Privacy practices

ROI Flow

Request
Capture scope
Identity
Verify requester
Authority
Check permission
Authorization
Required when applicable
Minimum necessary
Limit disclosure
Sensitive data
Extra rules
Tracking
Log release
Secure send
Protect transfer

Security Safeguards

Administrative
Policies risk training
Physical
Facility device controls
Technical
Access audit encryption
Authentication
Verify user identity
Authorization
Grant permitted access
Audit controls
System activity logs
Encryption
Readable only by key
Breach
Unsecured PHI incident

Data Quality

Accurate, complete, consistent, timely, valid

CorrectWholeSameCurrentAllowed

Primary vs Secondary Data

Primary

  • Original record
  • Patient care
  • Source data

Secondary

  • Derived data
  • Registries
  • Reports

Source vs derived

Analytics Picker

  1. Rate questionNumerator denominator(Define base)
  2. Trend questionRun chart(Time pattern)
  3. Compare facilitiesBenchmark(External standard)
  4. Registry caseAbstracting rules(Consistent capture)
  5. Bad source valuesData validation(Fix quality)

Data Quality

Accuracy
Correct values
Completeness
No required gaps
Consistency
Same across systems
Timeliness
Current enough
Precision
Enough detail
Reliability
Repeatable results
Validity
Allowed format
Granularity
Right detail level

Accuracy vs Precision

Accuracy

  • Correct value
  • Truth matched
  • Error free

Precision

  • Detail level
  • Specific value
  • Granular

Correct vs detailed

Statistics

ADC
Daily census average
ALOS
Average stay length
BOR
Bed use percent
Mortality rate
Deaths per base
Infection rate
Cases per exposure
Denominator
Population at risk
Numerator
Events counted
Case mix
Resource intensity

Secondary Data

Registry
Condition-specific database
Index
Finding tool
Trauma registry
Injury data
Cancer registry
Tumor data
Quality measure
Performance metric
Dashboard
Visual summary
Benchmark
Comparison standard
Abstracting
Data capture

Revenue Cycle

Register, code, claim, remit, deny, appeal

Front-end dataMiddle codingBack-end denial

DRG vs APC

DRG

  • Inpatient
  • Principal diagnosis
  • CMI impact

APC

  • Outpatient
  • CPT driven
  • OPPS payment

Inpatient vs outpatient

Revenue Picker

  1. Inpatient paymentMS-DRG(Principal dx)
  2. Outpatient paymentAPC(CPT driven)
  3. Missing supportProvider query(Clarify record)
  4. Claim rejectedDenial review(Find cause)
  5. Coverage questionMedical necessity(Payer rule)

Revenue Flow

Registration
Collect demographics
Authorization
Payer approval
Charge capture
Record services
Coding
Assign codes
Claim
Submit bill
Remittance
Payer response
Denial
Payment refusal
Appeal
Challenge denial

Payment Methods

MS-DRG
Inpatient PPS
APC
Outpatient PPS
Fee schedule
Set payment list
Capitation
Per member payment
Bundled payment
Episode payment
CMI
Average DRG weight
CDI
Documentation improvement
Medical necessity
Coverage support

Compliance Response

Detect, investigate, correct, educate, monitor

Confirm factsFix causePrevent repeat

Fraud vs Abuse

Fraud

  • Intentional deception
  • False claim
  • Knowingly done

Abuse

  • Poor practice
  • Unnecessary cost
  • No intent

Intent vs practice

Compliance Picker

  1. Overpayment foundInvestigate scope(Confirm facts)
  2. Pattern riskFocused audit(Measure exposure)
  3. Intent suspectedCompliance officer(Escalate)
  4. Known false claimRepay disclose(Follow policy)
  5. Recurring errorEducation plan(Prevent repeat)

Compliance Controls

OIG
Fraud oversight
FCA
False claims
Stark
Self-referral limits
AKS
Kickback prohibition
Audit
Compliance review
Education
Corrective training
Monitoring
Ongoing checks
Self-disclosure
Report misconduct

Quality Risk

QAPI
Quality improvement program
RCA
Root cause analysis
Incident report
Risk documentation
Sentinel event
Serious safety event
Accreditation
Standards review
Policy
Required process
Procedure
Step instructions
Corrective plan
Fix and monitor

Policy vs Procedure

Policy

  • What required
  • Rule statement
  • Leadership approved

Procedure

  • How performed
  • Step sequence
  • Operational detail

What vs how

Leadership Tools

Staffing
Match workload
Productivity
Output per input
Budget
Resource plan
Training
Build competence
Change control
Manage transition
Workflow map
Process picture
Policy review
Keep current
Downtime plan
Continuity steps

Training vs Competency

Training

  • Teach process
  • Provide knowledge
  • Initial support

Competency

  • Verify skill
  • Observed performance
  • Documented ability

Teach vs verify

Common Traps

Pretest items

Randomly mixed Not identified

LHR scope

Policy defined Not every datum

Minimum necessary

Need-based access Treatment exception exists

Patient access

Usually 30 days Extension documented

MPI errors

Duplicate splits Overlay mixes

Rates

Define denominator Then calculate

DRG driver

Principal diagnosis MCC CC matter

Query use

Clarify ambiguity Never lead provider

Fraud trigger

Intent matters Document support missing

Competency

Training teaches Competency verifies

Last Minute

  1. 1.Governance weight: 24-28%
  2. 2.Analytics and revenue: 14-18%
  3. 3.Compliance: 13-17%
  4. 4.Privacy: 12-16%
  5. 5.Leadership: 11-15%
  6. 6.150 items; 130 scored
  7. 7.Pass score: 300 scaled
  8. 8.LHR equals business record
  9. 9.Designated set drives access
  10. 10.Minimum necessary limits disclosure
  11. 11.MPI duplicate splits records
  12. 12.Overlay mixes patients
  13. 13.Rates need defined denominator
  14. 14.DRG inpatient; APC outpatient
  15. 15.Fraud requires intent
  16. 16.Policy says what; procedure how
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