Salutes • Awards, leaders
Kuakini medical coders win praise for accuracy
Advertiser Staff
According to the inspector general of the Department of Health and Human Services, billions of dollars in Medicare money is lost each year due to payment errors. About 20 percent of these mistakes are because of incorrect billing for services.
The Mountain-Pacific Quality Health Foundation, an organization responsible for auditing medical records coding, recently recognized Kuakini Medical Center for its performance in an audit conducted on 49 medical records. Mountain-Pacific reviewed 10 local hospitals, and Kuakini was the only one to receive a perfect score.
Each of Kuakini's full-time coders in its medical records department is certified and has an average of seven years of coding experience. The coders examine patient records and assign Diagnostic Related Group numerical codes to them. The codes are then submitted through hospital claims to the Medicare fiscal intermediary for reimbursement to Kuakini for services rendered.
• The Hawai'i State Chapter of the American Red Cross has selected the Samuel N. and Mary Castle Foundation to receive the first Diamond Window Award. The annual award recognizes dedication and commitment to the Red Cross chapter through gifts of time, talents and treasures, according to Roger Dickson, chief executive officer.
The Castle Foundation supports the Red Cross with continual and substantial financial contributions. In recent years, the foundation has supported disaster relief efforts in Hawai'i, including $100,000 in the wake of Hurricane 'Iniki in 1992.
• New officers and directors selected by the Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce are: president, Dr. Claire Hughes, Office of Health Equity, state Department of Health; first vice president, Robson Hind, financial adviser with Morgan Stanley; second vice president, Robert Piper, attorney, Paul, Johnson, Park and Niles; treasurer, Linda Paik-Matsuura, office coordinator for Community Care Service; secretary, Elmer Ka'ai Jr., planner, Department of Hawaiian Homelands; immediate past president, Ainsley Ahlo, president, Structural Pest Control Inc.
Directors are Rowena Blaisdell, W. Frank Brandt, Beadie Dawson, Ron Jarrett, H.K. Bruss Keppeler, C. Scott May, William Ornellas, Andrew Poepoe and Crystal Rose.
The organization was established in 1974 to provide a viable economic and social order for the Hawaiian business community, based on Hawaiian values and to promote growth and cooperation among its members.
• Sabra Kauka has been named member-at-large for the National Association of Resource Conservation & Developmental Councils.
She is president of the Garden Island RC&D in Hawai'i and treasurer of the Pacific Rim Association of RC&D Councils. She is a Hawaiian Studies kumu (teacher) and cultural consultant. Her educational background includes anthropology, journalism and Hawaiian language. She is also a published photojournalist.
Resource Conservation and Development Councils serve their communities in all 50 states and U.S. territories. Participants are local volunteers who identify, address and solve challenges to sustain and improve quality of life in their communities..
