AAPC Tahlequah, OK Local Chapter

03/04/2026

✨ Please Help Us Welcome & Celebrate! ✨

We are excited to recognize our New Chapter Members and Newly Certified Members!

👏 Sarah Cowan
👏 Rebecca Inman
👏 Deedra McCaleb
👏 Steven Moore
👏 Janelle Oetting
👏 Allison Perryman
👏 Kaylie Pierce
👏 Lisa Kay Staten
👏 Destiny Taylor

Your dedication to the medical coding profession and commitment to growth within our chapter does not go unnoticed. Whether you are just joining us or celebrating certification, we are so proud of your accomplishment and thrilled to have you as part of our chapter family.

Here’s to continued learning, networking, and success together! 💙📚

Send a message to learn more

03/04/2026

Good Morning Members ,

Bee 🐝 engaged with us . Share what you're coding today.

03/04/2026

Shared from Coding Clarify

Wednesday Wisdom!

Medical coding for respiratory failure uses ICD-10-CM category J96, classified by acuity (acute, chronic, or both) and type (hypoxia or hypercapnia). Key codes include J96.0x (acute), J96.1x (chronic), and J96.2x (acute-on-chronic). Accurate coding requires specifying hypoxia, hypercapnia, or both, based on documentation, typically requiring blood gas analysis or oxygen saturation criteria.
Key ICD-10-CM Codes for Respiratory Failure
Acute Respiratory Failure (J96.0-):
J96.01 - Acute respiratory failure with hypoxia
J96.02 - Acute respiratory failure with hypercapnia
J96.00 - Acute respiratory failure, unspecified
Chronic Respiratory Failure (J96.1-):
J96.11 - Chronic respiratory failure with hypoxia
J96.12 - Chronic respiratory failure with hypercapnia
Acute and Chronic Respiratory Failure (J96.2-):
J96.21 - Acute and chronic respiratory failure with hypoxia
J96.22 - Acute and chronic respiratory failure with hypercapnia
Unspecified (J96.9-):
J96.90 - Respiratory failure, unspecified
Coding Guidelines and Tips
Documentation Requirement: Acute Respiratory Failure (ARF) in outpatient settings must be documented, diagnosed, and actively managed (e.g., high-flow oxygen, BiPAP/CPAP).
Acute on Chronic: Used when a patient with chronic respiratory failure experiences a worsening, acute episode.
Principal Diagnosis: Acute respiratory failure (J96.0-) or acute and chronic (J96.2-) can be the principal diagnosis if it is the main reason for admission.
Clinical Criteria: Often supported by
(hypoxemia),
(hypercapnia), or specific symptoms like tachypnea and accessory muscle use.
Postoperative: If "postoperative respiratory failure" is documented, it should be queried to clarify if it is an expected outcome or a complication.

03/04/2026

Buzzin’ By to Say Hi!
and to bring you the March Monthly Buzz report....

We’re excited to share our March Newsletter with you! This month is buzzing with exciting updates, including a warm welcome to our newest members, details about our upcoming March chapter meeting, the buzz talk about HEALTHCON 2026 along with our upcoming Spring Seminar details. Take a moment to review everything happening in our local chapter hive — we have a great month ahead!

please us the below link to pre-register for the In-person March Meeting:

https://forms.gle/fx9x37sBCgZ5jx7z5

02/22/2026

Bee Excited & Bee Involved !

Good afternoon fellow coders and chapter members!
Our March Chapter Meeting is just right around the corner!
Please join us for our first in-person meeting of the year!
March's speaker will be Tarah Ritter and she will be discussing Diabetes Mellitus
This meeting will be held at the Cherokee Nation Outpatient Health Center, 19600 E. Ross St. Tahlequah, OK 74464
Snacks will be provided for this event, but please bring your own drink. Vending machines are available and accessible if needed.

please sign up with the form comment section to make sure we have a count for food. Thank You

02/22/2026

CMS has released the April 2026 ICD-10-CM update. While there are no code additions, deletions, or revisions, there are note changes throughout the code set that could significantly impact coding and documentation.

Make sure you understand how these updates may affect your work:
https://hubs.la/Q04411CT0

02/18/2026

Hello Tahlequah Chapter Members,
We have been Invited by the Northeast Kansas AAPC Chapter to attend their spring work shop. It looks like a lot of fun. Look for the information in the flyer .
Registration will begin around 8 am and the first presentation will begin at 8:30. The theme is Show n Tell. It will be an entertaining and interactive program with lots of laughs, good food, good fun, camaraderie, networking and PRIZES.

02/18/2026

Cardiac biomarkers play a crucial role in the early diagnosis, risk stratification, and management of cardiac diseases. They help clinicians identify myocardial injury, assess severity, and guide timely treatment decisions.

• **Troponin** is a protein released into the bloodstream when heart muscle cells are damaged.
• It is the best and most specific indicator of acute myocardial infarction (MI).
• Normal range is 0–0.4 ng/ml, and values above 0.4 ng/ml strongly indicate a heart attack.
• Troponin levels can remain elevated for up to 3 weeks after myocardial injury, making it highly reliable for late diagnosis.

• **CK-MB (Creatine Kinase-MB)** is an enzyme released when cardiac muscle is damaged.
• It is a cardiac-specific isoenzyme but is less reliable and less specific than troponin.
• Normal range is 0–5 ng/ml.
• It typically peaks around 24 hours after myocardial injury, making it useful for timing of infarction.

• **Myoglobin** is found in both cardiac and skeletal muscle tissue.
• It is not a specific marker for acute MI, but a negative result is useful to rule out myocardial infarction.
• Normal range is 5–70 ng/ml.
• It peaks early, around 12 hours, making it an early but non-specific marker of muscle injury.

• **BNP (Brain Natriuretic Peptide)** is released when the ventricles are stretched due to excess fluid volume.
• It is a strong indicator of heart failure and ventricular overload.
• Normal level is 700 pg/ml.

Understanding cardiac biomarkers is essential for accurate diagnosis, early intervention, and effective management of cardiovascular emergencies and chronic heart conditions.

Shared from: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shreyash-barve-0a2801321?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_ios

And The Coding Corner

02/14/2026

April is right around the corner, and so is our local chapter’s Spring Seminar! Our Spring Seminar: Nectar of Knowledge will be virtual and you won’t want to miss it!!

This event will last from 8:00am - 1:00pm on Saturday April 18th and includes several speakers with lots of knowledge to share!

Please ensure you register for the event by April 17th to ensure access to the event!

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/LtqtJ4ZuRXeMH74wbHwkSA

Payment must also be received in order to gain access to the Zoom Spring Seminar. Please pay fees to Tahlequah Chapter PayPal: AAPC Tahlequah.

You can also scan the QR codes in the flyer below, one is to register while the other is to pay for our event.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to your officers, as we are happy to help our chapter members!

02/13/2026

Good Morning Members,

Do you plan on going to Healthcon in Dallas May 3-6th? Look at the coupon code below . Go to your AAPC portal and sign up . this is a great networking and educational experience.

02/13/2026

Hello Everyone,

Please join us to learn about Medication Assisted Treatment with Dr. Anna Miller.

Virtual Meeting Details:
Date: February 17th
Time: 6:00 PM CST

Please use the link below to register and secure your spot:
https://forms.gle/69LPgoBFB7sg3bB6A

Once you have registered, a calendar invite for the virtual meeting will be sent to your email address 2-3 days prior to the event.

If you would like to donate to the Tahlequah Local Chapter, please feel free to reach out to us at the emails listed below for more information and payment links:

Best regards,
AAPC Tahlequah Chapter
Secretary
Rashelle Hammons
rashellehammons25@gmail.com
aapctahlequah@gmail.com

11/22/2025

Good morning fellow coders and chapter members,

We are excited to announce that it is almost time for our end of the year annual party!

Help us to celebrate our 2025 officers and to meet our incoming 2026 officers!
We also want to celebrate our chapter members, because without you all, we would not be here!

Food and drinks will be provided, so you don't have to bring anything! Unless you want to participate in our cookie exchange :)

Food options: Lasagna, chicken alfredo, salad, and garlic bread
Drink options: Water, sweet tea, unsweet tea, lemonade, vending machines are accessible as well

In order to ensure we have enough food for everyone, please register for the event with the link below.

Registration Link: https://forms.gle/KAFafMeYB8jwugWi9

Event Time: December 9th at 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Event Type: In-Person
Address: 19600 E Ross Street, Tahlequah OK, 74464 Cherokee Nation Outpatient Health Center

Event Details:
Prizes will be drawn throughout the duration of the event. Those who have attended meetings have been tracked and for each meeting and seminar attended you received points, any voluntary donations also contributed to collecting points. Those who attended more meetings will have more points for the end of the year prizes.

In order to win prizes, you MUST be present!

Prepare for our yearly Cookie Exchange!
To participate in the cookie exchange, please bake your best, most delicious batch of cookies and bring the recipe to share!
Those who participate in this event will be entered into a special drawing for a most special prize!

Timeline:
5:30 - 6:00pm Dine Time! We will be serving Napoli's for this End of the Year Party!

6:00 - 7:00pm Game Time! Get ready to play Left Right Center!
This could include up to two rounds, depending on the length of the game, so please bring six $1 bills to be able to participate!