M8 Application Exercise - Ethical Decision Making

Instructions:

Read the following scenario then use the 7 steps of ethical decision making (figure 28.2) to answer the questions.

Scenario:

Kelley Sue is a new coder who had never held a HIM job before. She is right out of college and just passed her RHIA. She is hired by a local clinic and is excited to start working. A few weeks later, her manager asked to meet with her. The manager closed the door and proceeded to tell her that she wanted Kelley Sue to code charts for a particular procedure using two codes instead of one so the reimbursement would be higher. Kelly’s supervisor then proceeded to divulge information that the clinic was struggling financially so anything extra would help out a lot. Kelly Sue got the impression that if she did not do as she was asked they would let her go. This was a great job for her that she really needed. She also felt the sense that since it was her supervisor asking her to do it, that she was obligated