Q601--Medical Coding Auditing

The VA Greater Los Angeles Health Care System had an urgent requirement for medical coding and auditing services. The Contractor must assign current, appropriate International Classification of Diseases (ICD), Common Procedural Terminology (CPT), and Healthcare Common Procedural Coding System (HCPCS) codes based on health record documentation for outpatient, surgical, and inpatient care and services provided at all Veterans Affairs Los Angeles Healthcare System locations. Additionally, the Contractor must conduct coding audits of inpatient and outpatient encounters as requested by the medical facility. This was an urgent requirement to ensure the timely and accurate processing of healthcare documentation and billing to prevent disruptions to veteran care. A three-month contract was urgently required to ensure uninterrupted service delivery while allowing sufficient time for the proper procurement and competition of a new long-term contract. Cooper Thomas was the only vendor able to meet this requirement because they are the incumbent contractor with an already-approved FITARA. Engaging a new vendor would necessitate a separate FITARA approval and a full onboarding process, both of which would introduce significant delays and risk to mission continuity. Therefore, to maintain continuity and meet urgent operational needs, only Cooper Thomas can fulfill the requirement within the necessary timeframe.