Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina’s Risk Adjustment Coding Provider Education and Engagement Team is continuing live webinars in 2026. Each hour-long session is approved for one CEU credit through the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) and is offered at no cost. 

These webinars deliver coding education built on CMS guidelines, focusing on accurate documentation and coding practices that support risk adjustment and quality outcomes. Topics include practical coding tips, compliance standards, and strategies to capture the complete health status of each patient at every encounter. 

Audience: Office and practice managers, coders, billers, and providers. 

Benefits of Attending: 

• Gain clarity on CMS coding guidelines and risk adjustment requirements. 
• Improve documentation accuracy to support compliant HCC capture. 
• Earn 1 AAPC CEU credit per session. 
• Access free, expert-led education designed to strengthen coding confidence and program performance. 

We encourage you and your staff to take advantage of these educational opportunities. To register, click the embedded link below each webinar. We look forward to collaborating with you! 

These presentations are intended for both physicians and office staff. The information contained in these presentations and responses to the questions are not intended to serve as official coding or legal advice. All Coding should be considered case-by-case and should be supported by medical necessity and the appropriate documentation reflected within the medical record. 

Session 1 

CMS-HCC Model vs HHS-HCC Model: Understanding the Impact on HCCs and ICD-10 Coding 

Explore how the Medicare (CMS-HCC, V28) and ACA commercial (HHS-HCC) risk adjustment models differ and where they overlap—especially for risk-adjustable diagnoses (HCCs). We’ll focus on model-specific requirements, documentation standards, and coding practices to ensure accurate capture and reconciliation of HCCs across MA and ACA. 

Date & Time: January 20, 2026 | 12–1 PM

Location: Virtual Webinar 

Registration: Session 1_CMS-HCC Model vs HHS-HCC Model: Understanding the Impact on HCCs and ICD-10 Coding

Learning Objectives: 

• Differentiate CMS-HCC (V28) and HHS-HCC models, including use cases and payment timelines. 
• Explain how HCC hierarchies affect risk capture and model-specific scoring. 
• Identify documentation and coding best practices (MEAT, specificity, annual reconfirmation) to support accurate HCC capture in both models. 

Note: Examples listed are limited to risk-adjustable conditions under CMS-HCC (V28) and/or HHS-HCC risk adjustment models. Always code active conditions supported by MEAT (Monitored, Evaluated, Assessed, Treated) and avoid coding history-only diagnoses as active. 

Session 2 

Annual Preventive Visit Overview for ACA and MA Members 

Review the essential elements of preventive visits and how accurate chart documentation supports ICD-10 risk adjustable code capture (HCC chronic condition capture) for Medicare Advantage (MA) and Affordable Care Act (ACA) populations. 

Date & Time: February 17, 2026 | 12–1 PM

Location: Virtual Webinar 

Registration: Session 2_Annual Preventive Visit Overview for ACA and MA Members

Learning Objectives:

• Identify preventive visit components that facilitate compliant HCC code capture. 
• Apply documentation standards (status, specificity, MEAT) that support risk-adjustable condition capture. 
• Differentiate preventive vs. diagnostic services while ensuring appropriate coding that aligns with risk adjustment requirements. 

Note: Examples listed are limited to risk-adjustable conditions under CMS-HCC (V28) and/or HHS-HCC risk adjustment models. Always code active conditions supported by MEAT (Monitored, Evaluated, Assessed, Treated) and avoid coding history-only diagnoses as active. 

Session 3 

Chronic Condition Coding: How It Relates to HCC Coding for Risk Adjustment

Learn how chronic conditions that are risk-adjustable map to HCCs and affect risk scores. Examples focus on HCC categories such as diabetes (with/without complications), chronic kidney disease (stages 3–5/ESRD), congestive heart failure, morbid obesity, and vascular disease with complications. 

Date & Time: March 17, 2026 | 12–1 PM

Location: Virtual Webinar 

Registration: Session 3_Chronic Condition Coding: How It Relates to HCC Coding for Risk Adjustment

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the role of chronic HCCs in risk adjustment and model hierarchies. 
• Apply ICD-10 coding guidelines to accurately capture chronic HCC conditions (e.g., diabetes, CKD, CHF, morbid obesity, vascular disease with complications). 
• Implement documentation best practices to support accurate, compliant HCC coding throughout the year. 

Note: Examples listed are limited to risk-adjustable conditions under CMS-HCC (V28) and/or HHS-HCC risk adjustment models. Always code active conditions supported by MEAT (Monitored, Evaluated, Assessed, Treated) and avoid coding history-only diagnoses as active. 

Session 4

Cancer Coding: Risk Adjustment and CMS Coding Guidelines

Examine how malignant neoplasms – including metastatic disease – and hematologic malignancies map to HCCs and impact risk scores. We’ll address documentation to distinguish active disease, history of cancer, and treatment status (e.g., stem cell transplant, colostomy status). 

Date & Time: April 21, 2026 | 12–1 PM

Location: Virtual Webinar 

Registration: Session 4_Cancer Coding: Risk Adjustment and CMS Coding Guidelines

Learning Objectives:

• Differentiate active cancer, history of cancer, and metastatic disease for accurate HCC capture. 
• Apply ICD-10 and CMS guidance to document and code malignancies and relevant statuses (e.g., transplant, ostomies) that risk adjust. 
• Implement best practices that ensure compliance and accurate risk scoring for oncology-related HCCs. 

Note: Examples listed are limited to risk-adjustable conditions under CMS-HCC (V28) and/or HHS-HCC risk adjustment models. Always code active conditions supported by MEAT (Monitored, Evaluated, Assessed, Treated) and avoid coding history-only diagnoses as active. 

Session 5

Behavioral Health Coding: Best Practices for Risk Adjustment and Compliance

Focus on behavioral health diagnoses that risk adjust—such as schizophrenia, psychosis, bipolar disorders (without psychosis), major depression (moderate/severe), personality disorders, and specified substance use disorders (moderate/severe or with complications)—and the documentation required to support them. 

Date & Time: May 19, 2026 | 12–1 PM

Location: Virtual Webinar 

Registration: Session 5_Behavioral Health Coding: Best Practices for Risk Adjustment and Compliance

Learning Objectives:

• Identify behavioral health conditions that risk adjust and their HCC categories. 
• Apply ICD-10 coding rules and documentation requirements (severity, episode, complications) for behavioral health HCCs. 
• Implement practices that improve compliance and accuracy for behavioral health risk adjustment. 

Note: Examples listed are limited to risk-adjustable conditions under CMS-HCC (V28) and/or HHS-HCC risk adjustment models. Always code active conditions supported by MEAT (Monitored, Evaluated, Assessed, Treated) and avoid coding history-only diagnoses as active. 

Session 6

Endocrine Disorders Coding: Best Practices for Risk Adjustment and Compliance

Cover endocrine and metabolic HCCs, such as diabetes (acute/chronic complications; glycemic/no complications), morbid obesity, Addison’s/Cushing’s disease, amyloidosis/porphyria, and specified lysosomal storage disorders. Non-risk-adjustable endocrine conditions are excluded. 

Date & Time: June 16, 2026 | 12–1 PM

Location: Virtual Webinar 

Registration: Session 6_Endocrine Disorders Coding: Best Practices for Risk Adjustment and Compliance

Learning Objectives:

• Understand endocrine/metabolic diagnoses that risk adjust and their HCC groupings. 
• Apply ICD-10 guidelines to accurately capture diabetes types and complications, morbid obesity, and specified endocrine/metabolic disorders. 
• Ensure documentation supports active status and management per MEAT criteria. 

Note: Examples listed are limited to risk-adjustable conditions under CMS-HCC (V28) and/or HHS-HCC risk adjustment models. Always code active conditions supported by MEAT (Monitored, Evaluated, Assessed, Treated) and avoid coding history-only diagnoses as active. 

Session 7

Cardiovascular Coding: Acute MI, Stroke, PE, and DVT

Deep dive into cardiovascular HCCs: acute myocardial infarction, unstable angina/other acute ischemic heart disease, specified arrhythmias, intracranial hemorrhage, ischemic/unspecified stroke, hemiplegia/hemiparesis, and venous thromboembolism (PE/DVT). Includes guidance for coding active versus historical conditions and documentation required to support each scenario. 

Date & Time: July 21, 2026 | 12–1 PM

Location: Virtual Webinar 

Registration: Session 7_Cardiovascular Coding: Acute MI, Stroke, PE, and DVT

Learning Objectives:

• Differentiate active vs. historical cardiovascular conditions and code accordingly. 
• Apply ICD-10 rules for MI, stroke (including residual deficits), arrhythmias, and VTE that risk adjust. 
• Identify supporting documentation requirements (status, specificity, linkage, treatment/management). 

Note: Examples listed are limited to risk-adjustable conditions under CMS-HCC (V28) and/or HHS-HCC risk adjustment models. Always code active conditions supported by MEAT (Monitored, Evaluated, Assessed, Treated) and avoid coding history-only diagnoses as active. 

Session 8 

Pediatric Coding: Best Practices for Risk Adjustment and Documentation

Address pediatric risk-adjustable conditions under HHS-HCC (ACA) and overlapping CMS-HCC categories, focusing on diagnoses such as cystic fibrosis, seizure disorders/epilepsy, sickle cell disease, Type 1 diabetes with complications, and congenital or chronic conditions that are risk adjustable. Includes documentation for active vs. historical conditions. 

Date & Time: August 18, 2026 | 12–1 PM

Location: Virtual Webinar 

Registration: Session 8_Pediatric Coding: Best Practices for Risk Adjustment and Documentation

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize pediatric conditions that risk adjust within ACA/HHS-HCC (and overlap with CMS-HCC where applicable). 
• Differentiate active vs. history-only diagnoses and capture residual effects (e.g., post-stroke sequelae) when present. 
• Apply documentation standards (MEAT, specificity, staging/severity) to support compliant pediatric HCC coding. 

Note: Examples listed are limited to risk-adjustable conditions under CMS-HCC (V28) and/or HHS-HCC risk adjustment models. Always code active conditions supported by MEAT (Monitored, Evaluated, Assessed, Treated) and avoid coding history-only diagnoses as active. 

Session 9

Neurological Conditions Coding: Best Practices for Risk Adjustment and Documentation

Review neurological HCCs such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, seizure disorders/convulsions, intracranial hemorrhage, ischemic/unspecified stroke, and paralysis syndromes. Emphasize documentation of active disease, residual deficits/sequelae, and appropriate coding for history-only diagnoses. 

Date & Time: September 15, 2026 | 12–1 PM

Location: Virtual Webinar 

Registration: Session 9_Neurological Conditions Coding: Best Practices for Risk Adjustment and Documentation

Learning Objectives:

• Identify neurological conditions that risk adjust and their HCC categories. 
• Apply ICD-10 guidelines for active conditions and sequelae (e.g., hemiparesis following CVA). 
• Ensure documentation meets MEAT and specificity requirements to support HCC capture. 

Note: Examples listed are limited to risk-adjustable conditions under CMS-HCC (V28) and/or HHS-HCC risk adjustment models. Always code active conditions supported by MEAT (Monitored, Evaluated, Assessed, Treated) and avoid coding history-only diagnoses as active. 

Session 10

Asthma/Pulmonary Coding: Best Practices for Risk Adjustment and Documentation

Focus on pulmonary HCCs including severe persistent asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis/systemic sclerosis lung involvement, aspiration/specified bacterial pneumonias, empyema, and respiratory failure/shock interactions. Coverage includes documenting exacerbation vs. stable status and coding active vs. historical conditions. 

Date & Time: October 20, 2026 | 12–1 PM

Location: Virtual Webinar 

Registration: Session 10_Asthma/Pulmonary Coding: Best Practices for Risk Adjustment and Documentation

Learning Objectives:

• Differentiate pulmonary diagnoses that risk adjust and apply appropriate ICD-10 coding (e.g., severe persistent asthma, COPD). 
• Capture status/exacerbation and complications with adequate documentation to support HCCs. 
• Implement best practices that improve compliance, accuracy, and risk adjustment outcomes. 

Note: Examples listed are limited to risk-adjustable conditions under CMS-HCC (V28) and/or HHS-HCC risk adjustment models. Always code active conditions supported by MEAT (Monitored, Evaluated, Assessed, Treated) and avoid coding history-only diagnoses as active. 

Session 11 

Gastrointestinal (GI) and Genitourinary (GU) Coding: Best Practices for Risk Adjustment and Documentation

Highlight GI/GU HCCs: chronic liver failure/end-stage liver disease, cirrhosis/chronic hepatitis, chronic pancreatitis, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, intestinal obstruction/perforation, and chronic kidney disease (stages 3–5/ESRD). Emphasize staging/severity, complications/manifestations, and active status documentation. 

Date & Time: November 17, 2026 | 12–1 PM

Location: Virtual Webinar 

Registration: Session 11_Gastrointestinal (GI) and Genitourinary (GU) Coding: Best Practices for Risk Adjustment and Documentation

Learning Objectives:

• Identify GI/GU diagnoses that risk adjust (e.g., IBD, cirrhosis, CKD stages 3–5/ESRD). 
• Apply ICD-10 rules for staging/severity and capture related complications/manifestations that risk adjust. 
• Ensure documentation supports active management (MEAT) and avoids coding non-risk-adjustable conditions. 

Note: Examples listed are limited to risk-adjustable conditions under CMS-HCC (V28) and/or HHS-HCC risk adjustment models. Always code active conditions supported by MEAT (Monitored, Evaluated, Assessed, Treated) and avoid coding history-only diagnoses as active.