ZHealth Management

Dr. David Zielske, MD, CIRCC, CPC-H, CCC, CCS, RCC

Dr. David Zielske (Dr. Z) is the founder and President of ZHealth, LLC. As the primary author and editor of each ZHealth publication, Dr. Z works closely with his knowledgeable staff, which is comprised of vascular surgeon David Dunn, MD, FACS, CIRCC, CPC-H, CCC, CCS, RCC; interventional cardiologist Don Crumbo, MD, FACC, CPC-H; and radiology coding professional Ruth Broek, MBA, RT(R), CIRCC, CHC, CCS. Together they combine for more than fifty years of medical coding experience.

Both Dr. Z and Dr. Dunn have become much sought after speakers in their areas of coding expertise. See their speaking engagements.

Dr. Z first got involved in CPT coding of interventional radiology procedures in 1992 after he convinced his radiology group that the complexity of their interventional procedures coupled with the complexity of CPT component coding was resulting in significant miscoding and lost reimbursement. From that point on, Dr. Z reviewed every case within his group for appropriate coding, and through the end of 2008, he had personally audited and coded over 250,000 interventional radiology, cardiovascular, and electrophysiology cases.

Although HCPCS/CPT coding by hospitals for interventional radiology and diagnostic angiography was mandated in 1988, its impact was really felt in 2000 when the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) was implemented, changing the reimbursement schema for hospitals to payment based on Ambulatory Payment Categories (APCs). At that point, the amount of confusion about Medicare compliance and reimbursement began to escalate. Dr. Z continued his radiology practice, founded ZHealth, and partnered with Ingram & Associates to head up Ingram's initiative into CVIR (Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology) Coding & Compliance Services (a joint venture with ZHealth). Dr. Z is responsible for the overall direction of Ingram & Associates' Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology (CVIR) Coding Services Group.

Dr. Z had practiced as an interventional radiologist for fifteen years and has sixteen years experience as a coding reviewer and coding expert. He is Board Certified in Radiology with the Certification of Added Qualification (CAQ) in Interventional Radiology (ABR) (1995, 2005). Dr. Z. has his CIRCC, CPC-H, CCC, CCS, and RCC certifications, and was on the AAPC National Advisory Board from 2005 - 2009.

A member of the Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR), American Medical Association (AMA), American College of Radiology (ACR), Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), Radiology Business Managers Association (RBMA), and the AAPC, Dr. Z has functioned as an independent interventional radiology and cardiovascular coding consultant to a variety of physician groups and hospital providers across the country and has served as an instructor at over 100 CME programs.

A graduate of Oregon State University and Oregon State Sciences University School of Medicine, Dr. Z completed his internship, radiology residency, and interventional radiology fellowship at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, GA.