Announcement of an Emergency Award/Quick Purchase

This emergency/quick purchase was required due to a situation in which immediate action was needed to prevent any disruption in University services.

Due to the Change Healthcare/Optum cyberattack, the Hospital's information systems shut down some of our systems. This included the Computer Assisted Coding (CAC) Optum coding platform that was not available to the coders to complete coding for several days. This system disruption led to the coding backlog. The vendor, AAPC is being utilized for coding and auditing services by our Compliance Department. The vendor has experienced hospital coders that can be assigned to our site relatively quickly. HIM Department has been leveraging coding staffing services from AAPC. Currently we are in the process of changing the Computer Assisted Coding system from Optum 360 to Solventum with an estimated date to go live of June 24th. In addition, the coding staff is undergoing extensive Vizient training as part of the Coding, Clinical Documentation Improvement (CDI) and Quality engagement. We need agency staff to cover coding during our transitional staff training. There is currently no coding agency staffing contract available. We are requesting a new emergency to continue the medical coding services until the competitive solicitation RFP #PPA109 is awarded, fully executed contract, and staff transition is completed.