Pediatric Coding Alert

On Jan. 28, Charles M. Vanchiere, MD, FAAP, a founding member of the Editorial Advisory Board of this newsletter and a vital coding expert for pediatricians, died in a hospital in Lake Charles, La., where he was CEO of the Childrens Clinic of Southwest Louisiana. He is survived by his wife, four sons, a daughter, a sister, his mother and nine grandchildren. He was 60 years old.

Vanchiere, who was known as Buzzy, was chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics committee on coding and reimbursement, past president of the Louisiana chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, president of the Pediatric Society of Southwest Louisiana and president of the LSU Pediatric Alumni Association. He was chairman of the pediatric advisory committee to the Louisiana State Medicaid program and on the physician executive committee of Blue Cross/Blue Shield. He held many committee assignments at four hospitals in the Lake Charles area.

In a world in which pediatricians are best known for helping children, Vanchiere helped not only children, but pediatricians as well. And coding was his special passion. I think he had a true love for this area, says Richard H. Tuck, MD, FAAP, founding chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) committee on coding and reimbursement. He was a pediatrician who worked for pediatricians, for their financial health, he says. And thats unusual. Usually, pediatricians are thought of in terms of helping children. But helping pediatricians be financially healthy is helping children.

Not only was he a great friend, but he was an expert pediatrician, says A.D. Jacobson, MD, FAAP, who worked closely with Vanchiere. Because he was so good at looking at the details of pediatric practice, he was able to help thousands of pediatricians, he says. We are in the process now at the AAP of setting up a special award in his name, in recognition of the work hes done for pediatricians.

For two-and-a-half years Vanchiere has helped this newsletter and Pediatric Practice Management with his insightful and clear directives on proper coding and billing practices. Despite being very busy, he always had time to explain a complex matter patiently. We will miss him.