September 13, 2013 Rajiv Leventhal
news
The American College of Physicians (ACP) has become the latest organization to inform federal officials that the healthcare industry is not ready for Stage 2 of meaning use, while Stage 3 proposals seem unrealistic.
September 10, 2013 Rajiv Leventhal
article
While the timing of Stage 2 of meaningful use has been a hot topic lately, there are tools and technology to help providers automate meaningful use so that practices of all sizes are ready for this huge next step. George Washington Medical Faculty Associates has found one solution to help them with the tedious tasks involved with meaningful use reporting.
August 21, 2013 Rajiv Leventhal
article
The industry is a little over a year away from the transition to ICD-10. While that may seem like a long time, Cindy Hegner, certified coder and approved ICD-10 trainer, says that patient care organizations cannot be too prepared. Hegner also offers her thoughts on the industry's readiness, and challenges medical practices will face in the upcoming months.
August 15, 2013 Gabriel Perna
article
Anita Samarth, President of Clinovations, a Washington, D.C.-based consulting firm that works with the government, providers, and other health IT stakeholders, talks about the scope of different policy issues facing industry leaders in 2013 and beyond. This is part 1 of a three-part series.
July 25, 2013 Mark Hagland
news
On July 23, the leaders of the Englewood, Colo.-based Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) sent a letter to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, asking her to reverse a newly announced policy regarding testing for the implementation of the ICD-10 coding system later this year.
July 25, 2013 Rajiv Leventhal
article
With a perfect storm of lower Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements and the specter additional budgetary cuts from Congress, even automated RCM systems are not up to snuff. How are hospitals, medical groups and integrated health systems preparing for new models of care delivery and reimbursement?
July 16, 2013 Rajiv Leventhal
article
As clinical documentation improvement (CDI) has become a strategic imperative at hospitals and health systems, one patient care organization has deployed a unique approach to CDI, using a physician-first technique at the point of care to help providers ensure financial integrity, reduce risk, and improve patient outcomes.
July 16, 2013 Mark Hagland
article
With the October 1 deadline looming for physicians and hospitals to transition from the current ICD-9 medical coding system to the ICD-10 coding system, many patient care organizations still are not fully prepared to make the change. Providers had better move quickly, says industry expert Rita Bowen; the processes needing change are many and complex, and success will require strong HIT/HIM collaboration.
July 9, 2013 Rajiv Leventhal
news
Computer-assisted coding (CAC)—when paired with a credentialed coder—can help with faster coding of inpatient records without any reduction in accuracy, according to a recent study conducted by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) Foundation.
June 26, 2013 Rajiv Leventhal
blog
With all of the knowledge gained at last week’s Healthcare Financial Management Association's (HFMA) annual conference in Orlando, Fla., there was one message conveyed that helped put it all together: finance professionals, particularly CFOs, need to lead the way towards the new healthcare.
June 25, 2013 Jeff Smith, Director of Public Policy at CHIME
article
This past week was all about ICD-10. HHS is resolved to keep the current deadline and the American Medical Association (AMA) is keeping to its “Stop the implementation of ICD-10” mantra. “There are no plans for any more extensions,” ONC chief Farzad Mostashari, M.D. told attendees at the HIMSS ICD-10 Forum.