September 8th, 2010
The ONC begins to approve technology review bodies
Christopher Myers
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) approved the initial two electronic health record (EHR) technology certification bodies, Monday, August 30. The Certification Commission for Health Information Technology (CCHIT), Chicago, Ill., and the Drummond Group Inc. (DGI), Austin, Texas, are the first review bodies approved to determine if EHR technologies meet meaningful use requirements. More ONC-Authorized Testing and Certification Bodies (ONC-ATCBs) are being considered for approval in the upcoming months. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: EHR, HHS, Meaningful Use
Posted in Healthcare Reform Updates, Uncategorized | No Comments »
September 8th, 2010
Maintaining patient privacy while achieving meaningful use
Christopher Myers
In order for health information technology (HIT) to be successfully implemented it must fundamentally be secure. If patients and physicians are not confident that their privacy will be ensured, they will be reluctant to adopt these measures, at best.
To address this issue, the HIT Policy Committee formed a “Tiger Team.” In a letter sent to the committee, Tiger outlined a series of suggestions and measures to ensure the secure electronic transfer of private and sensitive medical records. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: EHR, HHS
Posted in Healthcare Reform Updates, Uncategorized | No Comments »
September 1st, 2010
CMS finalizes new prospective payment system
Christopher Myers
The final rule on payments for dialysis services to patients with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) was released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Additionally, a rule establishing a new quality incentive program (QIP) was proposed. These measures were mandated by the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers act of 2008 (MIPPA). Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: CMS, ESRD, medical coding, Medicare patients, reimbursement
Posted in Medicare | 1 Comment »
September 1st, 2010
HEAT to crack down on healthcare defrauders
In 2010, the Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team (HEAT) continues to keep providers who submit fraudulent claims out of practice. In July 2010, an Obstetrician/Gynecologist in Martinsburg, West Virginia was indicted on defrauding Medicare, Medicaid, Public Employees Insurance Agency (PEIA) and Unicare of approximately $121,700 in false claims, between June 2004 and December 2008, according to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. According to the indictment, these claims ranged from misrepresented higher levels of service to services that were not performed at all. Dr. Danine A. Rydland, 54, faces a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000 on each of 38 counts of the indictment, if found guilty.
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Tags: HHS
Posted in Healthcare Reform Updates, Medicare | 4 Comments »
September 1st, 2010
Denied claims due to deleted plans to be automatically processed
Christopher Myers
Physicians, suppliers and beneficiaries will no longer be responsible to contact the Medicare contractor when a Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) Group Health Plan (GHP) claim is denied due to the GHP being deleted or terminated after the claims was filed.
Instead, the Common Working File (CWF) will automatically reprocess applicable claims as of April 1, 2011.
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Tags: CMS, medical coding, reimbursement
Posted in Medicare, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
August 25th, 2010
CMS releases final rule for acute care and long term care
Christopher Myers
Compared to 2010, in 2011 total payments acute care hospitals receive for operating expenses will decline by 0.4 percent. Conversely, payments to long-term care hospitals will increase by approximately .5 percent, according to the final rule released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: CMS, reimbursement
Posted in Medicare | 12 Comments »
August 25th, 2010
NCPDP version D.0 to take over prescription claims
Christopher Myers
The key impetus for adopting the Accredited Standards Committee (ASC) X12 version 5010 and National Council for Prescription Drug Programs (NCPDP) version D.0 systems is to accommodate the new ICD-10 codes in 2013. Additionally, the systems will help to streamline electronic medical transactions, reduce ambiguities and increase efficiency. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: HIPAA, ICD-10, medical coding
Posted in HIPAA, Healthcare Reform Updates, ICD-10 | No Comments »
August 25th, 2010
CMS helps providers prepare for 2012/2013 switches
Christopher Myers
In order to make the transition to the ICD-10 go smoothly in 2013, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services are holding a conference for providers and coders. On Monday, September 13, 2010 CMS will help explain a variety of questions on the transfer via a toll-free teleconference. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: CMS, HIPAA, ICD-10, medical coding
Posted in HIPAA, Healthcare Reform Updates, ICD-10 | No Comments »
August 18th, 2010
Christopher Myers
CMS has reduced the requirements for the Electronic Heath Record (EHR) Incentive Program. The meaningful use requirements have been reduced to 25 measures, with 15 of them being core requirements that must be met. Of the remaining 10, eligible providers will only have to meet 5.
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Tags: CMS, EHR, Meaningful Use
Posted in Healthcare Reform Updates | 11 Comments »
August 18th, 2010
Bill to extend EHR incentives to behavioral health, mental health and substance abuse professionals and facilities
Christopher Myers
In an attempt to promote adoption of Electronic Health Record (EHR) technology, a bill was introduced by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) to extend the scope of current incentives. The bill modifies the current EHR incentive program to include behavioral health, mental health and substance abuse programs.
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Tags: Congress, EHR, Meaningful Use
Posted in Healthcare Reform Updates | No Comments »
