The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced that it is making up to $275 million available to states to improve the quality and affordability of their healthcare systems. The State Innovation Models Initiative, made possible through the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), encourages states through financial and technical support to come up with innovative health programs and solutions for beneficiaries of Medicare,
By Lawrence G | July 23, 2012 | Healthcare Laws and Regulations, Medical Billing Software |
The American Medical Association (AMA) announced yesterday that it has formed an alliance with over 60 organizations to help physicians better utilize payer-provided data reports. The AMA created the Guidelines for Reporting Physician Data as part of the effort, with input from health insurers, medical societies, health standards organizations, and employer and consumer coalitions.
By Lawrence G | July 17, 2012 | Healthcare IT, Medical Billing Software |
The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) has made an online tool available that healthcare providers can use to assess the financial risks involved in the transition to ICD-10. The HIMSS ICD-10 PlayBook Financial Risk Calculator was developed by the HIMSS ICD-10 Task Force and healthcare compliance technology provider Jvion.
By Lawrence G | July 6, 2012 | Healthcare Laws and Regulations, Medical Billing Software |
Houston-based University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center announced last week that a laptop computer containing patient data was stolen from a physician’s home in April. The unencrypted computer held information, including names, medical records numbers, treatment and research information, and even some Social Security Numbers, from almost 30,000 patients.
M.D.
By Lawrence G | July 5, 2012 | Electronic Medical Records News, Healthcare Laws and Regulations, Medical Billing Software |
Senator Tom Coburn, M.D. (R-OK) issued a white paper at the end of May proposing an indefinite delay for the transition to ICD-10. The contentious switch to the new code structure is already facing a proposed delayed compliance date of October 1, 2014, with healthcare industry heavyweights making their views known during the now-closed comment period.
By Lawrence G | June 13, 2012 | Healthcare Laws and Regulations, Medical Billing Software |
A study published by PriceWaterhouseCoopers finds greater adoption of telehealth by developing countries, driven by empowered patients. However, a reluctance to adapt on the part of physicians, along with regulatory obstacles, are slowing acceptance of mHealth in developed nations like the United States.
The 48-page report was prepared from the results of two surveys conducted by the Economist Intelligence Unit and covering ten countries.
By Lawrence G | June 12, 2012 | Healthcare IT, Medical Billing Software |
Two Texas Congressmen have introduced a bill that would promote greater transparency regarding healthcare service costs. The Health Care Price Transparency Promotion Act of 2012 would require states to enact into law mandates that hospitals publicly disclose the costs of inpatient and outpatient services.
Proposed by Representatives Michael Burgess, MD (R-TX) and Gene Green (D-TX),
By Lawrence G | May 24, 2012 | Healthcare Laws and Regulations, Medical Billing Software |
The non-partisan and non-profit Health Care Cost Institute (HCCI) is amassing billions of medical claims into a database to facilitate research into healthcare costs. Aetna, Humana, and UnitedHealthcare have all contributed claims data to the project, and it is expected that Kaiser Permanente will deliver data as well.
Analyses of medical costs previously relied upon much smaller-scale data repositories.
By Lawrence G | May 22, 2012 | Medical Billing Software |
A report by the Department of Homeland Security states that the healthcare industry’s increasing adoption of mobile technology can pose risks to health data. The report, titled “Attack Surface: Healthcare and Public Health Sector” and issued by the department’s National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center, notes that medical IT networks are often remotely accessible through wireless medical devices and mobile devices such as smartphones and tablet computers.
By Lawrence G | May 18, 2012 | Electronic Medical Records News, Healthcare IT, Medical Billing Software |
The American Medical Association has sent a letter to acting Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) administrator Marilyn B. Tavenner requesting a further extension to the compliance deadline for ICD-10. This stands in stark contrast with recent comments by the College of Healthcare Information Management (CHIME) and the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) recommending against additional delays to the deadline.
By Lawrence G | May 15, 2012 | Healthcare IT, Healthcare Laws and Regulations, Medical Billing Software |
