March 20th is now the deadline date set for 2014 Meaningful Use Attestation. The date was originally set at February 28th, but Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) extended the deadline to allow providers more time to gather and submit their data. During this extension period, providers an also utilize their one “switch” from Medicare to Medicaid or Vice Versa.
March 10, 2015 | By Lawrence G |
Weaknesses in cyber security surely exist and the recent Anthem breach has many believing that this is just the start of an awful trend. As well as the actual medical and miscellaneous personal information, social security numbers and financial information (for payment to providers) are all in one place – providing the winning trifecta for hackers.
February 24, 2015 | By Lawrence G |
Under the 2009 economic stimulus package, medical providers who demonstrate meaningful use of certified Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems can qualify for Medicaid and Medicare incentive payments. The American Medical Association (AMA) is leading a coalition of 35 medical societies and this group recently sent a letter to the National Coordinator for Health IT recommending major changes to the certification program.
February 9, 2015 | By Lawrence G |
Though there have been delays and many continue to lobby for further delays citing that ICD-10 ‘costs too much’, has ‘too many codes’, and has ‘too many other mandates’, there are many that are championing the new code set. One such advocate states that another delay could threaten national security.
Juliet Santos of consultancy Leidos Health recently published an article at ICD-10 Monitor that states,
February 2, 2015 | By Lawrence G |
2015 is here and with the ICD-10 coding standard deadline set for October 2015, organizations and providers continue to ready themselves for the new coding. Here’s what’s happening …
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will be conducting a weeklong ICD-10 end-to end test using approximately 850 volunteer providers.
January 27, 2015 | By Lawrence G |
So far, most all Electronic Health Records, Healthcare IT and Electronic Medical Record software has been focused in one direction – that of the medical provider (physician, physician practice, hospital, etc.). It is expected that there will be a major shift coming soon; a shift that puts more focus on the patient.
January 20, 2015 | By Lawrence G |
A Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) official reported that there will be 257,000 penalties levied for failing to meet Medicare Meaningful Use and notices will begin going out January 1, 2015. The penalty letters will state that there will be a 1% reduction in Medicare payment for not meeting Meaningful Use criteria.
January 6, 2015 | By Lawrence G |
Though groups like the Texas Medical Association and the National Physicians’ Council for Healthcare Policy have been lobbying for a two-year delay for ICD-10 diagnostic and procedure codes implementation, the proposal seems to not be going forward in Congress.
House Rules Committee Chair Pete Sessions (R-Texas) and House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Fred Upton (R-Mich.) stated that the House Energy and Commerce Committee “has been working with CMS to ensure the Oct.
December 30, 2014 | By Lawrence G |
Any provider who received electronic health record (EHR) incentive payments for the Medicare EHR Incentive Program or the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program may be subject to an audit. According to The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) website (cms.gov) Figliozzi and Company will be performing the meaningful use audits and if you are selected for an audit,
December 23, 2014 | By Lawrence G |
ICD-10 is the largest healthcare mandate in history and while many healthcare professionals are concentrating on ObamaCare requirements, just as many and more are focusing on ICD-10 requirements as meeting them is directly connected to their revenue stream. Documentation requirements are high, but the shift can be made easier with proper planning and implementation.
December 18, 2014 | By Lawrence G |
