Treatment plans are an often-overlooked element of quality mental health treatment. Some providers see them as inefficient busywork, a necessary evil to meet compliance standards. However, treatment plans in counseling have value far beyond compliance. They can actually enhance patient care and benefit a practice’s efficiency.
Understanding Treatment Plans in Counseling
A treatment plan is a document that records a patient’s current mental health status and lays out goals for the outcome
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Navigating the Murky Waters of Healthcare Billing
The traditional fee-for-service healthcare model, which reimburses providers based solely on the quantity of services delivered, is undergoing a much-needed transformation. The choice now is of value-based care initiatives, that are more focused on improved patient outcomes and preventive care, rather than simply paying for services rendered.
At the core of this change is a fundamental realignment of the mission, processes, metrics, and cultural values for healthcare providers and clients,
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The MedTech Renaissance Is Here. How Can Organizations Meet The Moment?
The healthcare industry rose to the occasion at the outset of global healthcare challenges beginning in 2020. Around the world, hospitals, outpatient facilities, MedTech organizations, and research firms embraced digital tools and communication out of necessity.
But once the worst was over, it became clear that this new, digital-first model of healthcare was here to stay. Both patients and providers enjoyed the convenience of virtual appointments for routine care. Digital tools unlocked
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AI’s Advantages to Overcoming Revenue Cycle Management Challenges for Providers
Healthcare providers face staffing shortages, increasing regulatory requirements, and pressure to reduce costs while delivering effective care. Compounding provider problems are payor policy, behavior changes and ongoing fee schedule cuts that compress revenue, as well as mounting denials and additional documentation requests from payors.
Coding, claim processing, and the collective revenue cycle management (RCM) tasks required to ensure appropriate reimbursement for billable service are all
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The Role of Virtual Care in Reducing Physician Burnout: Strategies for Success
The burnout rate among physicians and medical teams is soaring, but it's possible to deflate many healthcare stressors by embracing telehealth solutions.
Beating back burnout has become one of the hottest topics in medicine. Just how bad is burnout in healthcare settings? A recently released survey from the American Medical Association (AMA) revealed that nearly two-thirds (62%) of emergency medicine doctors said they were experiencing burnout. However, the problem didn't end
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5 Ways AI Streamlines Prior Authorization Process for Providers & Patients
The prior authorization process, integral for confirming the necessity and insurance coverage of medical treatments, has historically been an obstacle in healthcare. In its current state, it has the potential to cause considerable delays and financial burdens for patients and healthcare providers - and the inefficiencies of this process are evident, as approximately 90% of providers report care delays due to this process (AMA), with a significant percentage indicating that some delays even lead
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Penalizing Hospitals Won’t Stop Ransomware: Why Collaboration, Not Fines, is Key to Healthcare Cybersecurity
The recent $50 million initiative announced by the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) can’t hurt in the ongoing battle against ransomware in the healthcare sector.
This investment is aimed at strengthening the cybersecurity defenses of hospitals nationwide, protecting sensitive patient data, and enhancing the resilience of healthcare systems against cyber threats. However, I must emphasize that while $50 million is a step in the right direction, it is merely a drop in
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The CMS Final Rule’s Impact on Healthcare Communication
As healthcare continues its digital transformation, ensuring clear, accessible communication with patients remains crucial. This is especially important for a diverse population with varying language needs and accessibility requirements. The recent Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Final Rule reflects this commitment to inclusivity by establishing stricter guidelines for Medicare Advantage and Part D payers regarding patient communication accessibility and language
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The Importance of Between-Visits Appointments and Mental Health
The causes and effects of America’s mental health crisis are well-documented. Easing access to necessary clinical help has not grown in tandem.
A study by the National Council for Mental Well-Being reveals that mental health services in the U.S. are insufficient despite more than half of Americans (56 percent) seeking help, with limited options and long waits becoming the norm. In some ways, meeting patients where they are is optimized, thanks to telehealth tools such as Zoom
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Upgrade Hospital Cybersecurity with Passwordless, Phishing-Resistant MFA
In February 2024, the Change Healthcare ransomware attack shut down healthcare billing and authorization systems for providers across the nation, substantially impacting business systems, finances and patient care. United HealthGroup, the parent company of Change Healthcare, estimates that losses so far have topped $872 million, including a $22 million ransom payment and other direct and indirect costs related to the event. The attack also exposed some 124 million patient records, spurring a
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