Patient data interoperability sounds like industry jargon, but it’s a vital piece of providing timely and accurate patient care. Since 1996, when the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) became law, there have been good advances in patient data interoperability, but as a whole, the industry has not embraced them.
Sharing data through faxing and CDs is still very common. As recently as 2023, between 30 and 47 percent of hospitals across all sizes reported still
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Putting 2024’s Split/Shared Services Billing Regulations into Practice
Medicare providers in hospitals and skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) are adjusting to new split/shared services documentation and billing regulations rolled out by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) as part of the 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) final rule. The most notable change within the new regulations, which took effect on Jan. 1, 2024, is the finalization of CMS’s definition of the “substantive portion” of a split/shared evaluation and management (E/M)
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Maximizing Provider Directory Data to Improve Care Access and Quality
In 2022, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed the creation of a centralized physician directory. The proposal sought to address three pressing challenges facing both healthcare providers and patients within the United States healthcare system:
Fix the pervasive issue of inaccuracies and inconsistencies in provider directories. Studies have consistently revealed high error rates in directory listings, with inaccuracies ranging from incorrect contact information to
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The AI Blueprint: An Implementation Guide for Revenue Cycle Leaders
Applying artificial intelligence (AI) solutions in hospitals and health systems can be overwhelming for leaders due to AI’s complexity (it’s not one technology, but several) and rapid proliferation. This is in addition to the usual technology hurdles within healthcare that include data quality and accessibility, interoperability, and clinical validation and adoption. Finally, with any new solution, there’s the concern of return on investment: Will implementing the latest solutions pay off for my
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JAPAC Drug Development: Navigating Safety & Regulatory Requirements
The biopharmaceutical market within the Japan and Asia-Pacific (JAPAC) region has grown consistently since 2010, specifically for emerging biopharmas (EBPs). In fact, in 2018, 80% of all biopharma pipeline projects in JAPAC were EBPs, accounting for 75% of the total clinical trial volume in the region. This growth benefits contract research organizations, pharma organizations and patients alike, but several factors must be considered for drug development safety and regulatory operations in JAPAC
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Digital Health Apps Graveyard: Why 53% Fail and How to Succeed
The digital market is flooded with health apps. Over 90,000 offers were introduced to patients and healthcare providers alike in 2020 alone, with this number continuing to rise in response to mounting healthcare system pressures.
It therefore comes as little surprise to learn that 53% of all digital health apps are uninstalled within 30 days of download. People are more than happy to trial them but fail to achieve continued adherence, oftentimes because the app hasn’t provided them with
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Establishing Effective Payer Benefits Strategies for Health Equity
Health equity helps ensure all individuals have equal access to healthcare. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, health equity means everyone has a fair and just opportunity to attain their highest level of health.
To address the benefit needs of underrepresented population groups, payers can develop “more equitable approaches to healthcare benefits design that recognize and meaningfully address access and affordability concerns,” according to a
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Combatting Physical Therapy Burnout: Can Digital Health Help?
The physical therapy profession, encompassing both Physical Therapists (PTs) and Physical Therapist Assistants (PTAs), is navigating through a period of unprecedented challenge. Recent data highlights concerning trends - not only did the sector see the departure of 15,000 PTs, or 11% of the existing workforce, between 2021 and 2022, but there has also been a consistent 5% annual decrease in applicants to PT programs over the last three to four years. These developments signal an urgent need for
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The Rise of Culturally Competent Care: Health Equity & Technology
The United States Census Bureau released its most recent statistical findings in 2020, revealing a notable increase in the diversity of the nation’s population. In 2010, the likelihood of randomly selecting two ethnically or racially diverse individuals was 54.9%. By 2020, this had risen to 61.1%. Given these figures, it is unsurprising that healthcare providers are actively seeking solutions, particularly through existing and emerging technologies, to overcome their most significant cultural
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How Beautiful Questions and HRO Principles Enhance Patient Safety
Healthcare often seems like a volume game. How many patients can a doctor see? How long can be spent with each one? How many operations can be performed, or how quickly can beds be turned? There are very slim margins — and most decisions are data-driven. But what if there’s more to it?
If we ask the right questions that challenge current norms and combine those answers with what we learn from analytics, we can identify root causes, address practices, and adjust routines — even in small ways.
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