The Coalition for ICD-10, a broad-based healthcare industry advocacy group united in support of the ICD-10 coding standard will host a congressional briefing on ICD-10 readiness, featuring the perspectives of leading physicians and the release of a new study of nearly 300 small physician practices on the cost of ICD-10 conversion.
Speakers represent diverse organizations including a small rural physician practice based in Fredericktown, Missouri; Nemours Children’s Health System, a large
Read More
Healthcare Policy Regulation & Reform | News, Analysis, Insights - HIT Consultant
Maimonides Eyes Potential Partnershp with North Shore-LIJ
Maimonides Medical Center, an independent hospital known for their nationally recognized heart and vascular center based in Brooklyn, NY is eyeing a potential partnership with North Shore-LIJ Health Systems, Daily News reports.
The provider announced on Tuesday it has signed a memorandum of understanding to enter into exclusive partnership negotiations with North Shore-LIJ Health Systems, one of the nation’s largest healthcare networks with 19 hospitals in New York City, Long Island,
Read More
Judge Blocks Partners HealthCare Expansion to Prevent Market Dominance
On Thursday, Suffolk Superior Court Judge Janet L. Sanders rejected an agreement for Partners HealthCare to acquire South Shore Hospital in Weymouth and two Hallmark Health System hospitals, in Medford and Melrose, Boston Globe reports. Outlined in a 48-page decision, Sanders found the settlement was to complex for the court to properly enforce and did not provide sufficient protections to keep Partners’ market power in check. According to Sander, the acquisition would “cement Partners’
Read More
5 Key Steps to Reduce Outpatient Coding Denials
Assessing current outpatient coding procedures and creating a plan that aligns HIM, clinical documentation improvement, and revenue cycle will help reduce claim denials and improve the overall financial health of your organization.
Time is money. It’s a well-known phrase that applies to every industry whether you are repairing a broken pipe or scrolling through endless pages of physician dictation to find the specific detail needed for a code. Efficiency is a key component to keeping
Read More
Cigna Launches Collaborative Care Initiative with Duke Connected Care
Cigna has launched a collaborative care initiative in the Greater Research Triangle with Duke Connected Care, a clinically integrated network consisting of physicians from Duke Medicine and select local practices. The goal of the new initiative is to improve access to health care, enhance care coordination, and achieve the goal of improved health, affordability and customer experience. This program is now one of 10 Cigna collaborative care initiatives in the Carolinas.
“A customer-centered
Read More
PwC Report: Regulatory Innovation Should Adapt to New Health Economy
Forty-three percent of pharma and life sciences execs now support FDA evaluating drugs based on both clinical and economic effectiveness
Consumers and drug and device manufacturers are changing practices and shifting attitudes toward the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Increased pressures for speedy access to breakthrough drugs and medical devices, and a focus on value in addition to medical benefit, are driving these changes. Those changes will likely put pressure on the FDA to consider
Read More
Accenture: Top 5 Healthcare Investment Priorities for States
The State Health Innovation Plans developed by 25 states –with federal government support – reveal a variety of emerging approaches to healthcare reform that will likely take root and grow more broadly around the United States, according to a new report by Accenture. Accenture analysis of State Health Innovation Plans
(SHIPs) reveals that truly person-centered health and human services is not an empty vision.
Since the inception of the State Innovation Models initiative, CMS has invested
Read More
Nemours Children’s Health System Joins The Coalition for ICD-10
The Coalition for ICD-10, a broad-based healthcare industry advocacy group united in support of the ICD-10 coding standard, today announced the addition of Nemours Children’s Health System to its membership roster. Nemours, an internationally recognized children's health system, is committed to improving the health of children through family-centered care in children’s hospitals and clinics in Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Florida, as well as world-changing research, education and
Read More
ICD-10: Navigating the Road Ahead
In this Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) video, Ricardo Martinez, MD, FACEP, a practicing physician offers advice for small practices preparing for ICD-10. In the video, Dr. Martinez explains how to transition to ICD-10 in five steps:
1. Make a Plan—Look at the codes you use today and prepare your staff
2. Train Your Staff—Identify resources to help your staff get ready for the transition
3. Update Your Processes—Review your policies, procedures, forms, and templates
4.
Read More
CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner To Step Down
CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner announced that she is stepping down from her post in February, agency officials confirmed Friday. Her replacement, former UnitedHealth Group executive Andy Slavitt will now serve as principal deputy administrator. Tavenner, 63, spent more than three years with CMS and faced critical criticism for the disastrous roll-out of HealthCare.gov in fall 2013 and Medicare operations. Tavenner's email to staff did not offer any explanation for her
Read More
