Many times we hear physicians asking if they should outsource their medical billing. They hear someone in the doctor’s lounge talk about the 4% of collections an outside billing company…
Does your Healthcare Billing Consultant Implement, or Just Talk?
As you think about your medical billing department, keep in mind a few core principles to manage and organize for the outcome to be “best practices“. Better management of your medical…
Does Your Healthcare Billing Consultant Recommend these Best Practices?
Here are ten simple things to check on that will help you compare your physician billing procedures to “benchmarks: Does your staff track your charge tickets to make sure they…
The CMS IPPS Dashboard – Will a tool for EHR Meaningful Use be next?
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has just released a beta version of a dashboard that contains statistical views of data in the IPPS, the Inpatient Prospective Payment…
How do Medical Group Practices Prepare for Health Insurance Reform?
Strategies that medical practices should consider! Now that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act has become a reality, let’s NOT talk about it! Let’s NOT give you another outline…
Last time Medicare was billed was prior to the new EHR!
They told me, more than that, they showed me, because it was hard to believe. The last time this physician office was able to bill Medicare was six weeks ago….
Not All Healthcare Billing Consultants are Created Equal!
As you consider your billing department, do you think it’s operating at peak efficiency? Is it bringing in as much cash as you think it should? There are several signs…
Compliance Policies and Procedures – Are yours really in effect, or is it just on paper?
Many healthcare organizations have created Compliance Plans or Programs, but putting the initial documentation of your plan in place is the easy part. The hard part is implementing your compliance policies…
What Questions Should I Ask an EHR Vendor?
So you’ve managed to identify several EHR vendors who meet your initial criteria for the right type of company and system capabilities, but that still leaves you with five, ten, or…
EHR Software – Ready, Fire, Aim or Due Diligence?
So you have heard about EHRs and the incentives in the HITECH Act. Maybe you are being bombarded with unsolicited calls or emails offering an EHR system for your practice…
Medicare Administrative Contractors – They do audits, too!
We hear a great deal about RAC audits, Medicaid Integrity Program audits, HEAT task force efforts, and other initiatives to reduce waste, fraud and abuse, but Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) do audits, too….
EHR Meaningful Use – the interim final rules are out!
CMS, which is charged with issuing regulations to implement portions of the HITECH Act, issued an Interim Final Rule describing the criteria for “EHR meaningful use” of certified EMR/EHR technology. …
Red Flags Rule – Delayed Again! But is your practice ready?
The effective date of the FTC’s Red Flag Rules has been extended several times, and at the last moment, was extended again! The new effective date is June 1, 2010. Will…
Be Careful About EHR/PM Vendor Contracts & Terms
Caveat Emptor! These two words speak volumes for a Medical Practice or Group when considering purchasing a PM / EMR / EHR System. The buyer must be aware of the…
EHR Installation – Surprise Extra Costs
EHR Options & Extra Cost Items EHR vendors will almost always have options and extra costs associated with their system from a performance or enhancement position. Some examples include patient…
Passwords – an integral part of HIPAA and Compliance
I was reading an article the other day on passwords. The author was doing his best to articulate a stern admonition on the potential exposure when one does not change…
The HITECH Act’s Other Problem – HIPAA Compliance
I’m sure that I’m not the only one out there who’s at times overwhelmed by the amount of chatter and attention that the HITECH Act is getting, most of which…
Compliance, the “New Alphabet Soup” of Auditing Agencies
Are you into the “healthcare compliance & HIPAA” world? Are you dealing with physicians and “chart audits”? There are now so many agencies out there, designed to review, audit, evaluate,…
EHR – Certification Criteria. What is Known?
The investment in an EHR system can be significant. Not just in terms of capital outlay, but also in workflow reorganization and training. So it’s important that you take certain…
EHR – Meaningful Use Criteria. Definition Anyone?
Hospitals and “eligible professionals” are entitled to incentive payments for the demonstrated “meaningful use” of “certified” EMR/EHR technology. The definition of meaningful use in the statute is limited: It must…