Nearly 70% of health care providers expect to hire a professional services firm to help them achieve “meaningful use” of electronic health records, according to a new report from research firm KLAS, Healthcare IT News reports.
Under the 2009 federal economic stimulus package, health care providers who demonstrate meaningful use of EHRs will qualify for Medicaid and Medicare incentive payments.
Report Findings
For the report, KLAS researchers interviewed 118 health care providers (Monegain, Healthcare IT News, 5/18). They found that integrated delivery networks had the highest need for external expertise, with 90% reporting plans to collaborate with consulting firms (Guerra, InformationWeek, 5/20).
Trend Toward Specific Tasks
Researchers noted that many health care providers already have achieved some level of health IT adoption and now are seeking to hire smaller groups to complete specific tasks.
Mike Smith — report author and KLAS general manager of financial and services research — said many health care organizations hire consultants to help bolster physician adoption of clinical information systems (InformationWeek, 5/20).
Above article publish on http://www.ehrexperts.us/report-tracks-demand-for-consultants-to-help-with-health-it-adoption/
Monday, May 31, 2010
HHS to study patient perceptions of EHRs
The Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT is seeking patient perceptions of the delivery of healthcare through the use of an EHR.
“Health IT experts agree that HITECH stimulus funds are likely to improve how physicians practice medicine for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries and, ultimately, for advancing patient-centered medical care for all Americans. However, there is an evidence gap about patients’ preferences and perceptions of delivery of health care services by providers who have adopted EHR systems in their practices,” the HHS’ May 14 notice in the Federal Register stated.
According to the notice, the goal of the proposed Patient Perceptions of EHR study is to help policymakers understand how primary care practices’ use of EHRs affects consumers’ satisfaction with:
* Their medical care,
* Communication with their doctor
* Coordination of care.
“The research questions for the proposed study are motivated by a concern that patients may have negative experiences as practices begin to use EHRs,” the agency wrote.
HHS plans to survey 840 patients about their opinion of their medical care when their primary care physicians use EHRs, according to the notice, which can be read here.
Above article publish on http://www.ehrexperts.us/hhs-to-study-patient-perceptions-of-ehrs/
“Health IT experts agree that HITECH stimulus funds are likely to improve how physicians practice medicine for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries and, ultimately, for advancing patient-centered medical care for all Americans. However, there is an evidence gap about patients’ preferences and perceptions of delivery of health care services by providers who have adopted EHR systems in their practices,” the HHS’ May 14 notice in the Federal Register stated.
According to the notice, the goal of the proposed Patient Perceptions of EHR study is to help policymakers understand how primary care practices’ use of EHRs affects consumers’ satisfaction with:
* Their medical care,
* Communication with their doctor
* Coordination of care.
“The research questions for the proposed study are motivated by a concern that patients may have negative experiences as practices begin to use EHRs,” the agency wrote.
HHS plans to survey 840 patients about their opinion of their medical care when their primary care physicians use EHRs, according to the notice, which can be read here.
Above article publish on http://www.ehrexperts.us/hhs-to-study-patient-perceptions-of-ehrs/
The Right Medical Billing Software Can Make All of the Difference
When it comes to the practice of medical billing, precision is absolutely paramount to ensuring that payment from claims submitted to insurance companies, or respective administration entities, is received by the doctor or other licensed health care provider who provided the service. Most medical billing professionals are required to perform a myriad of duties that include managing healthcare billing as well as processing, altering and resubmitting claims while adhering to the most current regulations and policies in the industry. Even the most experienced and well-trained in the field are prone to the possibility of human error, which can end up being extremely costly to the healthcare provider. This is why the use of electronic medical billing has been rapidly gaining in popularity throughout the medical field.
By incorporating the use of software, those who work in medical billing can increase their precision in tracking a range of functions – from keeping tabs on patient demographics, appointments and diagnoses, to gathering and keeping track of billing information and insurance payments, scheduling, and generating reports. In addition to significantly reducing the chance for human error, the use of an electronic medical billing system generally offers substantial savings in time and money, as it makes sure that every patient bill is paid and all accounts received are kept up to date.
The majority of electronic billing systems for the medical industry require that the user sticks with the sections detailed in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which emphasize improved security standards, ANSI billing formats, etc. It has been found that the use of the correct electronic medical billing software within a company assists in and facilitates a smooth work flow. And, since the software gives employees better access to personal details and time schedules, it’s likely that customers and patients will be satisfied as well. Insurers also benefit, since they are able to receive payments at a faster rate – often in less than half the time it used to take.
When looking for electronic medical billing software, be sure to select the system that will work best for your particular organization. And don’t hesitate to ask for assistance from the vendor regarding features and which one will be best suited for the company. Also, you might want to inquire as to whether a sample account could be provided on a trial basis, and they may have a sample CD available for you to take. Once all of the questions have been answered to your satisfaction, you will be able to make an informed decision as to which one to choose.
Above article publish on http://www.mymedicalbillingoutsourcing.com/medical-billing-software-difference/
By incorporating the use of software, those who work in medical billing can increase their precision in tracking a range of functions – from keeping tabs on patient demographics, appointments and diagnoses, to gathering and keeping track of billing information and insurance payments, scheduling, and generating reports. In addition to significantly reducing the chance for human error, the use of an electronic medical billing system generally offers substantial savings in time and money, as it makes sure that every patient bill is paid and all accounts received are kept up to date.
The majority of electronic billing systems for the medical industry require that the user sticks with the sections detailed in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which emphasize improved security standards, ANSI billing formats, etc. It has been found that the use of the correct electronic medical billing software within a company assists in and facilitates a smooth work flow. And, since the software gives employees better access to personal details and time schedules, it’s likely that customers and patients will be satisfied as well. Insurers also benefit, since they are able to receive payments at a faster rate – often in less than half the time it used to take.
When looking for electronic medical billing software, be sure to select the system that will work best for your particular organization. And don’t hesitate to ask for assistance from the vendor regarding features and which one will be best suited for the company. Also, you might want to inquire as to whether a sample account could be provided on a trial basis, and they may have a sample CD available for you to take. Once all of the questions have been answered to your satisfaction, you will be able to make an informed decision as to which one to choose.
Above article publish on http://www.mymedicalbillingoutsourcing.com/medical-billing-software-difference/
Outsource Your Medical Billing with Care
Whenever a health care provider or a hospital plans to have a full fledged medical billing department with billing clerks, it is very essential to think twice and make sure to choose well experienced billing staff. Today fortunately, outsourcing the entire medical billing process is a cheaper option that is available.
Quite often there have been instances when the in-house billing staff does not have the sufficient experience and does not possess the sufficient in-depth knowledge about coding. This will result in loss because claims cannot be made properly and may require rebilling. Moreover, instances of many scandals in this area of health sector have been rampant. Considering the various risks it is a must to outsource the medical billing to a trustworthy and reliable professional billing company.
Before signing a contract for outsourcing of medical billing with a company a proper enquiry about the company and its history is essential. Also checkout the following information from the outsourcing company and see how good they are.
* Do they provide reports?
* What is their collection rate?
* What is their specialty?
* Do they use a HIPAA-compliant format?
* Are they well staffed?
* Do they code also? (not preferred)
* What percentages are accounts receivable?
* Do they follow up on delayed /denied claims?
* Have they had face to face meetings with clients?
Encounter forms are usually completed and sent to the billing company along with the insurance card, registration cards on a weekly or daily basis. Most of the medical billing companies have medical billing software to prepare the bill and then submit it for claims. Bills to Medicare and other bigger insurance companies are generally sent via a clearing house. Many companies use doctors to scan the encounter forms.
How much does medical billing service cost for a physician? Billing companies charge doctors a percentage of what they collect and the rate depends on the doctor’s specialty. Specialists are charged lesser than the primary doctors because specialists mean lesser claim and bigger amount.
Above article publish on http://www.mymedicalbillingoutsourcing.com/outsource-medical-billing-care/
Quite often there have been instances when the in-house billing staff does not have the sufficient experience and does not possess the sufficient in-depth knowledge about coding. This will result in loss because claims cannot be made properly and may require rebilling. Moreover, instances of many scandals in this area of health sector have been rampant. Considering the various risks it is a must to outsource the medical billing to a trustworthy and reliable professional billing company.
Before signing a contract for outsourcing of medical billing with a company a proper enquiry about the company and its history is essential. Also checkout the following information from the outsourcing company and see how good they are.
* Do they provide reports?
* What is their collection rate?
* What is their specialty?
* Do they use a HIPAA-compliant format?
* Are they well staffed?
* Do they code also? (not preferred)
* What percentages are accounts receivable?
* Do they follow up on delayed /denied claims?
* Have they had face to face meetings with clients?
Encounter forms are usually completed and sent to the billing company along with the insurance card, registration cards on a weekly or daily basis. Most of the medical billing companies have medical billing software to prepare the bill and then submit it for claims. Bills to Medicare and other bigger insurance companies are generally sent via a clearing house. Many companies use doctors to scan the encounter forms.
How much does medical billing service cost for a physician? Billing companies charge doctors a percentage of what they collect and the rate depends on the doctor’s specialty. Specialists are charged lesser than the primary doctors because specialists mean lesser claim and bigger amount.
Above article publish on http://www.mymedicalbillingoutsourcing.com/outsource-medical-billing-care/
Thursday, May 27, 2010
FDA oversight may extend throughout health IT
By Pamela Lewis Dolan,
The technology you adopt for your practice, including electronic medical record systems and smartphones, could become subject to Food and Drug Administration scrutiny. Experts are trying to discern what that level of examination might look like, and what specific technology would be affected.
So far, there’s no clear answer.
The FDA might get involved, experts say, because some kinds of health information technology could be considered medical devices — which the FDA regulates.
Sen. Charles Grassley (R, Iowa) started the high-level discussion about the FDA’s role in health IT in the context of meaningful use of EMRs and the push to get physicians to adopt technology. He sent a letter on Feb. 24 to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius asking what her agency intended to do to ensure the safety of EMRs, and the role the FDA should play in monitoring them.
The next day, an FDA director stated flatly: “Under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, HIT software is a medical device.”
Jeffrey Shuren, MD, director of the FDA Center for Devices and Radiological Health, made that statement as he reported that his agency had received 260 reports over the past two years of health IT-related malfunctions causing 44 injuries and six deaths. Dr. Shuren’s statement was made to the Health Information Technology Policy Committee, an advisory panel under the auspices of the HHS Office of the National Coordinator, which oversees health technology.
Steve Nitenson, RN, PhD, an adjunct professor in the information technology management division at Golden Gate University in San Francisco, said the FDA has a history of stepping up scrutiny after problems occur. Many believe that the number of deaths and complications Dr. Shuren detailed in his testimony to the advisory committee was an indication that the FDA now feels it is necessary to exercise its authority.
The discussion of FDA oversight has prompted a debate over what is considered a medical device, and what should and shouldn’t fall under FDA regulation.
Experts generally divide health-related applications into three categories — those that clearly could be considered a medical device, those that clearly are not, and those that could go either way.
Nitenson said the FDA already monitors EMR functionalities that involve contact with patients, such as interpreting lab results, for example. Most experts agree that even smartphone applications that are an extension of those systems fall under the medical device category and are thus open to FDA scrutiny.
But when it comes to other uses of technology, “It’s more like the wild, wild West,” Nitenson said. This is the area that would include a combination of systems that would transmit data from one source to another, and the various devices used to store and transmit the data, including mobile devices such as smartphones.
Michael Zeinfeld, founder and president of Complemedia, a Chicago-based company that builds targeted media channels for branding purposes, said one reason the FDA is taking another look at many of these devices is that their mobile counterparts are making applications easier to adopt, and thus the mobile devices are used more widely.
Kyle Heppenstall is the managing director of CompassX Group, a life sciences management consulting firm in Irvine, Calif., that helps clients get systems validated with various federal agencies. His clients include corporations, health care firms, and biotech and pharmaceutical companies that are building technology systems for the consumer market. He advises them that those systems need to be validated, even when they are mobile extensions of existing systems that already are monitored by the government.
Heppenstall said the cost of developing a regulated system could be up to three times more expensive than developing systems that are not regulated. “That is an additional burden that would have to be [paid for] by the owner of the system,” he said.
Particularly with smartphone applications — many of which are inexpensive to develop and cost nothing to download — most experts agree that the cost of developing FDA-compliant applications and software would stifle innovation.
“Finally there’s a place where doctors can go, and health care professionals can go, to get these tools and resources, and you don’t want to make it more difficult for innovation to happen,” Zeinfeld said. “And you shouldn’t have to make it more difficult. Certainly, there’s got to be some middle ground.”
On the other hand, Nitenson, who has worked clinically in emergency and intensive care departments, said, “I would never use, nor would I recommend, [that] a physician use software technology that is specifically designed around a smartphone device that is not strong enough to endure both the HHS mandates and the FDA’s mandate of data security and integrity for medical devices.”
Most experts agree that full oversight of all health information systems likely never would happen. The cost would be too high, and the scope of regulation would be too vast.
But Dr. Shuren did lay out some possible scenarios, most of which would involve tracking problems after a device or software has hit the market. For example, there could be a database of adverse effects, or a registration list of devices. Another option might be a requirement that developers adhere to the FDA’s Quality Systems Regulation, a list of specific guidelines manufacturers must follow.
Nintenson thinks there must be consequences if FDA oversight is to have an impact.
“As long as there is no consequence, people who write software don’t necessarily do things in a more secure manner,” he said.
Above article publish on http://www.emrspecialists.com/2010/05/fda-oversight-extend-health/
The technology you adopt for your practice, including electronic medical record systems and smartphones, could become subject to Food and Drug Administration scrutiny. Experts are trying to discern what that level of examination might look like, and what specific technology would be affected.
So far, there’s no clear answer.
The FDA might get involved, experts say, because some kinds of health information technology could be considered medical devices — which the FDA regulates.
Sen. Charles Grassley (R, Iowa) started the high-level discussion about the FDA’s role in health IT in the context of meaningful use of EMRs and the push to get physicians to adopt technology. He sent a letter on Feb. 24 to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius asking what her agency intended to do to ensure the safety of EMRs, and the role the FDA should play in monitoring them.
The next day, an FDA director stated flatly: “Under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, HIT software is a medical device.”
Jeffrey Shuren, MD, director of the FDA Center for Devices and Radiological Health, made that statement as he reported that his agency had received 260 reports over the past two years of health IT-related malfunctions causing 44 injuries and six deaths. Dr. Shuren’s statement was made to the Health Information Technology Policy Committee, an advisory panel under the auspices of the HHS Office of the National Coordinator, which oversees health technology.
Steve Nitenson, RN, PhD, an adjunct professor in the information technology management division at Golden Gate University in San Francisco, said the FDA has a history of stepping up scrutiny after problems occur. Many believe that the number of deaths and complications Dr. Shuren detailed in his testimony to the advisory committee was an indication that the FDA now feels it is necessary to exercise its authority.
The discussion of FDA oversight has prompted a debate over what is considered a medical device, and what should and shouldn’t fall under FDA regulation.
Experts generally divide health-related applications into three categories — those that clearly could be considered a medical device, those that clearly are not, and those that could go either way.
Nitenson said the FDA already monitors EMR functionalities that involve contact with patients, such as interpreting lab results, for example. Most experts agree that even smartphone applications that are an extension of those systems fall under the medical device category and are thus open to FDA scrutiny.
But when it comes to other uses of technology, “It’s more like the wild, wild West,” Nitenson said. This is the area that would include a combination of systems that would transmit data from one source to another, and the various devices used to store and transmit the data, including mobile devices such as smartphones.
Michael Zeinfeld, founder and president of Complemedia, a Chicago-based company that builds targeted media channels for branding purposes, said one reason the FDA is taking another look at many of these devices is that their mobile counterparts are making applications easier to adopt, and thus the mobile devices are used more widely.
Kyle Heppenstall is the managing director of CompassX Group, a life sciences management consulting firm in Irvine, Calif., that helps clients get systems validated with various federal agencies. His clients include corporations, health care firms, and biotech and pharmaceutical companies that are building technology systems for the consumer market. He advises them that those systems need to be validated, even when they are mobile extensions of existing systems that already are monitored by the government.
Heppenstall said the cost of developing a regulated system could be up to three times more expensive than developing systems that are not regulated. “That is an additional burden that would have to be [paid for] by the owner of the system,” he said.
Particularly with smartphone applications — many of which are inexpensive to develop and cost nothing to download — most experts agree that the cost of developing FDA-compliant applications and software would stifle innovation.
“Finally there’s a place where doctors can go, and health care professionals can go, to get these tools and resources, and you don’t want to make it more difficult for innovation to happen,” Zeinfeld said. “And you shouldn’t have to make it more difficult. Certainly, there’s got to be some middle ground.”
On the other hand, Nitenson, who has worked clinically in emergency and intensive care departments, said, “I would never use, nor would I recommend, [that] a physician use software technology that is specifically designed around a smartphone device that is not strong enough to endure both the HHS mandates and the FDA’s mandate of data security and integrity for medical devices.”
Most experts agree that full oversight of all health information systems likely never would happen. The cost would be too high, and the scope of regulation would be too vast.
But Dr. Shuren did lay out some possible scenarios, most of which would involve tracking problems after a device or software has hit the market. For example, there could be a database of adverse effects, or a registration list of devices. Another option might be a requirement that developers adhere to the FDA’s Quality Systems Regulation, a list of specific guidelines manufacturers must follow.
Nintenson thinks there must be consequences if FDA oversight is to have an impact.
“As long as there is no consequence, people who write software don’t necessarily do things in a more secure manner,” he said.
Above article publish on http://www.emrspecialists.com/2010/05/fda-oversight-extend-health/
Medical Mutual will offer incentives for e-prescribing
One of Ohio’s biggest health insurance companies is trying to convince doctors to forego their old-fashioned prescription pads more often.
Cleveland-based Medical Mutual of Ohio is teaming up with its pharmacy benefits manager, Medco Health Solutions, for a pilot program that gives select doctors financial incentives to prescribe medications electronically.
Medical Mutual is signing up 250 of its network physicians who order the highest volume of prescriptions for the health insurer’s enrollees but haven’t switched to electronic prescribing yet.
The practice of ”ePrescribing” enables doctors to send their prescription orders through a secure connection from their computers to the pharmacy’s computer.
”Since the prescription is being sent electronically to the pharmacy, the member can get his or her prescription more quickly,” said Ed Byers, spokesman for Medical Mutual, which has about 1.6 million enrollees.
By prescribing prescriptions electronically, doctors also can immediately see which drugs are covered and at what level for their patients.
As a result, patients save money and the health insurer saves money ”because they see higher returns on generic dispensing and formulary adherence,” said David Fidler, director of ePrescribing for Medco Health Solutions. ”Everybody’s interests are aligned when you start talking about e-prescribing.”
Dr. James Dom Dera, a physician with Ohio Family Practice Centers in Fairlawn, recently switched to electronic prescribing for many of his patients.
”It’s just much easier,” he said. ”I can click and prescribe much faster than I could ever hand-write or print or fax a prescription.”
Dom Dera said he also likes the fact that electronic prescribing eliminates the risk of errors from misreading handwriting or improperly transcribing an order.
Still, electronic prescriptions aren’t for everyone.
At least for now, federal law forbids doctors from prescribing controlled substances electronically.
And some patients who like to shop around for their medications still prefer to take a paper prescription with them, Dom Dera said.
Medical Mutual’s pilot program started in March and continues through September.
Medical Mutual and Medco declined to release details about the financial incentives they are providing to physicians who reach targets for number of prescriptions ordered electronically.
Above article publish on http://www.eprescriptionservices.com/medical-mutual-offer-incentives-eprescribing/
Cleveland-based Medical Mutual of Ohio is teaming up with its pharmacy benefits manager, Medco Health Solutions, for a pilot program that gives select doctors financial incentives to prescribe medications electronically.
Medical Mutual is signing up 250 of its network physicians who order the highest volume of prescriptions for the health insurer’s enrollees but haven’t switched to electronic prescribing yet.
The practice of ”ePrescribing” enables doctors to send their prescription orders through a secure connection from their computers to the pharmacy’s computer.
”Since the prescription is being sent electronically to the pharmacy, the member can get his or her prescription more quickly,” said Ed Byers, spokesman for Medical Mutual, which has about 1.6 million enrollees.
By prescribing prescriptions electronically, doctors also can immediately see which drugs are covered and at what level for their patients.
As a result, patients save money and the health insurer saves money ”because they see higher returns on generic dispensing and formulary adherence,” said David Fidler, director of ePrescribing for Medco Health Solutions. ”Everybody’s interests are aligned when you start talking about e-prescribing.”
Dr. James Dom Dera, a physician with Ohio Family Practice Centers in Fairlawn, recently switched to electronic prescribing for many of his patients.
”It’s just much easier,” he said. ”I can click and prescribe much faster than I could ever hand-write or print or fax a prescription.”
Dom Dera said he also likes the fact that electronic prescribing eliminates the risk of errors from misreading handwriting or improperly transcribing an order.
Still, electronic prescriptions aren’t for everyone.
At least for now, federal law forbids doctors from prescribing controlled substances electronically.
And some patients who like to shop around for their medications still prefer to take a paper prescription with them, Dom Dera said.
Medical Mutual’s pilot program started in March and continues through September.
Medical Mutual and Medco declined to release details about the financial incentives they are providing to physicians who reach targets for number of prescriptions ordered electronically.
Above article publish on http://www.eprescriptionservices.com/medical-mutual-offer-incentives-eprescribing/
Standards Organization Calls for ONC To Revisit EHR Certification Rule
The Electronic Healthcare Network Accreditation Commission has recommended a series of changes to the federal government’s proposed rule on electronic health record certification, Healthcare IT News reports.
EHNAC, a not-for-profit standards group, issued the recommendations in response to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on EHR certification.
ONC’s proposed rule calls for the establishment of a temporary EHR certification program, which eventually would be replaced by a permanent certification program. The temporary program would allow ONC-authorized certification bodies to test and certify EHRs and EHR modules.
Recommendations
EHNAC officials said the group is concerned that the current definition of ONC-authorized certification bodies would exclude EHNAC and other organizations from consideration as certifiers of health information exchanges.
The group said its recommendations would enable EHNAC to be named a health data exchange certifier without needing official designation as an EHR certifier.
In its recommendations, EHNAC called for ONC to:
* Allow certifiers to establish a “virtual” office for conducting certification tasks;
* Extend the deadline for organizations to develop certification programs to encourage more groups to apply for designation as temporary certifiers;
* Eliminate unscheduled site visits and provide organizations with sufficient time to prepare for planned visits; and
* Refrain from considering a certified testing program a necessary requirement for the certification of health IT products (Monegain, Healthcare IT News, 5/25).
Above article publish on http://www.myemrstimulus.com/standards-organization-calls-onc-revisit-ehr-certification-rule/
EHNAC, a not-for-profit standards group, issued the recommendations in response to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on EHR certification.
ONC’s proposed rule calls for the establishment of a temporary EHR certification program, which eventually would be replaced by a permanent certification program. The temporary program would allow ONC-authorized certification bodies to test and certify EHRs and EHR modules.
Recommendations
EHNAC officials said the group is concerned that the current definition of ONC-authorized certification bodies would exclude EHNAC and other organizations from consideration as certifiers of health information exchanges.
The group said its recommendations would enable EHNAC to be named a health data exchange certifier without needing official designation as an EHR certifier.
In its recommendations, EHNAC called for ONC to:
* Allow certifiers to establish a “virtual” office for conducting certification tasks;
* Extend the deadline for organizations to develop certification programs to encourage more groups to apply for designation as temporary certifiers;
* Eliminate unscheduled site visits and provide organizations with sufficient time to prepare for planned visits; and
* Refrain from considering a certified testing program a necessary requirement for the certification of health IT products (Monegain, Healthcare IT News, 5/25).
Above article publish on http://www.myemrstimulus.com/standards-organization-calls-onc-revisit-ehr-certification-rule/
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