Healthcare Systems Adopt Trend of Outsourcing in the New Era of Value-Based Care

In the time when both, federal and provincial healthcare quality initiatives have come up with healthcare reforms, thus making EHR mandatory in order to avail the incentives under ARRA, the compliance with Medicare Medical Billing norms, demand of documentation under Medicare’s Accountable Care Organisation (ACO) model and the transition of both ICD 10 and HIPAA 5010, health care documenting in healthcare would probably never be the same....

Physicians tackle HIPAA requirements and increased scrutiny by Government

The health reforms have not only affected the way in which healthcare is delivered but also the way in which information is shared among various professionals and entities in the health industry. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations have become more stringent for physicians, and patient privacy is one of the issues that are emphasized in the health reforms. Physicians are tackling this increased scrutiny...

Hospitals expand to attract well-insured patients despite pressures of healthcare reforms

Several hospitals are looking for well-insured patients beyond traditional market boundaries, both in prosperous suburbs and in nearby areas with growing, well-insured populations. According to a study by the Center for Studying Health System Change (HSC) hospitals seeking a competitive edge in the marketplace are targeting geographic expansion into new markets which are well-insured. The study based on HSC’s visits to 12 nationally...

Challenge of EMR deployment for Small Pediatric Practices

The use of Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) or Electronic Health Records (EHRs) in pediatric practices presents numerous challenges due to the dynamic nature of this particular specially. The reasons for these challenges are myriad and range from the changing nature of the body of children and also the medical care that is provided during childhood. This care can include immunizations, growth tracking, and other critical aspects such as...

Challenges Faced by Diabetic Specialists in EHR Implementation

Electronic Health Records (EHRs) and Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) have started to affect almost all the specialties and diabetes care is no exception. A study by The New England Journal of Medicine finds that EHRs can have a positive impact on the quality of the care that is provided to diabetes patients. The report titled Electronic Health Records and Quality of Diabetes Care clarifies...

The primary care physician shortage in California

State of California is facing an increased shortage of primary care physicians especially – with a rise in the number of elderly population in the State leading to increase in health coverage under Federal Health care reforms. Additionally 30% of primary care physicians in the state are nearing retirement being above 60 or older- the highest percentage in any state. However compared to the shortage, the State has not significantly increased...

Understanding Physician Assistants Reimbursement Environment

“Amidst all these overriding Medicare or health insurance guidelines surrounding the reimbursement for their assistants’ services, physicians would invariably feel exhausted for doubling up as medical billers along with their primary focus of clinical efficiency. Therefore, physicians would be well-off outsourcing medical billing services that are adept at handling their assistants’ reimbursement issue along with their own.” From what used...

Uninsured population rate percentage vs. Physician’s density ration in Texas, Mississippi & Oklahoma

Physicians work scope is expected to change with millions of Americans to gain health insurance through the Affordable Care Act in 2014. On the upside Physicians especially primary-care provider will experience higher demand transforming to higher reimbursements and job security. However, on the  other hand other healthcare reform initiatives would require better quality patient care at subsidized costs and hence the pressure of catering...

Unbalanced equilibrium: US States facing shortage of Medical Coders in spite of high supply

As if hospital shortages of nurses and pharmacists were not enough, the shortage of medical coders has risen to high levels in some areas in the US and physicians need to act fast least they lose millions of dollars in unbilled charges. American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) has reported a nationwide shortage of certified medical coders in hospitals, physician practices, and other healthcare facilities, with the most critical...

The Changing Landscape of Healthcare Reimbursement in 2012

“As the projection for 2012 forecasts an unprecedented increase in patient population, physicians will have a hard time balancing their time resources between quality medical care and adhering to imposing compliance regimen promulgated by the Federal Healthcare Reforms. Therefore, it becomes crucial that practitioners seek strategic alliance with medical billing advisories that can ease their burden off the compliance regimen, and help elevate...

Meaningful Use’ Compliant EHR Technology Implementation – specialists’ perspective

“While specialist practitioners, such as Radiologists, Psychiatrists, Chiropractors, Urologists, etc. can claim exemptions and exclusion of certain objectives set out in the Meaningful Use Clause by CMS, they are not treated preferentially as far as documenting clinical processes using approved and compliant EHR software is concerned:  their responsibility for reporting clinical data using Certified EHR Technology and EHR modules...

CMS encouraging physicians for health care reform innovation: grants offered

At last someone is looking to cut healthcare cost innovatively- The Health Care Innovation Challenge program, announced on 14th November, last year is the most recent federal effort by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) to support health care innovations. The program is aimed at awarding grants to physicians and other health professionals, payers, local governments, to improve care and reduce costs for patients with public...