Trump Makes Picks to Head HHS and CMS
This week, President-elect Donald Trump announced his picks to head Health and Human Services and CMS. Plus, the 21st Century Cures Act passes the House. (Source: Physicians Practice)
Source: Physicians Practice - December 2, 2016 Category: Practice Management Authors: Gabriel Perna Tags: Healthcare Reform Compliance Meaningful Use Technology Source Type: news
Geriatric ED: Cost-Efficient Hub of Care
Geriatric emergency departments can pay for themselves by meeting healthcare reform incentive goals
No one can deny the aging of our population in general, and of the emergency department patient load in particular. But there is some disagreement about how EDs should respond – specifically whether it is appropriate to design geriatric emergency departments. After all, in an era of belt-tightening and budget slashing is it really our priority to invest in softer mattresses, warmer lighting and aromatherapy?
I aim to dispel the myth that geriatric EDs are just about superficial aesthetic improvements and show that these de...
Source: EPMonthly.com - November 25, 2016 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Logan Plaster Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: news
Goodbye SGR, Hello MACRA
How will CMS’s new physician payment policy impact emergency physicians?
For nearly twenty years the debate in Washington surrounding physician payment policy revolved around the SGR, or the Sustainable Growth Rate. That all changed last year when Congress passed the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act, commonly referred to as “MACRA” in and around the beltway. Many refer to MACRA as the “SGR-fix,” but in reality the legislation has much broader implications. It will not only change reimbursement rates but the entire payment formula and incentives for virtually every physician in the US.
The SGR was crea...
Source: EPMonthly.com - November 25, 2016 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Matt McGahen Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: news
CMS releases final OPPS 2017 rule
On November 1, the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released...Read more on AuntMinnie.comRelated Reading:
OPPS 2017: More cuts in store for radiology?
CMS proposes meaningful use changes
CMS shuffles the deck in 2016 hospital OPPS rules
CMS proposal could lead to more code bundling in 2016
HOPPS 2015 rule would boost breast biopsy payments (Source: AuntMinnie.com Headlines)
Source: AuntMinnie.com Headlines - November 4, 2016 Category: Radiology Source Type: news
CMS Cuts Meaningful Use Reporting Period to 90 Days CMS Cuts Meaningful Use Reporting Period to 90 Days
No mass hardship exceptions are expected, but new participants in the meaningful use program have until October 2017 to attest.Medscape Medical News (Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines)
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines - November 3, 2016 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Family Medicine/Primary Care News Source Type: news
The Regional Extension Center of New Hampshire (RECNH) Hits Major Milestone; Assists 1,000 New Hampshire Healthcare Providers Achieve Meaningful Use
The Regional Extension Center of New Hampshire (RECNH) announced today that it has reached its goal of assisting 1,000 Priority Primary Care Providers (PPCPs) across the state in achieving Meaningful Use of Certified Electronic Health Record Technology (CEHRT). (Source: HSR Information Central)
Source: HSR Information Central - September 23, 2016 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news
Geriatric ED: Cost-Efficient Hub of Care
Geriatric emergency departments can pay for themselves by meeting healthcare reform incentive goals
No one can deny the aging of our population in general, and of the emergency department patient load in particular. But there is some disagreement about how EDs should respond – specifically whether it is appropriate to design geriatric emergency departments. After all, in an era of belt-tightening and budget slashing is it really our priority to invest in softer mattresses, warmer lighting and aromatherapy?
I aim to dispel the myth that geriatric EDs are just about superficial aesthetic improvements and show that t...
Source: EPMonthly.com - September 19, 2016 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Logan Plaster Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: news
Practice Rounds: Meaningful Use Has Fallen Short
When it comes to running a practice economically, physicians are getting creative, and new research indicates that Meaningful Use falls short. (Source: Physicians Practice)
Source: Physicians Practice - September 16, 2016 Category: Practice Management Authors: Erica Sprey Tags: EHR Meaningful Use Operations Patients Source Type: news
Meaningful Use gets a meaningful change: 90-day reporting
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have issued a proposed change making Meaningful Use more flexible for physicians by allowing them to report only for a 90-day period in 2016. Also included in the change is a hardship exemption for first time Meaningful Use participants to report once in 2017 to satisfy both Meaningful Use and the Advanced Care Information (ACI) performance category in the upcoming Merit-based Incentive Performance System (MIPS).
Physicians have long called for the Meaningful Use program to be more flexible among other characteristics. In itsOutpatient Prospective Payment System propose...
Source: AMA Wire - September 13, 2016 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Timothy Smith Source Type: news
MACRA Changes Are a Good First Step, Say Provider Groups
Provider groups say CMS ' changes to the first year of MACRA compliance reporting are a nice first step, but more needs to be done. (Source: Physicians Practice)
Source: Physicians Practice - September 12, 2016 Category: Practice Management Authors: Gabriel Perna Tags: Billing Compliance Healthcare Reform Meaningful Use Source Type: news
CMS offers alternatives for MACRA implementation
Shedding some light on its initiative to promote value-based healthcare, the...Read more on AuntMinnie.comRelated Reading:
Could MACRA implementation be delayed?
CMS releases 2017 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule
MedPAC schools Congress on how to implement MACRA
3 ways radiologists can prepare for MACRA
CMS, ONC to replace meaningful use for physicians (Source: AuntMinnie.com Headlines)
Source: AuntMinnie.com Headlines - September 9, 2016 Category: Radiology Source Type: news
Does Equitable Access to Healthcare Include Access to Electronic Health Records?
An article summarizing EHR use at the state level. Also includes an Excel spreadsheet that compares meaningful use and EHR adoption at the state level. (Source: HSR Information Central)
Source: HSR Information Central - September 9, 2016 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news
Technology Critical for Smaller Practices to Tackle MACRA
Smaller practices are less likely to use or upgrade technology, but they may not survive MACRA without it. (Source: Physicians Practice)
Source: Physicians Practice - September 2, 2016 Category: Practice Management Authors: Tom Giannulli, MD, MS Tags: Blog Healthcare Reform EHR Compliance Meaningful Use Source Type: news
5 tips to surviving Meaningful Use audits
The Meaningful Use (MU) program as doctors know it may soon be ending, but audits of past attestations are slated to continue for at least the next 6 years.
Experts offer the following guidance on how to successfully manage audits and subsequent appeals.
1. Expect... (Source: Skin and Allergy News)
Source: Skin and Allergy News - August 16, 2016 Category: Dermatology Source Type: news
5 tips to surviving Meaningful Use audits
The Meaningful Use (MU) program as doctors know it may soon be ending, but audits of past attestations are slated to continue for at least the next 6 years.
Experts offer the following guidance on... (Source: Family Practice News)
Source: Family Practice News - August 16, 2016 Category: Primary Care Source Type: news
