MedWorm: Billing

Emdeon buys health care IT consulting company

bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 21:43:34 +0100

Nashville-based medical billing company Emdeon Inc. announced plans today to buy an Indianapolis management consulting firm that specializes in just the type of health care information technology that Emdeon provides. (EM) (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines)

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Can Smiley Faces (and a 14-Step Program to Stop Overconsumption) Save the Global Climate?

Scientific American - Official RSS Feed — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 16:01:00 +0100

Energy efficiency seems to make rational economic sense--the less energy used, the more money saved. Yet, in the real world it's actually competition with neighbors rather than cost savings that can drive people to turn down their thermostats, install insulation or simply switch off the lights when they leave a room. Such is the lesson of a host of efforts, ranging from a group called OPOWER's comparative use utility billing to switching from miles per gallon to rate vehicle efficiency to gallons per mile . [More] (Source: Scientific American - Official RSS Feed)

What Constitutes an "Initial Visit" for Medicare Billing?

Medscape Today Headlines — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 14:49:21 +0100

A reader asks whether reading a sleep study, in preparation for seeing the patient at a later time, qualifies as an initial visit for billing purposes. Medscape Nurses (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)

Secrets to a Successful Introvert-Extrovert Team

Psychology Today Work Center — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 08:42:07 +0100

If you had to guess, which of the women in the photograph to the left is an introvert and which is an extrovert? Can you tell? If you subscribed to the myth of introverts being antisocial, neither looks the role. However, if you were better informed and knew that the main difference between introverts and extroverts is where they draw their energy—introverts from their solo time and extroverts from their social time—you’d look further. In fact, each of these women views the world from a different perch—and in some ways from a different planet. But does that have to mean interplanetary warfare? Meet Adelaide Lancaster and Amy Abrams, co-founders of In Good Company Workplaces, a community workspace I belong to in New York City for women entrepreneurs. I invited them here to share the...

US Healthcare System Wastes $800 Billion a Year

NaturalNews.com — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 07:00:00 +0100

(NaturalNews) The U.S. healthcare system loses between $505 and $850 billion a year to mistakes, inefficiency and fraud, according to a report by Thomson Reuters. This amounts to one-third of all national healthcare spending."America's healthcare system is indeed hemorrhaging billions of dollars," the report says. According to the report, unnecessary medical procedures and treatments -- including antibiotic overuse and superfluous tests -- account for 37 percent of all wasted spending, $200 to $300 billion per year. Fraud -- including false Medicare claims and kickbacks for referrals or prescriptions -- accounts for another 22 percent, as much as $200 billion a year. Medical errors are responsible for 11 percent of excess spending, or $50 to $100 billion yearly. Preventable health problems...

Here's Where Doctors Often Neglect to Bill for Services Rendered

Medscape Hiv-Aids Headlines — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:33:48 +0100

Doctors are often unaware that they're missing out on billing charges for services they render outside the hospital. Here's how to ensure that they get paid for all services they perform. Medscape Business of Medicine (Source: Medscape Hiv-Aids Headlines)

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Learning to practice in Canada: The hidden curriculum of international medical graduates

Journal of Continuing Education in the Health Professions — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Discussion: There was concordance about aspects of the learning that was required between IMGs and medical leaders. There was little agreement about the approach to learning or a recognition that the learning tasks were complicated. (Source: Journal of Continuing Education in the Health Professions)

Advanced Pain Centers, doctor to pay $820,000 for Medicare fraud

bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:18:03 +0100

A doctor from Town and Country, Mo., his wife, their pain management clinics and his billing company must pay $820,000 to settle allegations of submitting false claims to Medicare, Medicaid and Tricare. (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines)

CMS abandons efficient zip code billing technique for most purchased interpretation services

Diagnostic Imaging — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:00:02 +0100

On Jan. 15, CMS issued an update to the Medicare Claims Processing Manual (Change Request 6733) addressing “Payment to Physician or Other Supplier for Diagnostic Tests Subject to the Anti-Markup Payment Limitation.” The transmittal contains an action that may prove to be a major setback for many teleradiology arrangements that operate across state lines. (Source: Diagnostic Imaging)

How to bill for initial inpatient services

Modern Medicine — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Understand the changes for 2010 in billing for inpatient services and how to bill for pulse oximetry. (Source: Modern Medicine)

Health care industry sick with medical waste

CNN.com - Health — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 15:14:17 +0100

Health care is plagued by wasteful practices Inefficient insurance claims process: markups, billing mistakes, overcharges, etc The difficulty in comparison shopping because it's hard for providers to give a definitive cost beforehand Variations in the way a doctor treats a patient -- doing expensive procedures when less expensive treatments available and just as effective... hospitals have incentive to do more expensive procedures... that's how insurance companies pay them... (Source: CNN.com - Health)

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Health care sick with medical waste

CNN.com - Health — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 14:29:43 +0100

CNN takes an up-close look at health care waste: insurance markups, billing mistakes, and overcharges; the difficulty in comparison shopping for the best prices for care; and incentives to do expensive procedures. (Source: CNN.com - Health)

Doctors Issue Warnings About Reduced Access As Congressional Inaction Cuts Medicare Pay

Health News from Medical News Today — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 13:00:00 +0100

A political deadlock in the Senate has triggered a 21 percent Medicare pay reduction to doctors who say they may have to limit care for older Americans unless the reduction is reversed. The Associated Press reports that "the Obama administration directed Medicare billing contractors to hold off processing claims for 10 business days" in the hopes that senators will break the deadlock. "Medicare normally takes 14 days to pay doctors, so there would be no reduction in reimbursement if lawmakers move quickly," the AP reports... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

D.C. rushing to fix problems with AIDS records at clinics

washingtonpost.com - Health — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 05:00:00 +0100

The District's troubled HIV/AIDS Administration is scrambling to correct dozens of billing and record-keeping deficiencies discovered at Washington area medical clinics that draw federal AIDS funding. (Source: washingtonpost.com - Health)

D.C. rushing to fix problems with AIDS records at clinics

Wash Post Health — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 04:04:06 +0100

CMS Alerts Physicians to Billing Glitch

AAFP Practice Management — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 18:05:00 +0100

Physicians who are participating Medicare providers should be aware of a glitch in CMS' system that occurred when some claims did not cross over to supplemental payers automatically, although the provider remittance advice indicated otherwise. (Source: AAFP Practice Management)

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District rushes to correct records problems at federally-funded AIDS clinics

Wash Post Health — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 17:42:02 +0100

Coding Questions?

Physicians Practice — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 04:00:00 +0100

Billing for vitals recordings; discharge summary on a deceased patient; a wasted controlled substance. (Source: Physicians Practice)

Bridging the gap: leveraging business intelligence tools in support of patient safety and financial effectiveness.

Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Ferranti JM, Langman MK, Tanaka D, McCall J, Ahmad A Healthcare is increasingly dependent upon information technology (IT), but the accumulation of data has outpaced our capacity to use it to improve operating efficiency, clinical quality, and financial effectiveness. Moreover, hospitals have lagged in adopting thoughtful analytic approaches that would allow operational leaders and providers to capitalize upon existing data stores. In this manuscript, we propose a fundamental re-evaluation of strategic IT investments in healthcare, with the goal of increasing efficiency, reducing costs, and improving outcomes through the targeted application of health analytics. We also present three case studies that illustrate the use of health analytics to leverage pre-existing data resourc...

Bundled babies and bundled billing: how to properly use the new pediatric critical care codes.

Chest — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

This article discusses the changes and the impact on physicians providing critical care services. PMID: 20202951 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Chest)

Physicians Should Be Wary of Medicare RAC Audits

Family Practice News — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

LAS VEGAS — The federal government is stepping up its audit activities in Medicare, and that could mean greater scrutiny of billing practices. One development that physicians should keep a close eye on is the recent nationwide rollout of Medicare's Recovery Audit Contractor program, said Edward R. Gaines III, vice president and chief compliance officer at CBIZ Medical Management Professionals Inc. The program, known as the RAC, began as a demonstration project in New York, California, and Florida. (Source: Family Practice News)

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Physicians, Be Wary of Medicare's RAC Audits

Rheumatology News — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

LAS VEGAS — The federal government is stepping up its audit activities in Medicare, and that could mean greater scrutiny of billing practices, including the use of observation codes. (Source: Rheumatology News)

Tips to prevent medical bills from getting overdue

L.A. Times - Health — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 20:04:24 +0100

To avoid damaging your credit score and hearing from a collection agency, open all mail from your doctors and insurers and work out any issues over bills with your doctor's billing office. Got a medical bill lying around in a kitchen drawer or office file? (Source: L.A. Times - Health)

Athenahealth shares fall on news of reporting delay

Healthcare IT News — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 16:16:59 +0100

After announcing that it would be postponing the release of its fourth quarter financial results, Watertown, Mass.-based athenahealth, Inc. (ATHN), which provides Web-based billing services to providers, saw its shares fall 13 percent in pre-market trading on Friday.  The firm, whose previous CFO, Carl Byers, stepped down at the end of 2009 and was replaced by Tim Adams this past month, was due to publish its earnings on Thursday, but held back, citing an internal accounting review.  (Source: Healthcare IT News)

Private practice groups form first radiology consortium

Diagnostic Imaging — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 15:30:02 +0100

A consortium that will include more than 750 radiologists from 13 practice groups announced it was beginning operations this week. The consortium will focus on the business side of radiology, determining things like common billing platforms across the groups. (Source: Diagnostic Imaging)

Identification and validation of lupus nephritis cases using administrative data.

Lupus — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Chibnik LB, Massarotti EM, Costenbader KH Large administrative databases such as Medicaid billing databases could be used to study care and outcomes of lupus nephritis if these patients could be correctly identified from claims data. We aimed to develop and validate an algorithm for the correct identification of cases of lupus nephritis using ICD-9 billing codes. We used the Research Patient Data Resource query tool at our institution to identify patients with potential lupus nephritis. We compared four ICD-9 code based strategies, identifying patients seen between 2000 and 2007 with Medicaid medical insurance with greater than two claims for a diagnosis of SLE (ICD-9 code 710.0) and a combination of greater than two nephrologist visits and/or renal ICD-9 codes. We assessed pe...

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Amicas signs 55 contracts for financial software

CMIO.net: The News Weekly for Health IT Executives — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 17:12:27 +0100

Amicas announced it has signed 55 contracts for its Amicas Financials software for radiology billing. (Source: CMIO.net: The News Weekly for Health IT Executives)

Amicas signs 55 contracts for financial software

Health Imaging News — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 17:12:27 +0100

Amicas announced it has signed 55 contracts for its Amicas Financials software for radiology billing. (Source: Health Imaging News)

Amicas signs 55 contracts for financial software

Health Imaging News — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 17:12:27 +0100

Amicas announced it has signed 55 contracts for its Amicas Financials software for radiology billing. (Source: Health Imaging News)

Cell Phone Data: Can You Track Me Now?

NPR Health and Science — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 09:00:00 +0100

A new study used cell phone billing data for 50,00 people in a European country to show that people's travel patterns are extremely predictable. That's true for both homebodies and jet setters. Regardless of age, language group, etc, people's movements were predictable 93 percent of the time. The study shows the emerging power of using cell phone data for social science research.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us (Source: NPR Health and Science)

Q&A: Billing for purchased services

Modern Medicine — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Get your questions answered on marking up purchased services. (Source: Modern Medicine)

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Importance of health system context for evaluating utilization patterns across systems

Health Economics — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Measuring health services provided to patients can be difficult when patients see providers across multiple health systems and all visits are rarely captured in a single data source covering all systems where patients receive care. Studies that account for only one system will omit the out-of-system health-care use at the patient level. Combining data across systems and comparing utilization patterns across health systems creates complications for both aggregation and accuracy because data-generating processes (DGPs) tend to vary across systems. We develop a hybrid methodology for aggregation across systems, drawing on the strengths of the DGP in each system, and demonstrate its validity for answering research questions requiring cross-system assessments of health-care utilization. Positiv...

The predictability of travel patterns

Physics Today News Picks — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

NPR: A new study used cell phone billing data for 50,00 people in a European country to show that people's travel patterns are extremely predictable. That's true for both homebodies and jet setters. Regardless of age, language group, etc, people's movements were predictable 93 percent of the time. The study shows the emerging power of using cell phone data for social science research. (Source: Physics Today News Picks)

Thomson Reuters and Ingenious Med Improve Inpatient Billing Efficiency for Hospitals and Physician Practices

Healthcare Headlines from Thomson Reuters — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 22:11:49 +0100

(Source: Healthcare Headlines from Thomson Reuters)

NueMD PM software adds functionality for FQHCs

Healthcare IT News Press Releases — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 18:41:26 +0100

Nuesoft Technologies Inc. has released version 3.09 of its NueMD medical practice management software. The new version features special billing and reporting capabilities for federally qualified health centers (FQHCs).   Highlights of NueMD’s new FQHC functionality include sliding fee schedules that prorate costs relative to the federal poverty level, Uniform Data System (UDS) reporting, and the ability to file American Dental Association (ADA) claims.   (Source: Healthcare IT News Press Releases)

Avenues to correct medical billing problems

L.A. Times - Health — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 08:00:00 +0100

There are several state and nonprofit organizations that can help patients who feel they are victims of mistakes. Ever had a claim denied by your insurer because of something like a RAD Code 0022? If so, you're not alone. (Source: L.A. Times - Health)

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2 Seattle Doctors Accused Of Medicare Fraud; CNN Offers Advice For Patients On Checking Out Their Doctors

Health News from Medical News Today — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 08:00:00 +0100

Seattle Post-Intelligencer: Two Seattle-area doctors are accused of stealing millions from Medicare through fraudulent billing. "In separate grand jury indictments filed in U.S. District Court, federal authorities contend both men followed identical schemes in setting up shell companies designed to defraud the Medicare system." Authorities say one of the doctors "used stolen identities of actual Medicare recipients to file nearly 1,300 false claims in six months. In doing so, [one of the doctors] allegedly received $1... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

AmMed Direct chief out, dozens lose jobs

bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100

Nashville-based AmMed Direct Inc. has replaced its chief executive and laid off almost 20 percent of its work force in the midst of an internal audit of the company’s Medicare billing practices. (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines)

Non-medical firms that don’t protect patient records face fines under new privacy law

bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100

Attorney Robert Slavkin, who specializes in health care law at Foley & Lardner’s Orlando office, has access to patient information in cases involving everything from billing disputes to creating new electronic records policies and procedures. (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines)

Avenues to correct medical billing problems

L.A. Times - Health — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 19:04:34 +0100

LabCorp to add 373 jobs in GSO

bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 19:10:22 +0100

Laboratory Corp. of America, or LabCorp, will open its new billing operations center in Greensboro, adding 373 new jobs and moving 52 employees there from Burlington, where the company is based. (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines)

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Health Information Technologies for Practicing Psychiatrists

Psychiatric Times — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 12:00:00 +0100

This article serves as a guide to the practicing psychiatrist to determine what technologies will be most useful—if not mission-critical. (Source: Psychiatric Times)

The effect of changes in Medicare reimbursement on the practice of office and hospital-based endoscopic surgery for bladder cancer

Cancer — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Procedures performed in the office offer potential cost savings. Recent analyses suggest, however, that a fee-for-service system may incentivize subscale operations and, thus, contribute to excessive spending. The authors of this report sought to characterize changes in the practice of office-based and hospital-based endoscopic bladder surgery after 2005 increases in Medicare reimbursement.All office and hospital-based endoscopic surgeries that were performed in a faculty practice from 2002 through 2007 were identified using billing codes for procedures, diagnoses, and procedure locations and then analyzed using the chi-square test and logistic regression. Costs were estimated based on published Medicare reimbursements for office and hospital-based surgeries.In total, 1341 endoscopic bladd...

Emdeon eyes future growth, expands scope of office project

bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 20:29:04 +0100

Nashville-based medical billing company Emdeon Inc. has upgraded its plans for a new data center, which is currently under construction in Airpark Center East. (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines)

STATLINE Issue February 4, 2010

STATLINE Federal and State News Briefs — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 19:30:00 +0100

In This Issue: Judge Hears Oral Arguments in Gene Patent Lawsuit - MedPAC to Recommend 1% Increase in SGR for 2011 - Illinois Supreme Court Upholds Pathologist PC Billing - Pathology Organizations Meet to Address Health Care Reform (Source: STATLINE Federal and State News Briefs)

STATLINE Issue February 4, 2010

STATLINE Federal and State News Briefs — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 19:30:00 +0100

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RamSoft to beat language barrier, expand offerings

Healthcare IT News — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:43:22 +0100

RamSoft, Inc., a Toronto-based provider of IT solutions, has released a Spanish version of its PowerServer and Gateway products. The new software platforms have been deployed in multiple radiology practices worldwide, RamSoft officials said, and the Spanish version replicates the RIS, PACS, Teleradiology and DICOM features such as workflow management, image routing, diagnostic image viewing and manipulation, and patient scheduling, reporting and billing. (Source: Healthcare IT News)

Health News of the Day

Clinical Cases and Images — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 12:25:00 +0100

is a daily summary made from the selected links I post on Twitter. It is in bullet-point format with links to the original sources which include 350 RSS feeds that produce about 2,500 items per day: Social Media Guidelines and Best Practices from CDC (collection of PDFs) http://goo.gl/brO9 Billing codes for patient care delivered over the phone - American Medical News http://goo.gl/0r7q If you want your marriage to last, try to make heavy use of the first-person plural pronoun, "we" - New Scientist http://goo.gl/at5A -- Pronouns and behavior in marital conflict - We-ness versus Separateness - We can work it out. PubMed: http://bit.ly/ddpZ2T Empyema Hospitalizations Increased in US Children Despite Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine http://bit.ly/co0Qfq and http://bit.ly/bslRJi...

JNM: Essential elements missing from most PET reports

Health Imaging News — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 01:33:38 +0100

A study and an accompanying editorial published in the February issue of Journal of Nuclear Medicine suggests that essential elements were missing from many oncologic PET reports and these deficiencies may render reports less helpful to referring physicians and also lead to misdiagnoses as well as cause coding and billing errors. (Source: Health Imaging News)

JNM: Essential elements missing from most PET reports

Health Imaging News — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 01:33:38 +0100

Through the Looking Glass: Making Sense of APN Billing (P18)

Journal of Pain and Symptom Management — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Discuss current updates in APN billing and reimbursement. (Source: Journal of Pain and Symptom Management)

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Hospice and Palliative Care Billing and Coding Workshop (P9)

Journal of Pain and Symptom Management — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Discuss the new regulatory landscape as it relates to billing and coding issues. (Source: Journal of Pain and Symptom Management)

Implementation and day-to-day usage of a client-server-based radiology information system

Journal of Digital Imaging — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 18:17:43 +0100

Abstract Implementation of a second-generation radiology information system (RIS) requires attention to many issues, including work flow, system design, training, consideration for emerging technologies, and support. This presentation convers the issues, and solutions, involved in implementation and subsequent day-to-day usage of a client-server-based RIS tightly integrated with a hospital information system (HIS) using “thin client” software to limit hardware requirements for the client computers. The software and hardware implementation had to be designed for potential enterprise-wide scalability of the RIS for a system involving 11 hospitals. Issues arose regarding initial increased turn-around times, errors in importation of historical data, and problems with imple...

AdvantEdge buys Moraine medical billing firm

bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 15:51:30 +0100

Medical Account Services has been acquired by national player. (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines)

AdvantEdge Healthcare Solutions acquires Medical Account Services, Inc.

Healthcare IT News Press Releases — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 14:43:22 +0100

AdvantEdge Healthcare Solutions (AHS), a providers of medical billing and practice management services, has acquired Medical Account Services (MAS), the premier anesthesia billing company throughout Ohio. (Source: Healthcare IT News Press Releases)

A Growing Way to Collect All of the Revenue That You're Due: Revenue Management Companies

Medscape Today Headlines — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 20:18:09 +0100

To collect all of the money that's due them, doctors need to do better with billing, have fewer claims denied, and cut the number of days in accounts receivable. Medscape Business of Medicine (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)

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Emdeon buys FutureVision, expects electronic billing boost

bizjournals.com Health Care:Health Insurance headlines — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 16:39:37 +0100

Nashville-based medical billing company Emdeon Inc. has purchased a Salt Lake City company in a move that it hopes will free itself from a major chore — handling the vast reams of paper bills that still dominate the health care industry. (EM) (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Health Insurance headlines)

Emdeon buys FutureVision, expects electronic billing boost

bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 16:39:37 +0100

Merge Healthcare announces new hospital deployment

Healthcare IT News Press Releases — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:00:32 +0100

Tri Hospital MRI Center of Port Huron, Michigan has selected Merge Healthcare to provide a radiology information system (RIS) that includes integrated business workflow from scheduling through billing. As a joint venture of Port Huron Hospital, St. Joseph Mercy Hospital and St. John River District Hospital; the center serves St. Clair, Sanilac and Huron counties. (Source: Healthcare IT News Press Releases)

Kolb sells medical billing group

bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 05:00:00 +0100

Kolb & Co has sold its ownership interest in its medical billing unit to a Massachusetts company that has opened a Midwest office to accommodate the former Kolb clients and staff. (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines)

San Juan Regional Medical deploys procedure documentation and coding software

Healthcare IT News Press Releases — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 15:13:12 +0100

San Juan Regional Medical Center (SJRMC) has selected Wolters Kluwer Health ProVation MD software for Gastroenterology and Cardiology. ProVation MD for procedure documentation and coding compliance replaces dictation/transcription and streamlines the coding and billing process. ProVation MD for Gastroenterology offers robust electronic documentation and document imaging for all elements of the patient encounter, from past records to procedure documentation to follow-up care. (Source: Healthcare IT News Press Releases)

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Q&A: Billing a secondary insurance company

Modern Medicine — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Get your questions answered on secondary insurance billing. (Source: Modern Medicine)

Q&A: Billing a secondary insurance company

Modern Medicine Medical Economics — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Get your questions answered on secondary insurance billing. (Source: Modern Medicine Medical Economics)

Mental Health Weekly — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Reducing Providers' Documentation Seen as Strategy for the TimesMedicaid Billing Changes in Indiana Threaten Clubhouse ProgramsNew Report Lays Out Strategy for Employers to Implement ParityReader Challenges for 2010 Include Continuing Budget PressuresProvider Association's New Name Reflects Evolution of ThinkingClubhouse Directors Push for National Service DefinitionBriefly NotedState NewsComing up (Source: Mental Health Weekly)

Coding Questions?

Physicians Practice — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 16:36:45 +0100

Giving credit for exam work; decision making for established visits; billing a hospital admission. (Source: Physicians Practice)

Outsourcing Your Billing

Physicians Practice — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 16:44:41 +0100

Considering outsourcing the business side of your practice to a revenue cycle management firm? Let someone deal with the claims and collections headaches … right? Maybe. We examine the pros, cons, expenses, and benefits. (Source: Physicians Practice)

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A Lesson for Any Clinical Pathology Laboratory: Palm Beach Doctor Gets Creative to Collect Unpaid Claims from Humana

Dark Daily — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 14:18:44 +0100

Dermatologist Steven P. Rosenberg, M.D., chases Humana for $120,000 in claims as old as two years Clinical pathology laboratories often have problems with health insurance plans that delay paying legitimate claims for reimbursement. Now comes news of a unique strategy successfully employed by a Florida dermatologist who was frustrated that one payer was taking as long [...] (Source: Dark Daily)

Most costs from small group of doctors

Health News - UPI.com — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 00:13:45 +0100

BALTIMORE, Jan. 12 (UPI) -- An analysis of physicians' billing to the Louisiana Workers' Compensation Corp. found only a few doctors accounted for most of the costs, researchers say. (Source: Health News - UPI.com)

Survey: U.S. office-based EMR/EHR use rises 7.5% in 2008

CMIO.net: The News Weekly for Health IT Executives — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 12:55:30 +0100

The National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS), conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics, an annual U.S. representative survey of patient visits to office-based physicians that collects data on EMR/EHR use, found that 41.5 percent of physicians reported using all or partial EMR/EHR systems (not including systems solely for billing) in their office-based practices in 2008. The comparable figure for the 2007 NAMCS was 34 percent. (Source: CMIO.net: The News Weekly for Health IT Executives)

Survey: U.S. office-based EMR/EHR use rises 7.5% in 2008

Health Imaging News — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 12:55:30 +0100

The National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS), an annual U.S. representative survey of patient visits to office-based physicians, found that 41.5 percent of physicians reported using all or partial EMR/EHR systems (not including systems solely for billing) in their office-based practices in 2008. The comparable figure for the 2007 NAMCS was 34 percent. (Source: Health Imaging News)

Survey: U.S. office-based EMR/EHR use rises 7.5% in 2008

Health Imaging News — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 12:55:30 +0100

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Carestream inks deal with Technology Partners

AuntMinnie.com Headlines — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 21:33:45 +0100

Carestream Health has signed a comarketing agreement with billing software (more) (Source: AuntMinnie.com Headlines)

Carestream, Technology Partners integrate radiology workflow solutions

Health Imaging News — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 20:15:42 +0100

Carestream Health, and medical business management solutions provider Technology Partners have inked a co-marketing contract that will enable Technology Partners’ Imagineradiology billing software to be integrated with Carestream's RIS/PACS platforms. (Source: Health Imaging News)

Carestream, Technology Partners integrate radiology workflow solutions

Health Imaging News — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 20:15:42 +0100

Will the Recent CMS Ruling About Medical Consultation Change Medical Practices?

Medscape Today Headlines — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 21:23:02 +0100

In this video blog, Paul G. Auwaerter, MD, wonders whether recent billing decisions will affect clinical care and the role of the consulting physician -- no longer the doctor’s doctor? Medscape Infectious Diseases (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)

Declining In-Hospital Mortality and Increasing Heart Failure Incidence in Elderly Patients With First Myocardial Infarction

Journal of the American College of Cardiology — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Ezekowitz et al. () report a decreasing overall mortality rate but an increasing incidence of heart failure (HF), especially late-onset HF, in a large cohort of patients with a first myocardial infarction in Alberta between 1994 and 2000. They found that in most patients (76%) who had suffered a myocardial infarction, HF developed. We have published similar data from the United Kingdom in patients from a single, large hospital service who had a first or recurrent myocardial infarction in 1998 (), and reported that in 63% HF developed over the subsequent 6 years. Interestingly, we reported that 84% of those who died during follow-up first developed HF. Recalculation of data provided by Ezekowitz et al. () yields a similar figure (92%) in a somewhat older population (). However, some dispari...

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Practices can speed collections by preauthorizing credit cards

American Medical News — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 12:00:00 +0100

Although few physicians have signed up, companies offering the service hope new computer security and ease of billing will reverse that. (Source: American Medical News)

Audit Says State Wasted $92 Million on Medicaid

NYT > Health — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 02:46:36 +0100

The Medicaid system, the state’s largest single expense, lost at least $92 million to improper payments, billing errors and poor record keeping, the state comptroller said. (Source: NYT > Health)

DiNapoli: NY made $92M in Medicaid billing errors

bizjournals.com Health Care:Health Insurance headlines — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 17:25:23 +0100

The state Department of Health has made $92 million in overpayments and billing errors in administering Medicaid during the past three years, according to state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli. (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Health Insurance headlines)

DiNapoli: NY made $92M in Medicaid billing errors

bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 17:25:23 +0100

Imagine Software adds billing company to roster

Health Imaging News — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 16:24:47 +0100

Billing and collection services company, the Power One, has selected medical business management solutions provider Imagine Software’s Imagineradiology practice management platform for employment in its operation. (Source: Health Imaging News)

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Imagine Software adds billing company to roster

Health Imaging News — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 16:24:47 +0100

A new twist in healthcare billing: the 'facility fee'

L.A. Times - Health — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 08:00:00 +0100

That will be $75, or more, for just walking through the door. Possibly coming soon to a doctor's office near you: a little something extra on your bill, not covered by insurance -- a nifty number known as a "facility fee." What is it exactly? Here's a fun experiment: Ask five medical professionals. Most likely, you will get a variety of explanations, all guaranteed to make you respond, "Huh?" (Source: L.A. Times - Health)

Effect of heteroatoms in the inorganic-organic layered perovskite-type hybrids [(ZCnH2nNH3)2PbI4], n = 2, 3, 4, 5, 6; Z = OH, Br and I; and [(H3NC2H4S2C2H4NH3)PbI4]

RSC - CrystEngComm latest articles — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Andreas Lemmerer, David G. Billing (Paper from CrystEngComm) Andreas Lemmerer, CrystEngComm, 2010, DOI: 10.1039/b917824d To cite this article before page numbers are assigned, use the DOI form of citation above. The content of this RSS Feed (c) The Royal Society of Chemistry (Source: RSC - CrystEngComm latest articles)

A new twist in healthcare billing: the 'facility fee'

L.A. Times - Health — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 07:04:42 +0100

2010 Will Bring Important Coding Changes

SCCM RSS News — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 14:20:39 +0100

Effective January 1, 2010, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will no longer reimburse for consultation codes, citing considerable confusion and inappropriate billing that cost an estimated $1.1 billion in 2001 to $500 million in 2005... (Source: SCCM RSS News)

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How to focus more attention on profits in tight economy

Modern Medicine — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100

More practices are streamlining billing and collection programs, as a result of the recession. (Source: Modern Medicine)

How to focus more attention on profits in tight economy

Modern Medicine Medical Economics — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100

More practices are streamlining billing and collection programs, as a result of the recession. (Source: Modern Medicine Medical Economics)

Hormone fails to fulfil 'fountain of youth' billing

The Irish Times - Health — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 00:08:41 +0100

DOES IT WORK?DHEA for general health and vitality (Source: The Irish Times - Health)

Building better nanotubes

Physics Today News Picks — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100

ScienceNOW: In the world of nanotechnology, few things get as much billing as nanotubes. Experts say that these cylinders composed of one-molecule-thin sheets could someday be used in everything from superstrong jet engines to cancer cures. Now researchers think they've found a way to make large amounts of an elusive type of nanotube that could provide even more impressive applications. Related Link Very long single- and few-walled boron nitride nanotubes via the pressurized vapor/condenser method (Source: Physics Today News Picks)

Alabama Physician Group Signs with McKesson for Billing and Practice Management Solutions

McKesson News — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 22:46:00 +0100

Physician Group Avoids up-Front Capital Expenses, Future Upgrade Costs with Remotely-Hosted Solution (Source: McKesson News)

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Alabama physician group looks to IT for billing problems

Healthcare IT News — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 15:20:06 +0100

Author: Kyle Hardy Teaser: Healthcare Authority for Baptist Health, a Montgomery, Ala.-based affiliate of UAB Health System, is aiming to streamline its billing processes using a new practice management system. Dateline: MONTGOMERY, AL Healthcare Authority for Baptist Health, a Montgomery, Ala.-based affiliate of UAB Health System, is aiming to streamline its billing processes using a new practice management system. Issue Feature Flag: off Source Source: Healthcare IT News Highlights Highlight Thumbnail: Main Highlight: not sho...

New “Best Practices” Turbocharge How Labs Use Lean and Six Sigma

Dark Daily — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 09:00:16 +0100

Top labs are leveraging Lean Six Sigma to Boost Performance and Profits Clinical laboratories and pathology groups using Lean Six Sigma methods are blowing right past the dismal economy and posting strong improvements in operations and financial performance. In fact, at their most innovative, these laboratories are developing new global “best practices” in how they use [...] (Source: Dark Daily)

N.J. surgery center wins ruling in health plan fraud case

American Medical News - GOVERNMENT — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 12:00:00 +0100

The decision affirms physicians' practices for referrals and out-of-network billing. (Source: American Medical News - GOVERNMENT)

Now You Can Even Die Green: Biodegradable Eco-Coffins Introduced in U.S.

NaturalNews.com — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 07:00:00 +0100

(NaturalNews) A Colorado-based company is now offering U.S. consumers the option of being buried in a fully biodegradable casket made out of banana sheaves and bamboo."As more and more American families and communities look for eco-friendly solutions to everything in life, Ecoffins provides fitting tributes to those choosing to honor their environmentally conscious lifestyle at the time of their death," says the company, Ecoffins USA, on its Web site.According to Ecoffins USA's marketing director, Joanna Passarelli, the coffins have proved particularly popular in New Mexico, where there is strong support for eco-friendly ceremonies. Passarelli says that the company has also found interest among Jewish and Muslim communities.Jewish and Muslim tradition discourages anything that would preven...

Coding versus billing skills

Modern Medicine — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Get your questions answered on coding and billing skills, as well as what to consider before taking the job. (Source: Modern Medicine)

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Things to consider before accepting a job offer

Modern Medicine — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Get your questions answered on coding and billing skills, as well as what to consider before taking the job. (Source: Modern Medicine)

Things to consider before accepting a job offer

Medical Economics - Personal Finance — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Get your questions answered on coding and billing skills, as well as what to consider before taking the job. (Source: Medical Economics - Personal Finance)

Things to consider before accepting a job offer

Modern Medicine Medical Economics — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Get your questions answered on coding and billing skills, as well as what to consider before taking the job. (Source: Modern Medicine Medical Economics)

Coding versus billing skills

Modern Medicine Medical Economics — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Get your questions answered on coding and billing skills, as well as what to consider before taking the job. (Source: Modern Medicine Medical Economics)

Coding versus billing skills

Medical Economics - Practice Management — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Get your questions answered on coding and billing skills, as well as what to consider before taking the job. (Source: Medical Economics - Practice Management)

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Things to consider before accepting a job offer

Medical Economics - Practice Management — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Get your questions answered on coding and billing skills, as well as what to consider before taking the job. (Source: Medical Economics - Practice Management)

Things to consider before accepting a job offer

Medical Economics - Medical Economics magazine — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Get your questions answered on coding and billing skills, as well as what to consider before taking the job. (Source: Medical Economics - Medical Economics magazine)

Coding versus billing skills

Medical Economics - Medical Economics magazine — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Get your questions answered on coding and billing skills, as well as what to consider before taking the job. (Source: Medical Economics - Medical Economics magazine)

Nationwide 'Medicare Fraud Strike Force' Focuses On Driving Down Cost

Health News from Medical News Today — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 11:00:00 +0100

A "Medicare Fraud Strike Force," which started in south Florida, has now expanded across the country to indict more than 300 on fraudulent Medicare billing charges, The Washington Times reports. Officials say the strike force has broken up operations that attempted to defraud Medicare of more than $700 million. "Former U.S. Attorney R... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Health News of the Day

Clinical Cases and Images — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 11:57:00 +0100

is a daily summary made from the selected links I post on Twitter. It is in a bullet points format with links to the original sources which include 350 RSS feeds that produce about 2,500 items per day:"What happens when doctors give patients more power? They may be less willing to try a potentially risky treatment. Asking patients to assume more responsibility for decisions re: their healthcare may have unanticipated consequences" http://bit.ly/76QtWzWHO: Phase out HIV drug Stavudine (d4T) because of "long-term, irreversible" side-effects http://bit.ly/7576cNSpreadsheets: Impact of Medicare 2010 Fee Changes by Specialty http://bit.ly/4yc3e4 & Consult Billing http://bit.ly/5nDz4T by Texas Medical Association. Impact of 2010 Medicare Fee Schedule, by Texas Medical Association (links to ...

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ACR Opens the Vault Door on Its Image Bank

Rheumatology News — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100

The American College of Rheumatology is billing its new online image bank as the “most comprehensive online collection of rheumatology-related images,” running the alphabet from avascular necrosis to vasculitis. (Source: Rheumatology News)

Calif. Balance-Billing Ban Prompts Lawsuits

Rheumatology News — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100

It was January 2009 when the California Supreme Court prohibited emergency physicians from balance billing the several million patients covered under that state's HMOs and Blue Cross and Blue Shield PPOs. (Source: Rheumatology News)

Revenue: Understanding Insurance Reimbursement and CPT Coding in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:55:54 +0100

Since the early 1990s, Current Procedure Terminology (CPT) has been the gold standard for billing for medical services. After reviewing the historical context of CPT coding, this article presents the coding methodology, discussion of specialty codes (psychiatric and other specialty codes of potential use to child and adolescent psychiatrists), and the evaluation and management (E/M) codes. Various coding options for common clinical encounters are also presented. (Source: Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America)

A black-white comparison of the quality of stage-specific colon cancer treatment

Cancer — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Several studies have attributed racial disparities in cancer incidence and mortality to variances in socioeconomic status and health insurance coverage. However, an Institute of Medicine report found that blacks received lower quality care than whites after controlling for health insurance, income, and disease severity.To examine the effects of race on colorectal cancer outcomes within a single setting, the authors performed a retrospective cohort study that analyzed the cancer registry, billing, and medical records of 365 university hospital patients (175 blacks and 190 whites) diagnosed with stage II-IV colon cancer between 2000 and 2005. Racial differences in the quality (effectiveness and timeliness) of stage-specific colon cancer treatment (colectomy and chemotherapy) were examined af...

Medical Fees Surprise Patients, Bankruptcy Plagues Others

Health News from Medical News Today — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 14:00:00 +0100

High medical fees often catch patients off-guard while many plagued by medical debt file for bankruptcy. The Wall Street Journal reports: "When patients visit some doctors' offices and urgent-care clinics, they're increasingly running into something unexpected: billing as though they had gone to a hospital. (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

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Medical Fees Surprise Patients, Bankruptcy Plagues Others

Public Health News From Medical News Today — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 14:00:00 +0100

BridgeGate Launches New Healthcare Integration and Interoperability Products

PRWeb: Medical Pharmaceuticals — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:50:10 +0100

Suite Helps Organizations Meet HIPAA Compliance Requirements and Automate Billing, Claims, Enrollment and Eligibility (PRWeb Nov 23, 2009) Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2009/11/prweb3239784.htm (Source: PRWeb: Medical Pharmaceuticals)

Urodynamix Technologies Ltd.: Urodynamix Technologies Ltd. Provides Update on US Reimbursement

Market Wire - Pharmaceuticals and Biotech — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:30:00 +0100

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA (MARKET WIRE) Urodynamix Technologies Ltd. (TSX VENTURE: URO) today announced that the American Medical Association (AMA) has published its 2010 Current Procedural Terminology (CPT)(1) codes with additions, changes and deletions of billing codes for all medical specialities including urology. (Source: Market Wire - Pharmaceuticals and Biotech)

Q&A From APA's HelpLine Database: Billing for Phone Psychotherapy [Psychiatric Practice & Managed Care]

Psychiatr News — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:02:23 +0100

(Source: Psychiatr News)

S.C. imaging center taps Zotec for billing services

CMIO.net: The News Weekly for Health IT Executives — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:45:07 +0100

Health IT company Zotec Partners has entered into a billing services contract with West Columbia, S.C.-based Lexington Radiology Associates, an imaging provider to the patients of Lexington Medical Center. (Source: CMIO.net: The News Weekly for Health IT Executives)

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S.C. imaging center taps Zotec for billing services

Health Imaging News — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:45:07 +0100

S.C. imaging center taps Zotec for billing services

Health Imaging News — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:45:07 +0100

Qualitative and quantitative evaluation of charge capture by a radiology information system

Journal of Digital Imaging — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:17:29 +0100

Abstract Installation of a radiology information management system (RIS) is usually justified on the basis of improved departmental efficiency and improved charge capture. However, evaluation of the success of these expected improvements is often difficult. The installation and operation of such a system in a medium-sized tertiary care hospital has permitted the effects of the RIS on the operation of the department to be studied and the improvements in charge capture provided by the system to be quantitatively assessed. As a result of a side-by-side comparison with a conventional check-sheet manual billing system, it is apparent that the RIS reduces the errors inherent in manual systems. Subjectively, it is also apparent that personnel prefer the computerized system to the...

Library of Medicine publishes SNOMED draft

Healthcare IT News — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:20:52 +0100

The National Library of Medicine has published a draft map linking content from SNOMED Clinical Terms to ICD-9-CM billing codes, as a precursor to the development of similar maps. The map aims to support administrative reporting and reimbursement functions where SNOMED CT is the terminology for clinical descriptive purposes, said Betsy Humphreys, NLM deputy director. The draft consists of about 5,000 mappings of the SNOMED CT terms most commonly used by Kaiser Permanente and the University of Nebraska. (Source: Healthcare IT News)

Medical billing company employs Imagine's rad suite

Health Imaging News — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:43:17 +0100

Medical billing company Dexios has chosen Technology Partners’ IMAGINEradiology practice management system for its billing and collection needs. (Source: Health Imaging News)

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Medical billing company employs Imagine's rad suite

Health Imaging News — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:43:17 +0100

Medical billing company Dexios has chosen Technology Partners’ IMAGINEradiology practice management system for its billing and collection needs. (Source: Health Imaging News)

Survey: Healthcare isn't ready for HITECH's security breach notification rules

Healthcare IT News — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:56:48 +0100

Business associates who handle private patient information for healthcare organizations are largely unprepared to meet the new data breach related obligations included in the HITECH Act, according to a new survey. Those affected include billing operations, credit bureaus, benefits management, legal services, claims processing, insurance brokers, data processing firms, pharmacy chains, accounting firms, temporary office personnel and offshore transcription vendors. (Source: Healthcare IT News)

Business associates unprepared for data breaches

CMIO.net: The News Weekly for Health IT Executives — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:07:54 +0100

Many medical business associates—third parties that include billing companies, credit bureaus, insurance brokers, data processing firms, pharmacy chains, accounting firms and offshore transcription vendors—are unprepared to meet new data breach regulations in the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act. (Source: CMIO.net: The News Weekly for Health IT Executives)

Business associates unprepared for data breaches

Health Imaging News — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:07:54 +0100

Business associates unprepared for data breaches

Health Imaging News — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:07:54 +0100

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athenahealth's rules engine scores a patent

Healthcare IT News — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:38:26 +0100

athenahealth, which provides Internet-based business services to physician practices, has received a patent for its practice management and billing system. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued the patent on Nov. 10 for the Watertown, Mass.-based comnpany's athenaNet rules engine, which is part of the company's athenaCollector revenue cycle management service. (Source: Healthcare IT News)

Missing paperwork costs Kaiser $1.8M

bizjournals.com Health Care:Health Insurance headlines — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:42:51 +0100

Kaiser Permanente Northwest has agreed to pay $1.8 million for allegedly skipping paperwork requirements when billing Medicare for hospice services, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Thursday. (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Health Insurance headlines)

Missing paperwork costs Kaiser $1.8M

bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:42:51 +0100

Sandra Murman joins Accelify board of advisors

bizjournals.com Health Care:Health Insurance headlines — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:29:36 +0100

Former Florida House Speaker Pro-Tem Sandra Murman will join the national board of advisors for Medicaid billing agent Accelify. (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Health Insurance headlines)

Sandra Murman joins Accelify board of advisors

bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:29:36 +0100

Former Florida House Speaker Pro-Tem Sandra Murman will join the national board of advisors for Medicaid billing agent Accelify. (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines)

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Group Visits and the Medical Home- Build it and they will come (Konrad Nau MD)

Family Medicine Digital Resources Library (FMDRL) Recently Uploaded — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Group visits promise to inovate and invigorate the medical home. This presentation explores barriers to getting your group visit program established, and outlines how to overcome them. Diabetes,exercise as medicine, chronic pain, and prenatal group visits are detailed. GV billing and coding keys to success and tools for evaluating resident competencies, patient satisfaction and patient centeredness are included. (Source: Family Medicine Digital Resources Library (FMDRL) Recently Uploaded)

Explore Nurse Practitioner Careers

About.com Health Careers — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Nurse practitioners (NPs) are advanced practice nurses who, in some states, can practice independently, seeing patients and billing for their time and services almost as a physician would. Some healthcare analysts and experts see nurse practitioners and physician assistants (PAs) as the answer to the growing physician shortage, particularly in primary care, while others feel that nurse practitioners do not possess enough extensive training and education to fill physicians' shoes. November 5-12 is Nurse Practitioner recognition week, so this is a great time to learn more about the role of nurse practitioners in the medical community. According to the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA), the average income for NPs is about $81,723, making them amongst the highest-paid nurses. You m...

Who is in Your neighborhood? The Patient-centered Medical Community (David C Willis MD)

Family Medicine Digital Resources Library (FMDRL) Recently Uploaded — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100

PI 2009 Conference Presentation: identifying the need of a PCMH to address its interconnectedness to the medical community within which it operates. Interoperability is often glossed over in preparing the transformation, but remaining electronically isolated disrupted nearly 75% of a PCMH's ability to perform at maximum capacity. Many of the core elements of a PCMH require the export and import of information; if interfaces and exchanges are not set up, the EHR becomes a very expensive word processor that only generates billing documents. This presentation elaborates on these points and offers education and tips on planning for integration of your PCMH transformation into your medical community. Make the most of your patient-centered medical home, help it create a patient-centered medical ...

A Preliminary Report of Knowledge Translation: Lessons From Taking Screening and Brief Intervention Techniques From the Research Setting Into Regional Systems of Care

Academic Emergency Medicine — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100

This article describes a limited statewide dissemination of an evidence-based technology, screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT), and evaluation of the effects on emergency department (ED) systems of care, utilizing the knowledge translation framework of reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance (RE-AIM), using both quantitative and qualitative data sources. Screening and brief intervention (SBI) can detect high-risk and dependent alcohol and drug use in the medical setting, provide early intervention, facilitate access to specialty treatment when appropriate, and improve quality of care. Several meta-analyses demonstrate its effectiveness in primary care, and the federal government has developed a well-funded campaign to promote physician tr...

'Incident to' billing rules open to interpretation

Modern Medicine — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100

The issues are too complex for a simple answer when it comes to 'incident to' billing. (Source: Modern Medicine)

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Concordance of survey and billing data in a study of outpatient healthcare cost and utilization among epilepsy patients

Epilepsy Research — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Summary: We assessed the concordance between healthcare utilization and cost measured with patient survey and billing data among 226 epilepsy patients in a large multi-specialty group practice. Does survey information on utilization combined with prices, provide a cost of care that is approximately equal to the cost of care derived from billing data, utilizing the same price structure? Do measures of cost from survey and billing data yield the same correlates of cost among epilepsy patients? If so, survey data may be utilized to estimate correlates and cost of epilepsy care in cases where complete billing information is not available.For five of eight outpatient services, the concordance coefficients exceeded the practical cut-off value for clinical studies, suggesting substantial agreemen...

Holiday Algorithmics

JEMS: Journal of Emergency Medical Services — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100

I doubt anyone can argue that EMS medical procedures are more complex today than they used to be. We no longer lump all our patient care into the one simple (but fun) formula of driving all those we encounter on scene to the hospital in an insanely fast manner. EMS care has also become more sophisticated in its patient billing collection process. No, wait … I mean, it's become more of a scientific art form. (Source: JEMS: Journal of Emergency Medical Services)

Update on Consultation Billing

The Journal for Nurse Practitioners — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Many questions have come in lately regarding nurse practitioner (NP) consultations. Here are some of the questions, and brief answers: (Source: The Journal for Nurse Practitioners)

Population-Based Study of Risk and Predictors of Stroke in the First Few Hours after a TIA: Chandratheva A, Mehta Z, Geraghty OC, et al. Neurology 2009;72:1941–7

The Journal of Emergency Medicine — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Although it is known that the risk of stroke in the week after a transient ischemic attack (TIA) is approximately 10%, this prospective study tracked the incidence of stroke in the first 24 h after TIA. In addition, the authors sought to determine the efficacy of the ABCD2 risk score in predicting stroke recurrence. Over nearly a 5-year period, the Oxford Vascular Study comprising 91,105 individuals was used to track patients presenting with TIA or stroke to Oxford area hospitals, urgent open-access TIA clinics, and accident and emergency departments. Local hospital and private general practitioner office record searches were conducted to screen for patients using billing codes, cranial and carotid imaging study records, and registered death certificates. Two types of initial TIA were defi...

Standard Service Codes in Nursing Homes

Geriatric Nursing — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs) are able to bill for the services they provide at Nursing Homes. Coding is an integral part of charging for these services and can be a complex procedure. It is important to understand the billing process because APNs are responsible for the accuracy and adherence to regulations for all billing claims submitted under their individual APN Medicare provider number. Medicare covers services an APN is “legally authorized to perform in accordance with State law.” The following conditions must be met: (Source: Geriatric Nursing)

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Nuts and bolts of preoperative clinics: The view from three institutions

Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 22:16:38 +0100

Three directors of dedicated preoperative assessment clinics share their experience in setting up and running their programs. Standardizing and centralizing all or part of the preoperative evaluation process—obtaining patient records; the history and physical examination; the surgical, anesthesiology, and nursing assessments; ordering tests; and documentation and billing—increases efficiency. The savings achieved from minimizing redundancy, avoiding surgery delays and cancellations, and improved reimbursement coding offset the increased costs of setting up and running the clinic. (Source: Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine)

Revealed: How primary care is losing millions through hospital bill errors

Pulse — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:07:00 +0100

A GP has exposed huge problems in the system for billing PCTs and practices for hospital activity, with vast sums being wrongly claimed from primary care. (Source: Pulse)

Revealed: How primary care is losing millions through hospital bill errors

Pulse — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:07:00 +0100

A GP has exposed huge problems in the system for billing PCTs and practices for hospital activity, with vast sums being wrongly claimed from primary care. (Source: Pulse)

Profit Driven Swine Flu Propaganda - Pump Up the Volume - Part Four

NaturalNews.com — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 07:00:00 +0100

This article is part four in a six-part series. Be sure to read part three at http://www.naturalnews.com/027310_swine_flu_health_Tamiflu.htmlThose in control of the mainstream media have joined together with public health officials to provide the pharmaceutical industry with the best swine flu promotional campaign that money can buy.In an October 7, 2009, OpEd News article titled, "The Centers for Disease Control: The Best Vaccination PR Firm Taxes Can Buy," the makers of the documentaries, "Vaccine Nation," and "Autism: Made in the USA," Richard Gale and Dr Gary Null wrote: "If the flu season goes according to schedule, the vaccine industrial complex will be poised to join Wall Street for record year rip-off profits. We will also likely witness huge Pharma executive bonuses and perhaps go...

Capture Medical Billing Videos Help Physicians Code For H1N1 Swine Flu Vaccine

Health News from Medical News Today — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:00:00 +0100

Capture Billing and Consulting, Inc., a medical billing and coding company, would like to help keep healthcare professionals informed and up to date on the latest coding and billing specifications and regulations. With its release of the "Medical Billing Minute" video, Capture Billing hopes to educate physicians on how to code for the H1N1 Swine Flu Vaccine. (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

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Clinical Labs Make Money by Using Revenue Cycle Management

Dark Daily — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:45:21 +0100

Management Tool Contributes to More Collected Revenue, Higher Sales Prices Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) is hitting the radar screen at the nation’s best-managed clinical laboratories. That’s because shrinking reimbursement makes it imperative for clinical labs and pathology groups to collect every dollar legally due for the lab testing services they provide. RCM is a proven management [...] (Source: Dark Daily)

H1N1 Vaccine Administration Billing Questions and Answers

PandemicFlu.gov RSS Feed for News Releases — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:30:00 +0100

The purpose of this Q&A is to provide guidance about the circumstances under which providers may bill insurance or charge patients when federal funds for H1N1 vaccination are being used. (Source: PandemicFlu.gov RSS Feed for News Releases)

H1N1 Vaccine Administration Billing Questions and Answers

CDC Swine Flu Updates — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 19:46:00 +0100

Questions and answers related to billing practices for H1N1 vaccine administration, including guidance about the circumstances under which providers may bill insurance or charge patients when federal funds for H1N1 vaccination are used. (Source: CDC Swine Flu Updates)

H1N1 Flu Vaccine Requires Pediatricians To Change EMR Software System Requirements

Health News from Medical News Today — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 05:00:00 +0100

With initial shipments of the much anticipated H1N1 vaccine arriving in doctors' offices last week, Connexin Software announced it is delivering an expedited update of its Office Practicum™ pediatric EMR with features to support the special forecasting, administration, and billing requirements of the new vaccine. (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

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