Telemedicine is proving to be of great value to patients as well as the health professionals. The most significant innovation of telemedicine over in-person visits is the opportunity for better patient follow up and increased health outcomes. Traditionally, the hospitals recommended a treatment plan or prescribed medications, then hoped the patient followed their advice. But […]
The Department of Health and Human Services on Thursday unveiled proposed changes to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act Privacy Rule that federal officials say will improve patient access to their medical records, encourage coordinated care and cut red tape. “Our proposed changes to the HIPAA Privacy Rule will break down barriers that have stood in […]
If there’s one thing healthcare providers can agree on, it’s that prior authorization management is a heavy administrative burden and only growing heavier. Decades ago, it was created to ensure care standards continuity, improve safety and regulate costs but has become an unwieldy process filled with manual tasks and roadblocks that dilute the original intent. […]
Physicians have faced a number of key technical challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the inability to send and receive patient data, as well as issues related to electronic health record (EHR) interface and failure to effectively extract EHR data. Interoperability and patient data exchange are critical for physicians, hospitals, health systems and payers alike to minimize the spread […]
One of the codes, CPT Code 99072, is for reporting additional supplies used to mitigate spread of the virus. The American Medical Association (AMA) announced, Sept. 8, two new Category I CPT® codes to meet the changing needs of the healthcare industry brought about by the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE). The codes were approved […]
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about robust changes to the traditional practice of healthcare in the United States. In a time of social distancing and widespread quarantining, regulatory bodies, including the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), have adapted to the current environment. The most critical goal was to allow healthcare providers to appropriately […]
Telehealth is hot right now among physicians and patients, but what’s its long term outlook? What impact will telehealth have on patient outcomes and physician reimbursement? Telehealth is hot right now among physicians and patients, but what’s its long term outlook? What impact will telehealth have on patient outcomes and physician reimbursement? To learn more […]
For several years, we’ve seen Medicare and the American Medical Association’s Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) manual slowly approach the age of telehealth. Despite a lot of discussion and many headlines during each of the past few years, the codes and coverage embracing the modern age of medicine have lagged far behind the technology. This isn’t […]
Big data and electronic health records — along with other technologies — could change the way long-term care is delivered. We’re living in an age of unprecedented technology. Back in the 1960s, when most of the residents at your long-term care facility were establishing their careers and rearing children, the first computers began appearing in […]
When the Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM) launches Jan. 1, 2020, leveraging tools and resources to ensure compliance will be critical to a successful transition. Home health care providers already have one helpful tool in place: the electronic health record (EHR). By incorporating workflow efficiencies, alerts, customizable features and feedback reporting capabilities, EHRs can provide visibility […]