Adoption of health information technology (HIT) is on the rise. This was confirmed today by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Secretary Kathleen Sebelius when she announced that the number of hospitals using health information technology (IT) has more than doubled in the last two years. Nearly 2,000 hospitals and more than 41,000 doctors have received over $3 billion in incentive payments for meeting meaningful use requirements.... [More]

Against the suggestion of the AHIMA, it looks like CMS will in fact revisit the ever pressing issue of ICD-10 implementation. The second look into the matter comes two weeks after the AMA confronted Congress with the stresses its members were experiencing in complying with the October 2013 deadline. And while this author apologizes for his erroneous prediction posted yesterday, the best practices for physicians struggling to meet the deadline still remains preparing for the worst and hoping for the best.... [More]

With the October 2013 implementation deadline steadily approaching, providers have undoubtedly felt the increased strain of ICD-10 compliance. This point was recently underscored when CMS announced that it would delay enforcement of the newly required 5010 standard, the technical precursor of ICD-10 implementation, for an additional three months to accommodate those scrambling to incorporate the new technology. In light of this and other developments, at the end of January the AMA sent House Speaker John Boehner an open letter asking Congress to stop the federally mandated ICD-10 implementation date.... [More]

The healthcare conference season is upon us once again, and what better way to kick off this year’s convention marathon than with one of the biggest and the best: HIMSS12. On Feb. 20-24, 2012, 32,000+ health IT professionals will gather at the Venetian Sands Expo Center, in Las Vegas, Nevada to discuss the latest trends in healthcare technology.

We all know that conferences can be overwhelming, especially for those who come unprepared. To survive HIMSS here are some convention essentials to help get you through.... [More]

If the never-ending saga of Medicare reimbursement rate cuts and 5010 compliance issues weren’t enough for providers last year, yet another wrinkle was tacked on in the end in the form of future HIPAA audits. As mandated in the HITECH Act of 2009 (the same law that sparked government subsidies for EHR adoption), HHS is now required to conduct periodic audits to ensure that covered entities and their business associates comply with the HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules and Breach Notification Standards.... [More]

When healthcare organizations, providers, and patients exchange documents and information today, they are likely sending paper through the mail or by fax. This can leave important personal health information (PHI) unprotected and can diminish the integrity of a document putting both the sender and receiver at risk.

To remedy this problem, the Direct Project has been introduced. The Direct Project is a component of the Nationwide Health Information Network (NHIN), a health information infrastructure that will connect providers, consumers, and others involved in supporting healthcare. NHIN is an integral part of a national strategy to have an interconnected health system through the use of technology.... [More]

According to Surescripts, which handles nearly all U.S. prescriptions, approximately 150 million prescriptions are written and filled each month. About one-third of those prescriptions are currently being handled electronically using e-prescription technology. E-Prescribing allows healthcare providers to electronically send a precise and clear prescription directly to a pharmacy from the point-of-care. Using a secure internet network e-prescriptions are sent directly to pharmacies from computers or hand-held devices. The instantaneous transmission cuts out patients as the middle man, making the process faster and more streamlined.... [More]

In the past, most industry discussions about Medicare audits have been focused towards larger providers such as hospitals. However; smaller providers beware-- it looks as if Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) are just as susceptible to being audited by the Recovery Audit Contractors (RACs).

Each RAC has set priorities for every specific region, and recently they have been focusing on SNFs in regions A, C, and D. Specifically....

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Over the past decade healthcare providers, payers, and patients have all fronted a crusade to reduce the cost of providing and receiving medical care while increasing quality standards. This movement has led to more patients being monitored within the home through the use of telehealth technologies. Telehealth is the delivery of health-related services and information via telecommunications technologies.... [More]

Although I do not have a crystal ball, you do not have to be a fortune teller to predict that 2012 is going to be both an exciting and daunting year for the healthcare industry and its constituents. With new technologies paving the way for more coordinated cost-effective care and strict deadlines and regulations put in place there are clear trends we are likely to see in the upcoming year. We can expect to see the following projects and movements in 2012.... [More]