This is Day 10 of our 12 Days of Christmas Posts and we are leaping in joy for these great posts we had this year on our sites. Every month we compile our Top 10 posts that deserve a second read. This list takes those list just one step further. Here are the most read and shared posts of the year.
Thank you experts for sharing your thoughts and knowledge.
10 Tips To Prepare for MIPS – Merit-Based-Incentive Program System
By Peggy Losey, Manager of Ambulatory Incentive Programs, ehealthcare Consulting Inc.
Twitter: @ehealthcareorg
Since first hearing of the new Pay-for-Performance reimbursement model MIPS, created through the MACRA legislation, I have noticed a strong similarity to the auto industry. Detroit roots, here! Comparisons are made in both industries to the continual introduction of new models, incentives to get you to “buy”, new technology and a focus on top performance! All driven by behind the scenes mandates of federal regulation toward safety, advanced technology, affordability and the best customer experience. Continue reading on RCMAnswers.net…
How MIPS Affects Physician Reimbursement
By Jeff Jones, Business Project Analyst, GroupOne Health Source Inc.
Twitter: @GroupOne_Health
Declining reimbursement is one of the greatest financial challenges physicians face today. While there isn’t much you can do to stop reimbursement cuts, you can be proactive in learning about the Merit Based Incentive Payment System and how it will impact physician reimbursement. Continue reading on RCMAnswers.net…
The 7 HIPAA Audit Items the Feds Selected
By Mike Semel
Twitter: @SemelConsulting
The OCR announced that the new permanent audit program has started. On July 11 letters were sent BY E-MAIL (check your junk mail folders!) to 167 health plans, health care providers, and health care clearing houses (all HIPAA Covered Entities) notifying them that they have to send in documentation for a ‘desk audit.’ They will have 10 days to send in the required materials for review. Of the 176 potential audit items the first covered entities will have to provide documentation proving their compliance with the following 7 HIPAA sections: Continue reading on HITECHAnswers.net…
Clinical Effectiveness: The Evolution of Evidence-Based Medicine
By Denise Basow, M.D., President and CEO of Clinical Effectiveness at Wolters Kluwer
Twitter: @Wolters_Kluwer
Clinical effectiveness is defined by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as “the application of best knowledge, derived from research, clinical experience and patient preferences to achieve optimum processes and outcomes of care for patients.” Focus on it has intensified as healthcare systems in the United States and many other countries strive to curtail costs while improving the quality and safety of care, as well as enhancing access to care and the experience patients have with the healthcare system. The industry is pulsating with change as it ingests new payment and care delivery models and innovation in technology aimed at improving clinical effectiveness. Continue reading on HIEAnswers.net…
How Much Is That Medical Record In The Window?
By Matt Fisher, Attorney and chair of the Health Law Group at Mirick, O’Connell, DeMallie & Lougee, LLP.
Twitter: @matt_r_fisher
A patient contacts their physician’s office and asks for a copy of their medical record. The expected response would seem to be obvious. Sure, we will copy the record and send it to your shortly. Not only will the record be sent, but it will be sent in an easily accessible format and exactly as requested. The reality is a bit more complicated. When a patient asks for their record, the outcome is not so straightforward with factors such as actually timing, cost, and others influencing the response. The variability occurs despite the right under HIPAA for an individual to request access to their medical record. Continue reading on HITECHAnswers.net…
Phase 2 HIPAA Audits – The OCR Emails Have Begun
By Jonathan Krasner, Director of Business Development, HIPAA Secure Now!
Twitter: @HIPAASecureNow
Back in March, we reported that OCR had announced its Phase 2 Audit Program. OCR stated that they would compile a database of both Covered Entities and Business Associates to form the basis of the pool of organizations potentially targeted for audit. They have followed up on their intentions and in the last week organizations have started to receive contact emails from OCR. Continue reading on HITECHAnswers.net…
With the Final MACRA Rule on the Horizon, Here’s What You Need to Know Right Now
By Neil Simon, COO, Aprima Medical Software
Twitter: @AprimaMedEHR
Twitter: @neilasimon
When CMS decided recently to allow physician practices to delay compliance with the MACRA cost and quality program, it was as if a collective sigh of relief could be heard across the country. With the final rule on MACRA anticipated in November, less than two months before reporting was scheduled to start, the timing would have been too close for comfort. Continue reading on RCMAnswers.net…
Connecting the Dots: MIPS, MACRA, 2015 Certification Edition and HIPAA Omnibus
By Keith Boone, Healthcare Standards
Twitter: @motorcycle_guy
This is definitely one of those cases that most people will likely miss unless it is explicitly called out, so here I go. Within the recently released MIPS/MACRA proposed regulations (which I call NuMu for reasons that should be readily apparent), CMS indicates that the legislation (law not regulation!) says: Continue reading on HIEAnswers.net…
Effectively Combating Ransomware in Healthcare
By Susan Biddle, Sr. Director of Healthcare, Fortinet
Twitter: @Fortinet
The havoc that Ransomware creates is real, its immediate impact and implications clear: workstations are disabled, files are encrypted and systems are shut down. The screen tells you what’s wrong and how much you’ll need to pay to fix it. It’s a straightforward transaction that everyone understands, and it’s driving IT security budgets around the world. Continue reading on HITECHAnswers.net…
By the Numbers: The Secure Text Messaging Market
By Jason Stanaland, Mobility Solutions Expert, Spok
Twitter: @spoktweets
Last year was the worst year in history for healthcare data breaches. According to the National Cybersecurity Institute, healthcare breaches surpassed 112 million records during 2015—100 times more than the previous year. Additionally, eight out of 10 of the largest hacks in 2015 were aimed directly at healthcare, and the three biggest breaches in history were recorded in 2015. IDC’s Health Insights group recently reported that one in three healthcare organizations will likely have their data compromised within the next 12 months. Considering these statistics, security tools must be considered critically important for healthcare organizations to further invest in during 2016. Continue reading on HIEAnswers.net…