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Social Media Improves Donor Registration

Kristen Archibald — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:00:39 +0000

A new report published in the American Journal of Transplantation last week reveals the impact of a new social media initiative helped to boost organ donor registration rates.

Last year, Facebook introduced an option allowing users add an organ donor designation to their profile. More than a year later, 30,818 people have registered to be donors, about five times more than the rates before the Facebook classification. The findings suggest that social media might be an effective tool for tackling a variety of problems related to public health in which communication and education are essential.

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Preparing For ICD-10: Provider Basics

Kristen Archibald — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:00:44 +0000

Providers should plan to test their ICD-10 systems early, to help ensure compliance. Beginning steps in the testing phase include:

Internal testing of ICD-10 systems
Coordination with payers to assess readiness
Project plan launch by data management and IT teams

For providers who have not yet started to transition to ICD-10, below are actions steps to take now:

Develop an implementation plan and communicate the new system changes to your organization, your business plan, and ensure that leadership and staff understand the extent of the effort the ICD-10 transition requires.
Secure a budget that accounts for software upgrades/software license costs, hardware procurement, staff training costs, work flow changes during and after implementation, and contingency planning.
Talk with your payers, billing and IT staff, and vendors to confirm their readiness status.
Coordinate your ICD-10 transition plans among your partners and evaluate contracts with payers and vendors for policy revisions, testing timelines, and costs related to the ICD-10 transition.
Create and maintain a timeline that identifies tasks to be completed and crucial milestones/relationships, task owners, resources needed, and estimated start and end dates.

PCORI, NIA Team Up For Fall Prevention Study

Kristen Archibald — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:00:05 +0000

The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) and the National Institute on Aging (NIA) are teaming up to conduct multi-year study aimed at reducing the number of fall-related injuries among seniors.

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Tiptastic Tuesday: Comparing ICD-9 & ICD-10

Kristen Archibald — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:00:39 +0000

ICD-10 code sets have fundamental changes in structure and concepts that make them vastly different from ICD-9. Below is a basic breakdown of the differences between the two code sets.

ICD-9:

3-5 characters in length
Approximately 13,000 codes
First digit may be alpha or numeric
digits 2-5 are numeric
Limited space tor adding new codes
Lacks detail
Lacks laterally (codes identifying right vs. left)

ICD-10:

3-7 characters in length
Approximately 68,000 codes
Digit 1 is alpha
Digit 2 and 3 are numeric; digits 4-7 are alpha or numeric
Flexibility of adding new codes
Very specific
Has laterally (codes identifying right vs. left)

Health Plans Vary Sharply From State to State

Kristen Archibald — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 18:41:53 +0000

With only a few months remaining before Americans will start buying coverage under the the new state health insurance exchanges established under the Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act (PPACA), it is becoming clear how those policies vastly vary from state to state.

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HFMA Releases Best Practices For Financial Interactions

Kristen Archibald — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 17:00:41 +0000

Yesterday, the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) released best practices to help physicians and provider organizations handle the most sensitive financial interactions with patients including when and where to initiate a financial discussion and how to proceed when a patient has an outstanding balance.

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Supreme Court Rules ‘Pay for Delay’ Suits Can Proceed

Kristen Archibald — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 15:16:47 +0000

Earlier today, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) can proceed with its “pay-for-delay” case, which argues pharmaceutical manufacturers illegally restrict competition by reaching deals with generic drug companies to keep cheaper versions of drugs off the market.

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Monday Morning Recap

Kristen Archibald — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:00:33 +0000

The HMS Healthcare Management Solutions Monday Morning Recap reviews some of the top stories and healthcare highlights you may have missed last week.

Lack of Water, Mild Hydration, Can Alter Mood

Kristen Archibald — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 18:00:47 +0000

Turns out drinking eight glasses of water a day does more than just boost metabolism. Two studies from the University of Connecticut concluded mild dehydration can alter a person’s mood, energy level and ability to concentrate among otherwise healthy men and women.

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Home Health Cost Report Changes

Kristen Archibald — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 16:30:04 +0000

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently posted changes to the home health cost report. The changes modify the instructions and existing worksheets to reflect a series of refinements that address sequestration and matters related to Federally-Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs).

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