Monday, September 28, 2015

Two days to ICD-10, CMS/AMA resources available



ICD-10 Coding and Clinical Documentation Resources

As with ICD-9, ample resources are available to assist you with coding and clinical documentation for ICD-10.
Official government coding guidelines cover:
CMS offers documentation and coding basics for clinicians in the Road to 10 Clinical Concepts Series with tailored guidance for:
Free lists of codes and ICD-9/ICD-10 mappings are available from CMS as well as vendors and trade associations, for example:
Several free and low-cost smartphone apps are available, and ICD10Data.com is a mobile-friendly website.
Many electronic health record (EHR) products and practice management systems prompt users for required documentation and feature computer-assisted coding.
Some system vendors and clearinghouses offer training to customers and potential customers.
Some health care trade associations and medical societies provide coding resources at no or little cost to their members, with premium costs sometimes charged to nonmembers.
Membership is not required to submit coding questions to the American Hospital Association’s codingclinicadvisor.com or view AHA’s free webinars (registration is required). When contacting the Coding Clinic Advisor for free assistance, include documentation and specify whether your question refers to a specific setting like a skilled nursing facility or home health services. Please note that the Coding Clinic Advisor will not respond to inquiries that include personal health information (PHI) or the names of providers or health care facilities. Please see the Coding Clinic Advisor FAQs for more, including a list of topics that are out of scope for this service.
Remember: The process for looking up an ICD-10 code—whether in a book or in an electronic product—remains essentially the same as the process for looking up an ICD-9 code.
Keep Up to Date on ICD-10
Visit the CMS 
ICD-10 website and Roadto10.org for the latest news and resources to help you prepare, including the ICD-10 Quick Start Guide. Sign up for CMS ICD-10 Email Updates and follow us on Twitter.

Thursday, August 20, 2015

Road to 10: The Small Physician Practice's Route to ICD-10 made easier


Road to 10: The Small Physician Practice's Route to ICD-10

Remember October 1, 2015 is the ICD-10 Compliance Date.
The AMA and CMS has created a great site to help us transition from ICD-9 TO ICD-10.

Common Codes for Your Specialty
Primer for Clinical Documentation
Clinical Scenarios
Training and Education Resources

Thursday, December 18, 2014

The Clinical Informatics Board results are in!

Congratulations to everyone who passed the exam this year.

Clinical Informatics is the application of informatics and information technology to deliver healthcare services. It is also referred to as applied clinical informatics and operational informatics.

Special thanks to the AMIA faculty and Staff for helping prepare the applicants:

Dr Bill Hersh
Dr Bimal Desai
Dr Diane Montella
Dr Thomas Payne

AMIA

2013 Diplomates List

2014 Diplomates List

LinkedIn Group

AMIA is the professional home of leading informaticians: clinicians, scientists, researchers, educators, students, and other informatics professionals who rely on data to connect people, information, and technology.
AMIA (the American Medical Informatics Association) is the center of action for more than 4,000 health care professionals, informatics researchers, and thought-leaders in biomedicine, health care and science. AMIA is an unbiased, authoritative source within the informatics community and the health care industry. AMIA and its members are transforming healthcare through trusted science, education, and practice in biomedical and health informatics.
The science of informatics drives innovation that is defining future approaches to information and knowledge management in biomedical research, clinical care, and public health.
As the voice of the nation’s top biomedical and health informatics professionals, AMIA members play a leading role in:
  • moving basic research findings from bench to bedside;
  • evaluating interventions across communities;
  • assessing the impact of health innovations on health policy; and
  • advancing the field of informatics.

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

mHealth Summit December 7, 2014

The largest event of its kind, the mHealth Summit gathers a uniquely diverse international delegation, including healthcare technology officials in government and industry; policymakers; academic researchers and students; healthcare providers; entrepreneurs; investors; public health and safety officials and patient advocates from across mobile and connected health.

It's not too late to Register.


Healthcare is the wild frontier in wireless technology. The mHealth Summit offers exciting opportunities to advance collaboration in the use of mobile and connected health, learn about the latest innovations, research, trends and big ideas shaping a new global paradigm in healthcare delivery, shifting the focus to consumers, and defining a new role for technology that is making the pursuit of health an engaging part of everyday life. mHealth’s capacity to deliver healthcare responsively—at the right time and the right place—to influence both personal and population health is, in a time of global healthcare crisis, fundamental to the future of human health. And it’s changing fast. The mHealth Summit is the venue for keeping informed, getting ahead, and discovering new solutions through dialogue with stakeholders you can’t meet anywhere else.  - 

Sunday, November 23, 2014

Show Support for HR 5481, Flexibility in Health IT Reporting Act

Attesting to Meaningful Use has its challenges.

This is a request to make the reporting period for 2015 only 3 months instead of 12, thus giving us all more time to comply with the standards. SV

I recommend going to the link by the end of the month.


In early September, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a final rule on 2014 Meaningful Use reporting that offered some level of flexibility for providers who are attempting to use Certified EHR Technology to report on their adherence to Meaningful Use Stage 1 or Stage 2 in 2014. The final rule gives flexibility for 2014, but requires a full-year of Meaningful Use reporting for 2015, which for hospitals starts in one week on October 1, 2014, and in three months for eligible professionals (January 1, 2015). The short implementation window is an incredibly difficult challenge for even the most prepared providers. On September 16, Representative Renee Ellmers (R-NC-02) introduced H.R. 5481 - The Flexibility in Health IT Reporting (Flex-IT) Act of 2014. Rep. Jim Matheson (D-UT-04) has signed on as an original co-sponsor. This important legislation would ensure health care providers receive the flexibility they need to successfully comply with HHS’ Meaningful Use Program in 2015. The Flex-IT Act will allow providers to report on their meaningful use compliance in 2015 for a three-month reporting period as opposed to a full year. This shortened reporting period is an important first step in helping to ensure providers remain in the Meaningful Use program and continue to use IT to support healthcare transformation. Your immediate attention and action is needed to help Congress understand the importance of this legislation! Use the HIMSS Legislative Action Center to get your member of Congress involved!

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Educational Dinner Presentation: Deja MU: Finding New Insights in “Old” Data

Educational Dinner Presentation: Deja MU: Finding New Insights in “Old” Data

Please join your industry peers for dinner, networking, and a brief presentation
led by Encore, A Quintiles Company, showing how you can leverage existing data assets
(such as your Meaningful Use data) to improve patient safety and outcomes.

Dr. Jon Morris, VP Provider Solutions & CMIO,
will show how existing data can provide further insights and
help you succeed in the shift to value-based payments.

November 4, 2014 -6:30 PM
Cocktail & Dinner
Presentation co-hosted by Encore & HIMSS NYS Chapter

Renaissance New York Times Square Hotel,
714 7th Ave W 48th St, New York, NY 10036
http://www.rloungetimessquare.com/

Please RSVP by (October 31, 2014) to Jean Parker, jparker@encorehealthresources.com

For more information, please visit:



Jean Mahoney Parker | Client Services Executive
Encore, a Quintiles Company

phone: 773-603-4063

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

NYeHealth Collaborative: Patient Centered Medical Home Webinar 09/18/2014

Check out tomorrow's informative presentation. SV


Here is a link to April's presentation:

Patient-Centered Medical Home - Transform Your Practice-20140410 1559-1 
April 10, 2014, 11:59 am New York Time 
59 mins 

Agenda:
oWhat is a Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH)?
oBenefits of PCMH to your practice
oAlignment with Meaningful Use and Accountable Care Organizations
oResearch Findings
oRecognition Programs
oNational and New York State Activities

oHow NYeC Can Help Practices

Tuesday, July 08, 2014

CMS Telemedicine proposal for 2015 Fact Sheet

This a a good first step towards acknowledging that managing care requires multiple reimbursable approaches. SV

Primary care and complex chronic care management
Medicare continues to emphasize primary care management services by beginning to make separate payment for chronic care management (CCM) services beginning in 2015. In last year’s final rule, we established policy to make separate payment for non-face-to-face chronic care management services for Medicare beneficiaries who have multiple, significant chronic conditions (two or more). Chronic care management services include regular development and revision of a plan of care, communication with other treating health professionals, and medication management.
This proposed rule addresses three aspects of CCM services. We propose a payment rate of $41.92 for the code that can be billed no more frequently than once per month per qualified patient. We also propose to allow greater flexibility in the supervision of clinical staff providing CCM services. Finally, we are not proposing to establish separate standards that practitioners and practices furnishing this service would have to meet, as we had indicated last year. Upon further review, we believe the scope of service requirements for CCM, most of which were finalized last year, would be sufficient for practitioners to deliver CCM. We are proposing one additional requirement – standards for electronic health records – and seek comment on whether additional standards are needed. Payment for CCM is only one part of a multi-faceted CMS initiative to improve Medicare beneficiaries’ access to primary care. Models being tested through the Innovation Center will continue to explore other primary care innovations.

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Dr Farzad Mostashari launches Aledade

Dr Farzad Mostashari has launched Aledade a company that will help primary care doctors form Accountable Care Organizations or ACOs. SV

Aledade

Aledade's Founding Team

Twitter Search #Aledade

Articles on Aledade

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Dr Steven Stack, named President-Elect of AMA!

Congratulations Steven. Well Deserved! SV

Steven J. Stack, MD, an emergency physician residing in Lexington, Ky., was first elected to the American Medical Association Board of Trustees (BOT) in June 2006. Board-certified in emergency medicine, Dr. Stack currently practices in Lexington and surrounding central Kentucky.
Dr. Stack has served as medical director of multiple emergency departments, including St. Joseph East (Lexington), St. Joseph Mt. Sterling (rural eastern Kentucky) and Baptist Memorial Hospital (Memphis, Tenn.). He is the first emergency medicine board-certified physician to serve on the AMA-BOT.
Dr. Stack has special expertise in health information technology (IT) and has been chair of the AMA’s Health Information Technology Advisory Group from 2007 to 2013. He has also served on multiple federal advisory groups for the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC), including the Information Exchange, PCAST Report, and Strategic Plan workgroups.
Dr. Stack will be the youngest AMA president in the past century.


Tuesday, May 20, 2014

CMS and ONC Release NPRM Allowing CEHRT Flexibility and Extending Stage 2

Keep sending in the feedback. SV

Today, CMS and ONC released a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that would allow providers participating in the EHR Incentive Programs to use the 2011 Edition of certified electronic health record technology (CEHRT) for calendar and fiscal year 2014. 
The NPRM will grant flexibility to providers who are experiencing difficulties fully implementing 2014 Edition CEHRT to attest this year. The proposed rule would allow providers to use EHRs that have been certified under the 2011 Edition, a combination of the 2011 and 2014 Editions, or the 2014 Edition.
Beginning in 2015, all eligible providers would be required to report using 2014 Edition CEHRT.
2014 Participation Options
Under this proposal, valid only for the 2014 reporting year, providers would be able to use 2011 Edition CEHRT for either Stage 1 or Stage 2, would have the option to attest to the 2013 definition of meaningful use core and menu objectives, and use the 2013 definition CQMs.
Providers currently working on Stage 1 in 2014 would be able to demonstrate:
  • Stage 1 (2013 Definition) using 2011 Edition CEHRT, or using a combination of 2011 and 2014 Edition CEHRT; or
  • Stage 1 (2014+ Definition) using 2014 Edition CEHRT.
Providers currently working on Stage 2 in 2014 would be able to demonstrate:
  • Stage 1 (2013 Definition) using 2011 Edition CEHRT, or using a combination of 2011 and 2014 Edition CEHRT;
  • Stage 1 (2014+ Definition) using 2014 Edition CEHRT; or
  • Stage 2 (2014+ Definition) using 2014 Edition CEHRT.
Extending Stage 2
The proposed rule also includes a provision that would formalize CMS and ONC’srecommended timeline to extend Stage 2 through 2016. If finalized, the earliest a provider would participate in Stage 3 of meaningful use would be 2017.
For More Information
Visit the CMS Newsroom to read the press release about the NPRM.


Wednesday, May 07, 2014

Happy Nurses Week May 6- 12, 2014

Thank you for all you do! SV


American Nurses Association
Nursing Informatics


Tuesday, April 29, 2014

NYeHealth Collaborative: Patient Centered Medical Home Webinar

Check out this informative presentation. SV

Patient-Centered Medical Home - Transform Your Practice-20140410 1559-1 
April 10, 2014, 11:59 am New York Time 
59 mins 

Agenda:
oWhat is a Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH)?
oBenefits of PCMH to your practice
oAlignment with Meaningful Use and Accountable Care Organizations
oResearch Findings
oRecognition Programs
oNational and New York State Activities

oHow NYeC Can Help Practices

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

NCQA PCMH 2011 Deadline is looming

Here are some important deadline and links FOR 2011 and 2014. SV

The last day to purchase the 2011 PCMH Survey Tool is June 30, 2014. All 2011 PCMH Survey Tools must be submitted by March 31, 2015. For additional information, see the Start-to-Finish PCMH Recognition page.

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Eligible Professionals Must Start Medicare EHR Participation in 2014 to Earn Incentives


Important Medicare Deadline Approaching for Eligible Professionals
If you are an eligible professional for the Medicare EHR Incentive Program, 2014 is the last year you can start participation in the Medicare EHR Incentive Program in order to receive incentive payments.
Eligible professionals who begin participation in the Medicare EHR Incentive Program after 2014 will not be able to earn an incentive payment for that year or any subsequent year of participation.
If you choose to participate in the Medicare EHR Incentive Program for the first time in 2014, you should begin your 90-day reporting period no later than July 1, 2014and submit attestation by October 1, 2014 in order to avoid the payment adjustment in 2015.
Note: October 1 is the attestation deadline for eligible professionals in their first year of participation to avoid the payment adjustment. However, eligible professionals who miss this deadline can still demonstrate meaningful use during the last 90-day reporting period of the year (October - December 2014) and earn an incentive payment for 2014.
Providers Who First Begin Participation in 2014 must:
To Earn Your Maximum Medicare Incentive
  • Demonstrate 90 days of Stage 1 of meaningful use in 2014 to earn up to $11,760.
  • Demonstrate a full year of Stage 1 of meaningful use in 2015 to earn up to $7,840.
  • Demonstrate a full year of Stage 2 of meaningful use in 2016 to earn up to $3,920.
If you successfully demonstrate meaningful use each year beginning in 2014, your total payment amount could be as much as $23,520.

Additional Resources

The EHR Incentive Program website offers several helpful tools and resources so you can successfully begin participation:

Sunday, April 13, 2014

NYeHealth Collaborative: Patient Centered Medical Home Webinar

Check out this informative presentation. SV

Patient-Centered Medical Home - Transform Your Practice-20140410 1559-1 
April 10, 2014, 11:59 am New York Time 
59 mins 

Agenda:
oWhat is a Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH)?
oBenefits of PCMH to your practice
oAlignment with Meaningful Use and Accountable Care Organizations
oResearch Findings
oRecognition Programs
oNational and New York State Activities

oHow NYeC Can Help Practices


NYC REACH Live Webinar Series: Meaningful Use Stage 2

NYC REACH Live Webinar Series:
Meaningful Use Stage 2

 
Are you preparing to start Meaningful Use Stage 2? NYC REACH invites you to our Meaningful Use Stage 2 Live Webinar Series. These upcoming four webinars will focus on different key Stage 2 topics, including:
 

Once registered, you will receive an email 1-2 days before the webinar with login instructions. Please be sure to provide your full name and a valid e-mail address when registering. If you have any questions about these webinars, please contact Victoria Pascoe at vpascoe@health.nyc.gov or (347) 396-4693.
 

Monday, April 07, 2014

ONC: A 10 year retrospective with interviews

An interesting article including interviews with the ONC leaders.

Modern Healthcare

Friday, April 04, 2014

NYC REACH Open Houses: The Bronx and Queens

Upcoming Open Houses

NYC REACH invites you to attend our 2014 Open House Series. Taking place throughout the five boroughs throughout the year, these open houses will provide an overview of what to expect in 2014. Attendees will also have an opportunity to hear a provider perspective on Health Information Technology and network with other providers from their area. 



Bronx Open House
Tuesday, April 22nd
Lehman College

50 Bedford Park Blvd W
Bronx, New York


Queens Open House
Thursday, May 1st
8:00 AM – 10:00 AM

NYC Department of Health
42-09 28th Street, Room 12-22
Long Island City, Queens

If you have any questions about these events, please contact pcipcomms@health.nyc.gov

Friday, March 14, 2014

Governor Cuomo Names Primary Care Partnership as "Pay for Success" Finalist

Congratulations to the Finalists! SV


Governor Cuomo Names Primary Care Partnership as "Pay for Success" Finalist

(March 14, 2014)  Governor Andrew Cuomo last week announced that a primary care partnership is one of four finalists for New York State's "Pay for Success" initiative.  The partnership consists of the Primary Care Development Corporation (PCDC), three federally qualified community health centers - HRHCare Community Health, The Institute for Family Health, Open Door Family Medical Centers, Inc., and Hudson Information Technology for Community Health (HITCH). 

In announcing the finalists on March 6th, Governor Cuomo stated: "This public-private partnership model is one we see working over and over again and one that saves taxpayers money and improves how we deliver services here in New York." Read the Governor's press release here.

The partnership seeks to reduce the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes among adults in New York City and the Hudson Valley by improving the identification of at-risk patients, and engaging patients in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) "National Diabetes Prevention Program" (NDPP). Evidence shows that successful completion of the NDPP reduces a patient's risk of getting diabetes by 58%. The three health centers care for roughly 140,000 adult patients: an estimated 8.8% are diabetic and at least 8.3% are prediabetic. The five-year initiative is expected to benefit about 3,600 patients and save about $10 million in health care costs. Longer term cumulative savings to all levels of government are projected at $47 million. The award will be final upon approval of the State budget and completion of a contract between the partnership and the State.

"Pay for Success" projects, often financed through Social Impact Bonds, are an innovative method of funding projects that benefit the public. In New York's Pay for Success program, the state and service providers (such as healthcare providers) will agree upon performance goals, and private and philanthropic investors will fund the projects at no initial cost to the state. The state will repay investors based on the program's performance, and will only make payments if the goals are achieved. 

PCDC is a nonprofit that provides affordable capital, expert technical assistance and public advocacy to expand and transform primary care in underserved communities to improve health outcomes, lower health costs and reduce disparities. HRHCare Community HealthThe Institute for Family Health and Open Door Family Medical Centers, Inc. are federally qualified health center networks that operate 50 community health centers in New York State.  The centers offer primary care, dental care and mental health care for children and adults.  All of the centers have been designated Patient Centered Medical Homes by the National Committee for Quality Assurance.HITCH is a non-profit coalition that promotes high quality health care among safety-net primary care providers.

Contact Information:
Dan Lowenstein (PCDC) - 212-437-3942, dlowenstein@pcdc.org
Lauren Candela-Katz, (HRHCare Community Health) 914-734-8555, lcandelakatz@hrhcare.org
Lindsay Farrell, (Open Door Family Medical Centers, Inc.) 914-502-1450, lfarrell@odfmc.org
Maxine Golub (The Institute for Family Health) - 212-633-0800 ext 1286mgolub@institute2000.org
Helene Kopal (HITCH), 914-488-6401, hkopal@hitch.org