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We have a Winner, Chicago Conference Follow-up

Yeah!  We have our Acer Netbook winner from the Chicago, Midwest Podiatry Conference:

Brennan Reed, DPM, of Quincy, IL.  Congratulations Dr. Reed!

The Chicago travel team (May, Ray, and April) just wanted me to put a few words in to the blog to let you know how much they enjoyed meeting so many of you at the show.  They are already fighting to see who gets to take the road trip next year.

As far as our new EHR, it is currently a work-in-progress, but we were ecstatic to let you try out what we have and hear your reactions to it. Your feedback to us, was that the new THOMAS podiatry touch screen EHR, looked great and was different from anything that you had seen. You made the programmers blush.  They are back to slaving away on it with double enthusiasm knowing that you like it.  So, expect even better things at the next show.

*Also, special thanks to April for snapping these photos in Chicago.

HIT Hard, Across the Web

Well, the comment period is over, the interim EHR rules and regs for use go into effect today.  I wanted to just take a walk across the web to see what the general thoughts were across the web on HIT, ARRA, EHR incentives and adoption, current and foreseeable problems, etc.  Here is a hit list of topics and quotes across the board (with attached links to the articles if you want to peruse any of the topics in a more in depth manner).

There's Still Time to Comment, Until March 15th

There is still time to add your voice and make any comments you would like, regarding the proposed Medicare & Medicare rules going into effect for the HITECH/ARRA incentives.  This would include the definition of meaningful use for EHRs, as well as the  other requirements for qualifying for the ARRA incentive payments.  The comment period for the proposed "interim" rules closes on March 15, 2010.  CMS says that they welcome your comments.

Comments may be submitted through http://www.regulations.gov. For additional information on the proposed rule,  as well as fact sheets summarizing the material, visit http://www.cms.hhs.gov/Recovery/11_HealthIT.asp on the Web.

Last Minute Stay of Execution for Medicare Rate Reduction

Last night it was announced that Congress's proposed stay of execution for the 21% Medicare rate reductions had passed.  This freezes the reimbursements rates at the 2009 levels.  As expected, they did make it retro-active back to March 1st.  So you will probably want to get those claims in A.S.A.P.  Unfortunately, it still isn't a permanent fix, it is a hold through March 31st, to give the government a bit more time to create a permanent resolve.

PR Newswire service is listing a report from Sermo, one of the world's largest online communities of physicians.  They polled nearly 1500 physicians, 84% of whose respondents said that they would have to stop accepting new Medicare patients and would likely have to drop their Medicare patients if a reasonable, permanent fix was not made for physician reimbursement.

Write your congressmen and senators!  Keep the pressure on them. Now is definitely the time.

Preliminary Proposed Rule for HIT Certification Programs is on the Table Now

We reported to you back in January that the first round of official documentation was out for “Meaningful Use” and “Certified” EHRs definitions.  Well, the 60-day comment period is over and the final interim rule has been issued.  National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, Dr.David Blumenthal, announced yesterday afternoon that the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) officially released a notice of proposed rule-making (NPRM) outlining the proposed approach for establishing a certification program to test and certify electronic health records (EHRs).

21.5% Medicare Paycut Goes in to Effect Today

Apparently before recessing on Friday, congress failed to pass any new legislation or extensions to stop the 21.5% pay cut that goes in to effect today, March 1.


You may remember that congress passed a measure last December postponing the cut until March 1. The House then passed a bill on Feb. 18 providing another temporary stay until March 31, but the Senate was unable to approve the measure before adjourning for the weekend on Feb. 26, thus the cut goes into effect today with no last minute reprieve.

eTHOMAS v8 Has Been Officially Retired

As of March 1st, we will no longer produce any further changes to the eTHOMAS v8 system.

Visit Us at the Midwest Podiatry Conference & You Could Win a New Netbook!

Midwest Podiatry Conference

March 11 - March 14, 2010

Hyatt Regency Chicago, Illinois

Booth # 243

Come visit the Genius Solutions' Booth (#243) in Chicago for your chance to win a netbook in our MPC giveaway drawing.  Better still, come to take a sneak peak at our new touch screen podiatry EHR, currently in development here at Genius.  We're looking forward to visiting you, make sure that you drop bye and say "Hi!"

$100 Million in Grants Given to States to Improve Child Care

Kathleen Sebelius (Health and Human Services Secretary), announced today 10 states would be given $100 million in federal grant funds to  improve health care quality and delivery systems for children enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program).

Medicare Claims Crossover Problem

Genius Solutions received the following e-mail from: NHIC, Corp.MEDICARE ADMINISTRATIVE CONTRACTOR JURISDICTION 14 A/B MAC, regarding claims crossover problems from Jan 5, 2010.

Genius Attendee Winner Chosen!

We had our quarterly drawing for clients who participated and filled out an “Attendee Information Form” (in one of our training classes). The lucky winner is Kelly Denny from Farmbrook Radiology, who attended a class in November 2009.  Kelly is the winner of a $100 Target Card, which is on its way to her as I post this.