What is ICD-10?

ICD-10—Potpourri:
General State of Readiness- How you can & should be Preparing for the Inevitable, Part 1 of 4

The message is, as always, begin to prepare now and begin making the changes to how you document now, so that you are better prepared as a provider for ICD-10 and so your coders and billers will have the information they need to take care of you and the patients properly.

The International Classification of Diseases system will be updated from the ICD-9 to the ICD-10 standard on October 1, 2013.  These are the codes that are used in healthcare as a common language to describe the diagnosis, condition, or other reasons for a patient visit to the doctor or healthcare facility.  Now around the world ICD-10 has been used for years, the United States is one of the last places to implement this coding.

Do you have an Off-Site Back-Up and is it Current?

Hello east-coast!  We know you’ve been getting constant reminders about the hurricane all week.  Heck, I’ve received no less than 10 bulletins in the last two days from the CDC, FEMA, National Weather Service, and many others- And I’m in the MID-WEST!

Anyway- we just wanted to remind you (while you were packing to run away or boarding in to hunker down) to back up your data.  BUT, we don’t just want you to back it up- we also want to make sure that you have at least one off site copy as well.

The CDC is right:  have a plan, be prepared, and by golly make sure you have an extra off-site back up too. 

Oh, yeah- and stay dry!

New Changes to RAC Program

Per an article by Sheri Porter on the AAFP website, Medicare is making a change to the RAC programs that might help out family physicians and their offices, beginning January 3, 2012.

The Google Health Experiment is Shutting Down

For the last four years or so I’ve been watching in the background as Google Health came out, followed shortly thereafter by Microsoft’s Healtvault and others.  PHR (personal health records) – take e-healthcare to the individual patient.  This was before the ARRA and the new EHR and meaningful use initiatives, before many people even knew what an EHR was, let alone a PHR.  Like many things Google had found a niche and was grabbing it by the horns to make it play nice for the average Joe.  Now it is over… they recently announced that the service will be completely shuttered on January 1, 2012.  At that point you will no longer be able to add info, search or view information etc.  They are giving you until the same time the following year to download or port your information into a new place.  Other PHR solutions like Microsoft’s HealthVault are already promoting the ease with which you can move your Google Health PHP information into their systems. 

Genius Solutions 5010 Update

Genius Solutions is currently working with BCBS as a 5010 pilot tester (currently in Michigan).   We are working closely with BCSBEDI (MI) in testing 5010 format using 5010 test files.  BCBS is only working with about 100 pilot testers at this point and Genius is one of them.  At this time, only the pilot testers are allowed to submit 5010 test files into BCBSEDI.

Genius Solutions Inc. has sent test files from several of our providers into BCBS (MI) which are currently being tested and checked.  We are also hoping to continue to expand our testing within the next few weeks by starting to work with other payors and clearing houses as they become prepared to test. We will be ready to submit 5010 files come 01/01/2012.

Genius 2011 Fall Training Schedule Posted

Click here to download/complete and return the registration form to us.  If you have questions on any of the classes, please e-mail training2009@geniussolutions.com or contact Training at 586-751-9080 / 800-645-0955

EHR Stuff: All-in-one or Buffet-style? It’s your choice!

I’m sure you know how hard it is to find a good practice management (PM) system (when I say “good”, I mean gets you paid” AND makes your office life easier, not harder).  But now your life has just gotten complicated again.  Now you are being told that you need to have and use an EHR in your office.  Ok, even if you don’t give a hoot about participating in meaningful use.  The fact still remains that Medicare is threatening that if you are not meaningfully using an EHR by 2015 they are going to assess you a 1% penalty, with an additional percent being added each year up to 5% by 2020.  (Of course this could all change with the current state of healthcare and the influx or repeal of Obambacare.)  It is true.  There is a lot on the table with so many variables in play.  It’s more like a game of 52-card pick up than any organized card game.  (Seriously, have you ever tried to play Poker with someone who is playing Go Fish?)  Plus there are additional regional variations for Medicaid and third-party payers (Euchre anyone?). 

Do you know what day it is for your back up?

It shouldn’t be like pulling teeth to do a backup.  Nobody wants to get their teeth pulled out, it hurts!  So why is making a daily backup like pulling teeth in most offices?  As kids my mom tried to help us remember to do daily things like brushing and flossing by having us mark a calendar with cute stickers we could earn when we had done it.  We could have stickers for every day, MTWTFSS.  It just took some follow-up and a bit of time to make it a habit.  Well, now that you are all grown up I want you to consider MTWTFSS backups. I know, you are probably wondering why anyone would compare brushing and flossing to backups, but I’m going to tell you why… both should be done daily or the long term consequences are costly, bad, and you could lose it all.  Do you know what day it is? Do you know where your back up is?

ICD-10 Deadline Fast Approaching- Only 28 Months Away?

By Penny Henriksen, Genius Solutions' News Editor

Ok, yes, I can hear you rolling your eyes.  You're thinking, "28 months, are you kidding?  That's 2 years and 2 vacations away...really?" Being out and about over the last year and speaking with many of you I also have actually heard "Yeah, but it's the CMS.  It's going to get bumped."  Let's reason together for a few minutes and reflect on this, shall we?

Genius Solutions Presents: Coding Review Boot Camp w/ Karen Zook

Click on the flier for more information.

 

Take Command

Join us for a 2-day seminar of coding training & review Karen Zook walks you through everything you need to prepare to be a professional coder. You will learn how to code better, quicker, and properly to maximize both office payments and audit protection. It is also very beneficial to participate in a boot camp prior to taking a coding
certification exam. You will also earn 14 AAPC CEUs for this boot camp.

Seats are limited.* Reserve your spot today!

If you would like to register now, please complete and fax in this registration form. You can also download the flier (w/registration form) HERE.

Please fax your completed registration form to 586-751-9230. 

Emergencies and E-Data- A Wake Up Call

EHR’s can be a lifesaver as new convert St. John's Regional Medical Center in Joplin, Mo found out last month when it became part of Joplin’s tornado disaster.  According to an iHealthBeat article, the hospital had just converted to EHR 3 weeks prior to the tornado that wiped out and spread its paper records as far away as 75 miles.

You can Update to eTHOMAS v 9.2 Now!

As promised, eTHOMAS Version 9.2 has been released and is now available for download.  The “What’s New” Document for v 9.2 can be accessed by going to Genius on the Web under the Messaging Tab.  Once you are on Genius on the Web, click FYI at the top of the screen, and select General.  It will be listed under Genius Solutions Resources as eTHOMAS v9.2.

If you are an active, current Genius client office, the update is FREE; there is no charge for updates to the program if you are a current SoftCare subscriber.  If you aren’t up-to-date, don’t wait, update! (Unless you are beta testing any features or programs for us.  If you are beta testing something, call us before updating.)

Here is more on the "whys" and "how to-s" of good THOMAS updating.