ICD-10 Coding is Coming – Run NOW!

I had the opportunity to sit in on some preliminary ICD-10 training being given by the Practice Management Institute (www.pmiMD.com) last week.  It was their goal to inspire confidence and a “we can do this” attitude, but honestly, the reactions I witnessed (or had myself), looked more like despair that would soon be mixed with alcohol and anti-anxiety meds.  I was a bit disheartened.  I came out of that meeting thinking “ICD-10 coding is coming- Run NOW!”

Chicken Little
I do so hate to sound like Chicken Little shouting that “the sky is falling”.  I was also seeing some benefits to updating the codes and coding.  I mean, yeah, with new technology, new procedures, and new techniques, there needed to be new codes and new code availability to cover them.  It also simplifies some things to have one CPT code, rather than a CPT code plus some DX codes.  The specificity of the codes will also make the data more valuable because you are giving more information.  Disease and treatment patterns can be studied more accurately.   The spread of disease can be studied and possibly better contained.  However, this is a beast with many tentacles, on par with the biggest of government programs and endeavors ever conceived.  Have no doubt, it is going to change the way you document patient encounters and bill out, forever.

Let’s start with the easy stuff and work our way along the ICD-10 trail.

Electronic Patient Data: The Future e-Wave Comes Crashing Down

Four quick, current looks at patient information: Need, Care, Exploitation, and Change 

NEED

Now that hospitals and offices are getting on the EHR bandwagon and they are discovering the pearls, perils, and pitfalls of it, it is coming to light that physicians aren’t the only people who need to be educated about electronic health records and using them. According to a new study by PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP) and some general “noticing” of things, it is being discovered that patients aren’t quite on the e-records band wagon yet either. PwC surveyed 1000 consumers and found that only 14% of them had gotten their records electronically from their physician (I didn’t see a note that indicated any connection between desiring to get their records electronically, and being able to get them because of the office not being able to issue it.) Setting aside that potential problem- 14% get e-record, 30% said they don’t know why they would ever need them, and 50% requested paper records. When consumers were asked how they would like to interact with their doctors electronically the top three answers were to: follow-up from their doctors, make appointments, learn about treatment information.

EHR- Got one?

Dr. Blumenthal Discusses Registration for EHR Incentive Programs (video +)

In the Blumenthal video above, he gave some statistics:

• About 80% of the hospitals plan to implement EHRs and work on complying with the stimulus fund program over the next two years.
• 40% of private practice physicians plan on doing the same, and 80% of them plan on implementing and working their EHR over the next two years.
• 18% of private practice physicians said they will not participate at all.

We know that the magic stimulus dollar amount an individual physician can get over the five years is $44,000. I was also reading that hospitals can get reimbursements and aid of up to $2 million.

Reschedule for Give your Practice the Raise it Deserves

Due to general concern about the massive incoming storm tomorrow's (Wednesday, 2/1/11) seminar has been rescheduled to next Wednesday (2/9/11).  If you were already signed up, you have been called, if you couldn't make it this week then by all means- Sign Up for next week!

To tide you over until then I will give you my other favorite Karen quote from last week and a prized audit tip-

Give your Practice the Raise it Deserves!

Don't miss out on this special seminar!  You still have a chance to sign up and attend the next session next Wednesday (February 2nd)!  You can truly go back to your office and change your office life after attending this seminar.  You are worth it and this seminar will pay for itself and you, the first day you go back and use it.

(It has also been approved by the AAPC for 5 CEUs.)

Give Your Practice the Raise it Deserves in 2011

Genius Solutions announces new "Give Your Practice the Raise it Deserves in 2011" seminars, featuring Karen Zook CPC, CCP.

Click here to download PDF

Happy 2011!

Genius Solutions wishes you and yours a prosperous New Year.

Early EHR Birds, ARRA Incentive Worms!

On your mark, if you are ready and set... on January 3rd, you can go!

January 3, 2011 marks the beginning of registration for those early bird EHR implementers that want to work to receive their ARRA stimulus incentives the first year of availability.

Live From the “ONC HIT 2010 Update”

How serious is the government about you instituting high tech solutions (read this as EHR) into your office?  Well let’s just say that this first phase of Obamacare is heading straight for you and your office like a runaway train with a nuke on its heels.

If the billions of dollars they have spent and are planning to spend through the ARRA stimulus package aren’t enough.  Then you may want to listen to their logic.  If money and logic aren’t enough, then you’d better be ready for the sticks and stripes to come.

Everything you every wanted to know about HIPAA & Privacy, but were afraid to ask

Ok, during the ONC HIT conference this week, they gave an invaluable link for everything you might want or need to know about HIPAA and privacy concerns and here it is:
http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/

You may be able to Pack up your “Red Flags” Come January

It looks like the FTC may have just gotten a flag on their Red Flags play.  The FTC Red Flags rulings that have been pushed forward a couple of times over the last year may finally be at a rest for physicians. 

Cheer Up!

The holidays are here, no matter which ones you celebrate hopefully you have plenty of holiday cheer.  If you don’t or you aren’t quite sure, here are some ways to boost your cheer and the cheer of those around you.  (P.S. These work any time of the year!)