This week’s Medicare updates include the introduction of step therapy for Medicare advantage plans, a correction to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule, a new 2019 benefit for the Next Generation ACO model, and more!
It’s been one year since the National Association of Healthcare Revenue Integrity welcomed its first member and we are now more than 700 members strong. That’s more than 700 driven, dedicated individuals from across the country who have joined forces to ensure the revenue integrity profession is recognized for its unique contributions to the healthcare field.
Implementing a denial avoidance initiative can help facilities and health systems realize lost revenue, achieve cost savings, and improve an organization’s financial performance.
Death and dying processes require sensitive discussion between patients, next-of-kin, and inpatient providers (i.e., attending/hospitalist physician) to facilitate decision-making and coordination of care. Social workers can facilitate such communication and may coordinate meetings between relevant persons.
In the 2019 OPPS proposed rule, CMS does not introduce a new skin substitute payment policy but is seeking comment on potential changes for future rulemaking.
Workstation and physical security should be a collaborative effort between the privacy officer and security officer in your organization, but someone, regardless of who, should take the lead on physical security issues.
Trauma-informed care is an approach to providing care that recognizes and understands how past trauma—such as child abuse, domestic violence, or events like natural disasters, car accidents, or crime—may affect a person so the provider can respond in a way that promotes safety and avoids re-traumatizing that person.
Q: If a patient is immobile or comatose for an extended period of time in the hospital and develops a stage 3 or 4 pressure ulcer of the left upper back, would this be considered a hospital-acquired condition (HAC)?
UnityPoint Health in Des Moines, Iowa, notified approximately 1.4 million patients in late July that their personal information may have been breached after hackers used phishing techniques to enter the company’s email system.
