Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a complex condition that is a major source of readmissions at many hospitals, say Loretta Olsen, RN, MSN, the director of case management at Mercy Medical Center North Iowa in Mason City.
A recent study indicates that more Medicare patients are being assigned to observation services than in the past, and this decision may be costing these patients money, according to the July issue of Health Affairs.
In October, CMS will start including hospital scores on the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey in its calculations for the valude-based incentive programs, which is part of the Value-Based Purchasing Programs. Is your organization ready?
It's September-time to hit the books again and get back to school. If you're an aspiring HIM professional, that means learning about medical record retention.
CMS is proposing two major changes as part of the 2013 OPPS proposed rule, released July 6. One has to do with how CMS proposes to calculate APC relative weights; the other addresses the reimbursement level for separately payable drugs and biologicals without pass-through status.
