CMS finalized a documentation and coding adjustment (DCA) of -2% for fiscal year (FY) 2012, according to the inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) final rule. CMS originally proposed a year-over-year reduction of 0.5% in payments to acute care hospitals, including a DCA of -3.15%. However, CMS finalized a cut of 2%, a decrease from 2.9% in FY 2011, which translates to $1.13 billion more in hospital payments in FY 2012 than hospitals received the previous year.
Q Our authorization form for release of information requires patients to sign separate lines to authorize release of sensitive information, such as sexually transmitted diseases, substance abuse, and genetic information. We understand that very few other covered entities do this. Is this a legal requirement? And if so, may we change our form to state that all information will be released unless the patient indicates otherwise?
Medical City Hospital (MHC) in Dallas asked its core measurement teams for acute myocardial infarction (AMI), pneumonia, and heart failure to develop readmission reduction processes for each condition.
The Community-Based Care Transitions Program (CCTP), also known as Grant 3026, is mandated by Section 3026 of the Patient Protection andAffordable Care Act and provides funding to test models for improving care transitions for high-risk Medicare beneficiaries.
September has always been synonymous with students returning to the classroom. While that may not be reason enough to review the HIPAA Privacy Rule, a more compelling reason to dust off the HIPAA education materials might be the government's increase in enforcement efforts.
