Untreated mental conditions can prevent patients from properly managing physical health, thus causing the patient to be readmitted to the hospital, which is why case managers should coordinate mental and physical treatments.
Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center in Mattoon, IL developed a productivity incentive plan for their coders and transcriptionists. For the hospital, the bonus plan serves as a retention and marketing tool, not to mention it has increased productivity, and the staff members appreciate it, too.
On December 30, 2009, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology published the interim final rule for EHR certification standards, and on January 13, CMS issued the proposed rule on the EHR Meaningful Use Incentive Program and meaningful use standards in the Federal Register.