News

Instances of hospital-acquired conditions declined 8% from 2014 through 2016, resulting in the prevention of approximately 8,000 patient deaths, according to data gathered by the Agency for Healthcare Quality and Research. The reduction in HACs led to a $2.9 billion healthcare spending decrease.

What guidelines can hospitals follow to establish ambulatory case management staffing ratios?

Q: How can organizations develop a business case or plan for revenue integrity departments?

Q: What are the first steps we need to take when considering a coding audit? Can we conduct it ourselves or will an external group?

The United States federal government needs to improve electronic health record data security and privacy, according to the Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) recently released federal information technology systems audit.

CMS announced revised pricing for covered drugs and biologicals in the July 2018 update to the OPPS. Hospitals should thoroughly review all of the updates to ensure any required changes are in place by the stated effective dates.

Q: If a patient comes into an outpatient facility for a surgical procedure and the physician evaluates the patient before performing the procedure, can you append modifier -25 to the E/M service?

The number of data breaches in the first quarter of 2018 marked a four-year low with a total of 685 breaches. This number is down from 1,444 breaches in the first quarter of 2017 and 1,153 in the first quarter of 2016.

Q: How can social workers effectively assess and assist refugee populations?

Case managers must be positioned (through the organizational structure) and must position themselves (through skills and knowledge) to be an instrumental and influential member of the team to support and monitor the development of a comprehensive and sustainable plan for the patient.