For quite a while now, news that a wave of HIPAA audits are on the horizon has been circulating in the healthcare scene. But this time, these audits are likely to include financial penalties for violations--new in 2015. So what areas should you be scouring to ensure you're not accidentally committing any violations? In this post, we'll take a look at what HIPAA audits could mean for your organization.
A month into 2015 and it’s already become apparent that it’s going to be a big year for healthcare IT. In the aftermath of the Ebola Outbreak — which made several touchdowns on U.S. soil— there has been an intense focus on how electronic medical records can prevent similar events from happening in the future. EMRs have consistently been tapped as hospitals work to avoid sentinel events (sometimes called “never-events” as in, they should never happen) and the prevention of an outbreak certainly qualifies as such.
You've probably heard people talking about wearable tech--whether it's a new smart watch, Google Glass, etc. It's becoming increasingly popular, and more and more industries are preparing for this next wave of technological advancement. But where is wearable tech's place in the healthcare environment? Today, we'll look at just a few ways we're seeing a positive impact from wearable tech in healthcare.
When we look at healthcare payment reform, and our move away from fee-for-service models of payment, the focal alternative this year has been bundled payments. In this scenario, physicians are paid a set amount for treating a certain type of patient, and assumptions are made by the payer about what services or treatments a patient like that would need. They compensate according to that average. Under the fee-for-service model, when they were paid for whatever tests they ordered or treatments they rendered, they certainly had more freedom of choice.
When it comes to hospital and health system revenue cycles, there are many strategies you can approach to help put things on a positive trajectory. Whether they are changes small or large, they all impact the organization's financial standing. But today, we've pulled together only the very best tips for increasing profitability.
It might seem painfully obvious, but when it comes to denial management, the best way to avoid denied claims is to make sure that your claims are correct and, therefore, won’t be denied. Thinking that’s easier said than done? Well, if you have the right information — and the right tools — it doesn’t have to be.
If your healthcare organization is considering getting accredited, you might have questions on which type is right for your organization. You also might be curious about some of the details behind the accreditation process, such as: How long does the process take? How much does it cost? How long will the accreditation last? How many organizations are already accredited? Which one is the aligns with my organization's services?
At the top of every healthcare organization is the C-suite: The CEO, CFO, CIO...you get the idea. And thanks to their elevated positions, they have the power to make real, impactful change on the healthcare environment. Through their leadership, skill sets, and unique vision, the healthcare c-suite is helping move healthcare in new directions.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid issued a report covering the trajectory of healthcare expenditures in the United States and found that in 2013, spending only went up by 3.6 percent. With a heavily conservative Congress, it seems likely that the dismantling of the Affordable Care Act may be on top of the Congressional to do list. While the spending increase has been consistent over the last several years, it has also been relatively slow; the data doesn’t suggest an enormous, irreversible spike initiated by the ACA. However, the slow-creep of rising expenditures is still troubling.
Remote healthcare is still relatively new and has been slow to be adopted on a large scale, but many who have taken advantage of telemedicine services are finding that the financial aspect is well worth the transition. While telepsychiatry can't completely replace an in-person visit with a Psychiatrist, it can be a valuable option for areas where access to those types of professionals are limited at best.