MLN™ Connects National Provider Call Schedule for PQRS
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is pleased to announce the 2015 MLN™ Connects National Provider Call schedule for PQRS and other related quality programs.
Read MoreRegulatory Issues
PQRS Payment Adjustments and Providers Who Rendered Services at IDTFs
The Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) is a program that promotes the reporting of quality information by eligible professionals (EPs) and group practices. Participation in PQRS is at the individual National Provider Identifier (NPI) level within a Tax Identification Number (TIN).
Will Your Outpatient Physician Orders Be Compliant by the ICD-10 Deadline?
By Yvonne Dawdy – Imagine waking up on October 1, 2015 to thousands of non-compliant outpatient physician orders simply because they do not contain an ICD-10 code, are still using ICD-9 codes, or involve a handwritten diagnosis with no associated code. Unfortunately, this is a challenge that many healthcare organizations will encounter after the ICD-10 deadline if action is not taken immediately.
Internet of Things Gains Momentum Among Businesses
By Marie McGehee – A new report from Verizon Enterprise Solutions, “State of the Market: The Internet of Things (IoT) 2015: Discover How IoT is Transforming Business Results,” shows that enterprise adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT) is starting to gain momentum.
Participation in CMS Oncology Care Model Requires MU Attestation
On February 12, HHS announced a new multi-payer payment and care delivery model to support better care coordination for cancer care as part of the Department’s ongoing efforts to improve the quality of care patients receive and spend health care dollars more wisely, contributing to healthier communities.
Preparing for Integrating Patient-Generated Data into an EHR
By William van Doornik – Patient portals, mobile apps, secure text messaging, and email are increasing collaboration between providers and patients in new ways. Meaningful Use Stage 3 proposed requirements will likely be a driving force in determining how patient generated data (PGD) will be interpreted, used, and integrated into electronic health records (EHRs).
Ebola Epidemic Highlights the Need for ICD-10
By Adam Lokeh & Kathy Lindstrom – When the first U.S. Ebola patient was admitted to a Dallas hospital in the summer of 2014, the ensuing media firestorm scrutinized nearly every aspect of the U.S. healthcare system’s readiness to deal with an epidemic that had already left thousands dead and dying overseas.
AHRQ Data and New Guide Highlight Need To Reduce Medicaid Readmissions
By Richard Kronick – Over the past several years, hospitals, physicians, and the Federal Government have made it a priority to reduce hospital readmission rates for Medicare patients. While still at an early stage, strategies put into place as part of the Affordable Care Act, such as evidence-based safe care transition practices, are showing good results.
Extension for EPs Participating in PQRS via EHR and QCDR
CMS) is pleased to announce that the submission deadlines for the PQRS reporting methods listed here have been extended. All other submission timeframes for other PQRS reporting methods remain the same.