Column: Fixing The Failure At Physician Compare
Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, January 27, 2011
In his latest Kaiser Health News column, Michael Millenson writes: “The launch of Medicare’s Physician Compare website at year-end should have been a watershed event in the long campaign for health care transparency and patient empowerment. Instead – and it pains me to write this – Physician Compare is a case study in how the interests of the average citizen can be shunted aside by indifferent government, lazy journalists and solipsistic special interests. That remains true despite all of those involved being Good People Trying To Do The Right Thing” (1/27). Read the column.
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Today’s Datapoint
AIS’s Health Business Daily, January 28, 2011
27%…of Medicare beneficiaries experienced adverse events in hospitals in 2008, contributing to 180,000 deaths, according to a recent report by the HHS Office of Inspector General.
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Survey Says: Most Small Businesses Support Repeal of Health-Care Reform (excerpt)
AOL Small Business, January 24, 2011
Most of the business owners cite cost as the major factor in their dissatisfaction, with nearly half (47 percent) of those who currently provide health insurance considering eliminating it due to its high cost. (A word of warning: It will be especially hard to hold on to valuable employees if you ditch their health coverage.) On the other hand, 69 percent of business owners say it’s hard to find affordable health care for themselves and their employees.
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GOP Focuses Health Law Attacks During Two House Hearings (excerpt)
Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, January 27, 2011
The Hill: GOP Aims To Scrap Medicare Board, Calling It Soviet-Style ‘Central Planning’
Continuing their attack on the healthcare reform law, Republicans…introduced a bill that would eliminate a new advisory board with power to set Medicare rates. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Phil Roe (R-Tenn.), would repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB), which starting in 2015 will advise Congress on Medicare payments. Republicans and a handful of Democrats have opposed the board because they say it invests too much power in a panel of 15 unelected bureaucrats (Millman, 1/26).
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New CMS IACS/PS&R Website
January 25th, 2011 http://news.hfssoft.net/newscom.php
“CMS now has a website to better service providers using IACS to access PS&R. CMS wants providers to visit the new website instead of immediately contacting the IACS help desk regarding PS&R registration or access issues.
The website is located at: www.eushelpdesk.com
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AUDIO CONFERENCES FROM
AudioEducator
Receive a 10% discount on AudioEducator events when you use the promo code BDINCNL during checkout. (Web orders only.)
www.audioeducator.com
Upcoming Events from AudioEducator — MARCH 2011 |
Dates |
Title |
Webpage |
List Price |
Mar 1, 2011 |
Urology Coding 101: Coding for Office Visits |
Details |
$197 |
Top SNF Tips for Medicare Nursing and Therapy Documentation |
Details |
$197 |
Mar 2, 2011 |
Urology Coding 101: Nephrectomy and Related Procedures |
Details |
$197 |
2011 NCCI Guidelines Update for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology |
Details |
$197 |
Mar 3, 2011 |
Stop Forfeiting Payment for Vasectomy and Vasectomy-Related Visits |
Details |
$197 |
Watch Out for Fraud and Abuse between Home Health and Long-Term Care |
Details |
$197 |
Mar 8, 2011 |
Home Health 2011 PPS Rule: Therapy Standards Clarification |
Details |
$197 |
Don’t Even Consider Accepting Payment Cards without These Patient Privacy Guidelines |
Details |
$249 |
2011 General Surgery Coding Update |
Details |
$197 |
Mar 9, 2011 |
Don’t Just Correct Your Therapy Coding for Home Health, Perfect It |
Details |
$197 |
The Integrated Compliance Program – Your Ticket to a Good Night’s Sleep |
Details |
$197 |
2011 Neurology Coding Update |
Details |
$197 |
Mar 10, 2011 |
Ethical Billing and Coding: Best Practices for 2011 |
Details |
$249 |
Be Prepared for Increased RAC, CERT and Private Payer Audit Activity in 2011 |
Details |
$197 |
Mar 14, 2011 |
Managing the Pace with Grace in Healthcare |
Details |
$197 |
Mar 15, 2011 |
Starting the Ob-Gyn Record — Timing is Everything |
Details |
$197 |
PQRI Reporting Made Easy |
Details |
$197 |
Mar 16, 2011 |
Pain Management Modifiers: Telling the Whole Story May Impact Reimbursement & Compliance |
Details |
$197 |
Medical Billing: What You REALLY Need to Know to Increase Income and Reduce Denials |
Details |
$197 |
Top Audit Hot Spots for the Emergency Department – Facility and Professional |
Details |
$197 |
Mar 17, 2011 |
Linking Work and Revenue: Advanced Global Surgery Concepts |
Details |
$197 |
Caregivers: How to Interface with the Legal System to Protect Your Patients |
Details |
$197 |
2011 OIG Work Plan for Radiology Plus the Latest CMS & HCPCS Info for MRA |
Details |
$249 |
Mar 21, 2011 |
Don’t Let Your Medicare Status Slip Away |
Details |
$197 |
Mar 22, 2011 |
Identity Theft and HIPAA: What You Don’t Know DOES Hurt You |
Details |
$249 |
Don’t Get Stuck with Rejected Claims for Infusion Therapy Services |
Details |
$197 |
Mar 23, 2011 |
Warning Home Health & Hospice Providers: Face-to-Face Encounter Requirements Are In Effect |
Details |
$249 |
Strategies for Workers’ Comp Coding & Billing Success |
Details |
$197 |
Mar 24, 2011 |
Observation Services Demystified Part 1: Basics You Can’t Live Without |
Details |
$197 |
V and E Codes – Steer Clear of These Common Mistakes & Misunderstandings |
Details |
$197 |
Mar 28, 2011 |
From Point of Injury to Return to Work: Top Tips For Refining Your Injured Worker Outcomes |
Details |
$197 |
Mar 29, 2011 |
Top E/M Documentation Tips that Guarantee Better Billing Results |
Details |
$197 |
New & Improved: Diagnostic and Interventional Cardiology Procedures and How to Code Them |
Details |
$197 |
Bump Up Your Non Routine Supply Reimbursement with Accurate Coding |
Details |
$197 |
Mar 30, 2011 |
The Face-to-Face Encounter: What You Need to Know About The PPACA Provision |
Details |
$197 |
Mar 31, 2011 |
Office Administrators: Improve Morale, Increase Productivity and Better Your Bottom Line |
Details |
$197 |
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