The prospect of obtaining stimulus funding has, not surprisingly, created an environment of intense focus on Electronic Health Records (EHRs). While that’s OK, I see a distinct limitation in looking at EHRs, practice management systems (PMS) and other applications as isolated pieces of hardware/software. Instead, I think the current atmosphere provides many practices the opportunity to step into completely new systems, with a completely new way of viewing the components.

Rather than contemplating an EHR purchase or PMS evaluation in the context of “what’s available,” consider how well these technologies will serve as your platform from which to custom-build, taking into account future needs as well as current ones. Read More ›

You’ve probably heard it before, but it is worth reiterating: Start preparing to transition to ICD-10 now. Most experts believe, with good reason, that the 2013 deadline will not be delayed. Those who are not prepared to correctly submit ICD-10 codes on the implementation date simply will not get paid.

The magnitude of the change is no small matter, either. The roughly 14,000 now-familiar ICD-9-CM codes will be replaced by about 69,000 ICD-10-CM codes; the current 4,000 or so ICD-9-PCS codes will swell to about 72,000 ICD-10-PCS codes. In all settings, physicians will need to provide much more explicit documentation. Read More ›

We now have our first look at the official shape “meaningful use” of electronic health record (EHR) technology will likely take – in the near future, at least. As many had anticipated, one of the principal underlying themes is interoperability.

The long-anticipated proposed rule defining meaningful use finally was released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on Dec. 30. On the same day, we also received the interim final rule setting initial EHR technology standards, implementation specifications and certification criteria from the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC).

You can view both rules in the Jan. 13, 2010, Federal Register at http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fedreg/a100113c.html. Read More ›