Academy Advantage Partner AllMeds: 2014 The Year (Just About) Everything Changes … and What to Do Now
By Bob Blakely 2014 will be a watershed year for many ENT practices, and those that prepare now could emerge in excellent shape—especially compared to those that don’t. EHR Incentives: Eligible professionals (EPs) have received $16 billion by meeting Meaningful Use (MU) criteria, but 2014 will present new challenges: In January 2014, Stage 2 of the program will roll out. 2014 is the last year for EPs to begin the Medicare program. To avoid penalties in 2015, EPs must begin meeting MU by July 1, 2014. WHAT TO DO NOW: Find an EHR provider that specializes in serving ENT practices similar to yours and has a proven track record of incentives success. ICD-10: The rollout of ICD-10 codes is around the corner. On October 1, 2014, ICD-10 will provide a fivefold increase of today’s current code-set. The AMA urged “physicians to start educating themselves now.” But, don’t throw out your ICD-9 code books! ICD-9 will continue to be used for worker’s compensation and states may also continue using ICD-9. Most likely, you’ll have to use both standards for some time. WHAT TO DO NOW: Check with your vendors for ICD-10 roll-out plans. Request training that focuses on your commonly used codes, especially those with one-to-many equivalents. HIPAA Updates: As Covered Entities, physicians must secure new agreements with each of their Business Associates (BAs), conduct security assessments, and provide their staffs with clear policies and procedures to ensure protected health information (PHI). WHAT TO DO IMMEDIATELY: Contact your vendors and update all BA agreements. Maintaining Staff Effectiveness: With the introduction of MU2, ICD-10, and HIPAA Updates, practices must spend considerable effort to maintain effective staffs. Billing specialists, in particular, will be heavily challenged to maintain productivity and revenue levels. WHAT TO DO NOW: Leverage professional associations, particularly those providing ENT-relevant assistance, such as AOA and AAO-HNS. Investigate Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) services to outsource critical billing functions to highly specialized consultants. Ask existing vendors if their products are integrated with those of a RCM provider. 2014 will be pivotal for healthcare professionals across the United States, as they work to meet expanding requirements that impact everything from patients to profits. Practices that put processes and people in the right place can find themselves better prepared to weather a challenging 2014. However, now—and not later—is the time to begin making plans for a prosperous new year. About the author: Bob Blakely is the Director of Government Affairs and Marketing at AllMeds Inc., a provider of the most widely used EHR solution to ENTs and other surgical specialties. He has been with AllMeds since 2006, during which he’s authored courses on electronic health record systems, federal EHR incentive programs, and co-created a guide to EHR implementation best-practices. He has worked in the healthcare IT field for 15 years, including stints at Lanier Healthcare™ and MedQuist™.
By Bob Blakely
2014 will be a watershed year for many ENT practices, and those that prepare now could emerge in excellent shape—especially compared to those that don’t.
EHR Incentives: Eligible professionals (EPs) have received $16 billion by meeting Meaningful Use (MU) criteria, but 2014 will present new challenges:
- In January 2014, Stage 2 of the program will roll out.
- 2014 is the last year for EPs to begin the Medicare program.
- To avoid penalties in 2015, EPs must begin meeting MU by July 1, 2014.
WHAT TO DO NOW: Find an EHR provider that specializes in serving ENT practices similar to yours and has a proven track record of incentives success.
ICD-10: The rollout of ICD-10 codes is around the corner. On October 1, 2014, ICD-10 will provide a fivefold increase of today’s current code-set. The AMA urged “physicians to start educating themselves now.”
But, don’t throw out your ICD-9 code books! ICD-9 will continue to be used for worker’s compensation and states may also continue using ICD-9. Most likely, you’ll have to use both standards for some time.
WHAT TO DO NOW: Check with your vendors for ICD-10 roll-out plans. Request training that focuses on your commonly used codes, especially those with one-to-many equivalents.
HIPAA Updates: As Covered Entities, physicians must secure new agreements with each of their Business Associates (BAs), conduct security assessments, and provide their staffs with clear policies and procedures to ensure protected health information (PHI).
WHAT TO DO IMMEDIATELY: Contact your vendors and update all BA agreements.
Maintaining Staff Effectiveness: With the introduction of MU2, ICD-10, and HIPAA Updates, practices must spend considerable effort to maintain effective staffs. Billing specialists, in particular, will be heavily challenged to maintain productivity and revenue levels.
WHAT TO DO NOW: Leverage professional associations, particularly those providing ENT-relevant assistance, such as AOA and AAO-HNS. Investigate Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) services to outsource critical billing functions to highly specialized consultants. Ask existing vendors if their products are integrated with those of a RCM provider.
2014 will be pivotal for healthcare professionals across the United States, as they work to meet expanding requirements that impact everything from patients to profits. Practices that put processes and people in the right place can find themselves better prepared to weather a challenging 2014. However, now—and not later—is the time to begin making plans for a prosperous new year.
About the author: Bob Blakely is the Director of Government Affairs and Marketing at AllMeds Inc., a provider of the most widely used EHR solution to ENTs and other surgical specialties. He has been with AllMeds since 2006, during which he’s authored courses on electronic health record systems, federal EHR incentive programs, and co-created a guide to EHR implementation best-practices. He has worked in the healthcare IT field for 15 years, including stints at Lanier Healthcare™ and MedQuist™.