The transition from ICD-9 to ICD-10 goes beyond a coding issue and affects every single department of a health system. For example, the transition will affect staffing in a number of ways. Providers will have to be able to maintain a healthy, appropriate staffing ratio in the midst of what is an inevitable hiring surge as ICD-10 is implemented. This …
Revenue Cycle Repercussions of ICD-10
It is quite clear that ICD-10’s impact isn’t just limited to coding. Implementing ICD-10 has an effect on an entire health system, and will particularly impact the whole revenue cycle for health care providers. Most of the focus by providers has been on implementation of ICD-10 and training staff in its use, which is understandable — many organizations were on …
Revenue Cycle Changes in 2015
Medical billing has gotten significantly more complex this year due in large part to some changes in revenue cycles. In addition to other factors that are increasingly complicating the industry, such as a rapidly aging population, greater regulation of the healthcare system as a whole and the shift from paper to electronic recordkeeping, there are a few new developments that …
What Comes After ICD-10 Implementation?
There’s been a lot of debate this year about the upcoming deadline for ICD-10 implementation. People in favor of ICD-10 continually note how the current ICD-9 code set is extremely limited and that here is a great need for data that is more robust. People against ICD-10 have several main arguments, including the expenses and complications associated with implementation and …
What to Expect: Modifications to Meaningful Use from 2015 through 2017
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recently proposed a brand new rule for HER Incentive Programs to align the objectives and measures of State 1 and Stage 2 with the proposals in place for State 3. This rule would be just a small part of a larger effort across the entirety of the Department of Health and Human Services …
How to Plan for ICD-10 Implementation
As many health care professionals and executives know, progress has been slow on the transition to ICD-10, the latest medical classification list. This process has largely taken a backseat to other priorities for health care organizations, including electronic health records and the reduction of expenses. However, with the ICD-10 conversion date set for Oct. 1, 2015, it’s important to develop …
Boosting the Performance of Your Healthcare System with an Integrated Revenue Cycle
One way that healthcare organizations are reducing expenses and boosting their financial performance—while continuing to meet the needs of patients and physicians—is through integrated revenue cycles (IRCs). There is no set definition for what an IRC should be, and it tends to vary depending on the organization and its particular needs. Generally, it allows for the greater collaboration of revenue …
Providers have the Power to Provide a Customer Service Experience Patients are Looking For
Howell Consulting Group is committed to doing health care differently. The provider-patient relationship continues to be a cornerstone of healthcare. From the time the patient walks through the doors to the time the patient exits the building, there should be a satisfactory experience for both the patient and the provider. There’s an old adage that still rings true – your first …
