As the healthcare industry undergoes substantial changes—among them an aging patient population, the implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the shift to electronic medical records—there is an understanding that these adjustments cannot smoothly occur simultaneously throughout the industry. In other words, where one hospital or medical facility may have the resources to implement changes rapidly, another …
How Healthcare Reform Affects Revenue Cycle Operations
Now that we’re several years into the major healthcare reforms brought about by the Affordable Care Act, we can get a better sense of how those reforms have affected revenue cycle operations in the last few years. Healthcare Finance News put together a report on these issues last year, and many of those issues are still playing a big role …
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 …
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 …
