Medical Billing Blog with Medical Billing & Coding Info & Articles
Welcome to the Medical Billing and Coding Blog
Welcome to the medical billing blog containing news and articles relating to medical billing, medical coding, ICD, HIPAA and practice management functions.
2004-2024 Celebrating 20 Years of Healthcare RCM Articles
The Blog Currently Contains 1,265+ Healthcare Articles
6 Tips to Keep Your Finances Afloat During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Medscape offers 6 Tips to Keep Your Finances Afloat During the COVID-19 Pandemic… 1. Cut back on expenses Some household spending has naturally tapered off for many families, as social distancing restrictions reduce spending on eating out, travel, and other leisure activities. But this is also an opportunity to look for other ways to reduce spending. Look through your credit card bills to see whether there are recurring payments you can cut, such as a payment to a gym that’s temporarily closed or a monthly subscription box that you don’t need… 2. Take advantage of regulatory changes Although many physicians won’t qualify for direct payments via the Coronavirus Aid …
Better Data Collection is Key to Addressing EHR and Claims Data Discordance
“There is a moderate agreement between EHR data and Medicare Part D (MPD) claims data for the receipt of oral anticancer agents, which are a popular treatment option for cancer patients, according to a study published in JAMA Network Open. The study, conducted by the Texas Cancer Registry and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC), found that 73.8 percent of the EHR data and MPD claims data overlapped, with 176 data sets shown in both and 123 sets not shown for either. Oral anticancer agents are becoming more popular and equally as expensive, leaving policymakers to uncover data about how patients use them, which then allows for …
EMR Documentation Issues During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Physician News posted a great article discussing EMR documentation issues during the pandemic. As hospitals are overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients and staff are stretched to their limits, electronic medical record (EMR) documentation may suffer as a result of rushed, less detailed and error-prone entries. EMR workarounds are also expected to flourish. In the current medical malpractice climate where greater scrutiny can be placed on the EMR and audit trail over the medicine itself, it is very important to maintain an accurate chart. There are steps that can be taken now to prepare for anticipated documentation issues related to care rendered during the COVID-19 pandemic. The most important recommendation is to …
97% of Physician Practices have been Financially Affected by COVID-19
According to Medscape, a recent survey shows that almost half of medical practices are having to furlough Staff, and 1 in 5 have had to layoff staff due to the financial strain of COVID-19. “Clinicians all over the country already likely know this, but a survey by the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) makes it official: 97% of physician practices have experienced negative financial effects directly or indirectly related to COVID-19. The survey, which was conducted April 7 – 8, also shows that 55% of practices have seen a decrease in revenue, and 60% have experienced a decline in patient volume since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis. A significant …
Five ways interoperability plays a role in addressing the coronavirus epidemic
HealthIT Answers has an article outlining five ways data interoperability can play a pivotal role in addressing the epidemic… “Even as capacity restrictions force organizations to work without barriers—via drive-thru screenings, make-shift tents or by way of telehealth—real-time access to data can help streamline care management, whether fast tracking admissions or empowering patients at home through online portals. Here are five ways data interoperability can play a pivotal role in addressing the epidemic: Coordination of Care: COVID-19 provides a sobering reminder of just how much a fully integrated, scalable and interoperable healthcare infrastructure is needed. Coordination among first responders, public health officials, labs, acute, and post-acute facilities will be critical …
