Healthcare Technology & Compliance News
'Physician Champions' Key to Successful IT Implementation
Having a physician champion who convinces other doctors of the benefits of IT and serves as a liaison between the medical staff and the vendor is critical to the success of IT implementation efforts, according to experts. Physicians are believed to be better suited than an IT professional or high-level administrator to serve in such a role because they better understand their colleagues. American Medical News.
OIG Work Plan - 2009
The OlG Work Plan sets forth various projects to be addressed during the fiscal year by the Office of Audit Services, Office of Evaluation and Inspections, Office of Investigations, and Office of Counsel to the Inspector General. The Work Plan includes projects planned in each of the Department's major entities: the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services; the public health agencies; and the Administrations for Children, Families, and Aging. Information is also provided on projects related to issues that cut across departmental programs, including State and local government use of Federal funds, as well as the functional areas of the Office of the Secretary. Click here to learn more and download the 2009 Work Plan.
Justice Department recovers $1.12 billion from fraud
Every year the Justice Department tries to recover as much as it can from healthcare organizations that have allegedly defrauded them: this year the total it recovered was $1.12 billion dollars. Read more.
HHS blasts CMS's HIPAA enforcement program
A new report from the HHS Inspector General's has ripped into CMS for doing a bad job of enforcing the HIPAA security rule. In its own investigation, the IG found that when it conducted its own audits of hospital security systems, it found many significant vulnerabilities that could put patient data "at risk high." read more.
Some specialists could lose despite pay boosts in '09 doc-fee schedule
Some physicians will benefit more than others under a final rule on the physician-fee schedule issued by the CMS last week that carries out the major provisions of the Medicare Improvement for Patients and Providers Act of 2008, or MIPPA. read full story
MDs get 5.1 percent bump for Medicare for e-prescribing
Over the next several months, CMS is phasing in some new incentives for provider IT use which, taken collectively, could potentially result in a nice little boost to their income. After much discussion, CMS issued a final rule establishing an incentive program paying healthcare providers who use e-prescribing systems. CMS agreed that it will pay doctors and other clinicians in Medicare who use qualified e-prescribing systems an incentive payment of 2 percent of their total Medicare-allowed charges during 2009. read more.
Insurers give doctors 'kickbacks' for prescribing generic drugs
We all know how the pharmaceutical industry tries to get doctors to prescribe brand-name drugs even though a generic is available, for their own profit. But what about the flip-side of that problem: when insurers give doctors a portion of their savings from generic drugs? read more.
CMS Offers Details of Electronic Prescribing Incentive Program
CMS issued a final rule establishing a program aimed at boosting physicians’ use of electronic prescribing technology. Under the program, physicians and other clinicians participating in Medicare who adopt and use qualified e-prescribing systems could earn an incentive payment of 2% of their total Medicare-allowed charges during 2009. read more.
Minnesota Awards $3.5M To Help Health Providers Adopt Electronic Records
The grants are aimed at helping health care providers with limited resources comply with a state law that requires physicians to use electronic health record systems by 2015. read more.
Many Programs Offer Doctors Financial Help To Adopt EHRs
A new study identified 90 programs offering a total of $700 million to subsidize the cost of electronic health records. According to the study, 50 hospital organizations have launched programs to partially subsidize the cost of EHRs for doctors, while government agencies, health plans and other groups have launched 40 EHR incentive programs. Health Data Management, Healthcare IT News.
Hospitals Slow To Help Doctors Adopt EHRs, Study Finds
A new study found that most hospitals have not yet taken advantage of regulatory changes that allow them to subsidize physician purchases of electronic health records. The burden of ongoing health IT projects, budget limitations and lack of physician interest are impeding hospital action, according to the report. The relaxed regulations are set to expire on Dec. 31, 2013. Modern Healthcare.
Latest Medicare Fraud Crackdown Triggers 18 Arrests in L.A. Area
A team of federal and state investigators maintain that the individuals were part of schemes that aimed to defraud Medicare of more than $30 million by submitting fraudulent bills for medical equipment. Medicare fraud is particularly active in Los Angeles and Miami. Los Angeles Times.
House Lawmaker Introduces Bill To Create Nationwide EHR System
House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee Chair Pete Stark's bill would have Medicare pay physicians and hospitals for using approved electronic health record systems. Aides acknowledge that the bill's chances of passing before Congress adjourns are slim. Congress Daily.
Leaders Say Health Data Exchange Report Shows Health IT Progress
Health IT leaders expressed satisfaction with the results of this year's eHealth Initiative's annual survey on health data exchanges. The survey found that 42 of the health data exchanges surveyed reported being fully operational, compared with 32 in 2007. Healthcare IT News.
Most Doctors Aren’t Using Electronic Health Records
A government-sponsored survey of the use of computerized patient records by doctors points to two seemingly contradictory conclusions, and a health care system at odds with itself. Read the New York Times article online.
OIG Reports More Than $2 Billion in Recoveries From Fighting Fraud, Waste, and Abuse for First-Half FY 2008
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) “Semiannual Report to Congress” announced expected recoveries of $2.2 billion for the first half of fiscal year (FY) 2008 from efforts to reduce fraud, waste, and abuse in HHS programs. Specifically, OIG’s $2.2 billion in expected recoveries encompasses $1.1 billion in audit-related recoveries and another $1.1 billion in investigative-related recoveries. Read the full report online.
OIG Report Finds Continued Lack of Medical Supplier Compliance with Medicare Requirements
Inspector General Daniel R. Levinson announced today that the Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the Department of Health and Human Services issued another report on durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supply (DMEPOS) suppliers’ compliance with Medicare requirements. Read the full report online.
HHS - OIG SemiAnnual Report to Congress