Practice Technology

Physicians and billers should understand the difference between modifier -22, -52, and -53 for current procedural terminology coding.

This chart outlines the differences in coding for Coronary Atherosclerosis, Angina Pectoris, and Myocardial Infarction under ICD-10.

Only a small number of physicians and hospitals have attested to Meaningful Use stage 2, months into the reporting year, according to data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Most electronic health record systems are a cost drain for practices, but deriving revenue from a system is possible.

A reader writes that he has seen no financial benefit from adopting electronic health records in his practice.

A reader predicts that the financial burden of converting to the ICD-10 coding system will bankrupt many practices

Lee Kim, JD, FHIMSS, director of privacy and security at HIMSS, answers five questions for physicians facing possible issues now or in the future arising from Heartbleed.

In recent months, close to 65 electronic health record (EHR) systems have been certified to meet Meaningful Use 2 criteria for complete EHR systems.

Familiarity with the new combination codes is needed to ensure that documentation is sufficient to capture any related conditions, both the etiology and manifestation, and/or any related symptoms for the condition being reported.

The controversy over copy-paste in EHRs has been around for a long time, but it has recently gained new urgency.

Keeping patient data private has never been more important, and requires medical practices to navigate a web of mandates, analyses, and agreements.

Implementation costs, alert fatigue cited as obstacles for practices

Develop a project plan that includes understanding the coding changes, plan for payment delays and team training, and then assemble your team to start gathering resources and information.

While healthcare organizations have decreased the number of breaches of patient data and improved their ability to control the costs associated with data breaches, healthcare reform has increased the risk to patient privacy, according to a study.

Microsoft stopped providing support for its popular operating system Windows XP this month, and continued use of this non-supported operating system is exposing the practice’s protected health information to risk. Take these steps to ensure that patient information is protected.

Electronic health record (EHR) systems are built to help physicians improve their practices. But EHRs may also come between a physician and a patient during an encounter. Voice recognition software and scribes may help optimize your documentation.

In recent months, close to 50 electronic health record (EHR) systems have been certified to meet meaningful use 2 criteria for complete EHR systems, bringing the total number of certified vendors to 81 as of early March 2014. Download a copy of the list.

Although health insurance companies and physicians are encouraging patients to use wearable devices, usage is often short term.

A new security risk assessment app designed to help small- to medium-sized practices conduct risk assessments of their organizations is now available for download from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

You have until midnight tonight to register and attest to Medicare’s 2013 meaningful use EHR Incentive Program, according to an alert from the Department of Health and Human Services.

The Senate has passed a one-year patch to the Sustainable Growth Rate formula and a one-year delay to the implementation of the ICD-10 coding system.

Though physician organizations have been vying for an ICD-10 delay, many in health IT say that it is time to implement the coding system in spite of legislation that may push it back until October 2015.

The number of solo practitioners and small practices who have adopted electronic health record systems increased more than 10% from 2013 to 2014, according to a new survey.

President Barack Obama is proposing increased funding toward medical school programs for internal medicine, pediatrics, and family medicine in his 2015 budget proposal.

How can physicians begin to leverage the 247 million Americans who using healthcare mobile applications?

The goal of expanding health information exchange networks was to help providers exchange patient data safely, but not all networks are created equally.

Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) regulations require that a facility be appropriately certified for each test performed.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has provided more details for hospitals and Eligible Professionals who may qualify for the Meaningful Use Stage 2 hardship exception for the 2015 reporting year.

A new website created by CMS aims to help practice owners come up with a plan to implement ICD-10.

Only credentialed medical assistants are permitted to enter medication, radiology, and laboratory orders into the EHR to count toward meeting the Meaningful Use thresholds under the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive programs.