If you have trouble viewing this Email, click here.
HHS Launches New Web site on HIPAA Privacy Compliance and Enforcement
To coincide with the fourth anniversary of the enforcement of the HIPAA Privacy Rule, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently launched an enhanced Web site for consumers and health care providers. The enhanced Web site, http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/enforcement provides information for consumers, health care providers, health plans and others in the health care industry about HHS's compliance and enforcement efforts.
The new information describes HHS activities in enforcing the Privacy Rule, the results of those enforcement activities, and statistics showing which types of complaints are received most frequently and the types of entities most often required to take corrective action as a result of consumer complaints. The other information on the Web site covers consumers' rights to access their health information and significantly control how their personal health information is used and disclosed, as well as guidance about how to submit complaints about possible violations of the law and extensive guidance for entities who must comply with the rule.
In launching the website, Winston Wilkinson, the Director of the HHS Office for Civil Rights, noted: "HHS has obtained significant change in the privacy practices of covered entities through its enforcement program. Corrective actions obtained by HHS from these entities have resulted in change that is systemic and affects all the individuals they serve."
The Health Information Privacy Web site provides comprehensive information about the Privacy Rule, which creates important federal rights and requirements to protect the privacy of personal health information. HHS has conducted extensive outreach and provided guidance and technical assistance to providers and businesses to help them to implement privacy protections. These materials are available at: http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa.
Seats for PMI's 2007 National Conference for Medical Office Professionals Are Going Quickly
$100 Discount expires TODAY, April 27
Well over 200 people have already registered for this year's National Conference for Medical Office Professionals. If you have not yet registered and are still debating whether or not you'll come, read on for more information about this year's conference:
This is the most comprehensive, interactive, and information-packed two days of training that PMI does all year! Participants will hear cutting-edge topics from PMI's acclaimed Faculty and special Guest Presenters.
This year's conference features three general sessions and 20 breakout sessions. Conference topics include critical administrative issues that impact today's physicians and their practices such as, "EMRs -- Should you Implement a Paperless System?" "Pay For Performance and Consumer Driven Healthcare," and "Making Sense of the New Competitive Acquisition Plan."
Roundtable luncheons will also allow attendees to get to know fellow attendees in an interactive format, designed to promote group interaction with participants and faculty members.
All walks of medical practice staff are encouraged to attend, whether certified or not. PMI-certified professionals will earn all 12 of the required CEUs for annual certification renewal. The AAPC has granted 12 CEUs for CPCs who attend this conference.
Make your travel arrangements soon; this conference is just eight weeks away and remaining seats will go quickly.
Visit the web site: www.pmiMD.com and click on the conference link for new details, including breakout session topics, schedule of events, information on the guest speakers, accommodations, and much more!
Dude - Where's My Money?
By Ione Broussard, CMC, CMIS, CMOM
Many of us find ourselves asking the proverbial question, "Dude - where's my money?" at month's end, quarterly and then again at year-end. We sit and ponder all the reports that show exactly where it (the money) is hiding i.e., the AR 120+ bucket. There's even dollars tied up in outstanding insurance claims - like you haven't been trying to appeal and rework all those claims. Then there is our favorite, DISALLOWS, which really amounts to insurance discounts and write-offs. Expenses that sneak up - it's really as plain as day; it's all accounted for. But where is the money? It's all right there, just sitting on the bottom line.
So how do we convert these dollars from numbers on a report into tangible money that can be deposited in the practice account? First we have to understand exactly what our reports are telling us. If you are breaking down the reports, you are on the right track.. But now we have to reel in the money. It's like fishing. You buy the best rod and reel, line, hook, and bait. You purchase the best boat and hit the waters. You throw all your new equipment, knowledge, experience in the water then sit and wait, and wait and wait some more. Then you get a bite! Insurance pays! You post the payment and drop the balance to the patient. Easy, right? WRONG! There are always the denials, or worse yet, not paying the contracted rate, and of course the uncollectible debt.
Now, let's venture into this quagmire a little deeper and do some analysis:
Take a look at your outstanding claims report. This should be broken down by payer in an aging report. Then follow these steps:
Go after the biggest dollars that are 45 days old.
Go after your oldest dollar claims.
Go online and complete a claim status inquiry then start yelling - they say the squeaky wheel gets the grease.
Do you have a spreadsheet with all of your payer's contracted fees? Are they paying according to the contract? If not throw the fish back and get your reel (real) dollars.
Look through your aging AR. What percentage of your dollars are in each bucket? If more than 19% is in your 120+ bucket, then you've got a problem. Your collections are only as good as your collectors. Maybe you need to:
Re-train your collectors
Update your collection letters, and make collection calls
Get payment by credit card over the phone, be sure to ask for the 3-4 digit security code from the back of the card
Threaten to take their first born (just kidding).
Patients want payment options, so give them some. Total balance divided by three monthly installments sounds a whole lot better than one lump sum. Of course there are exceptions to this in every specialty. The idea is to be kind, but get some kind of payment commitment from the patient on a contracted payment plan (that means get their signature). Be sure the patient is given a copy of the promissory note so there is no misunderstanding or memory loss. Remember that if you get into a written formal payment arrangement of four payments or more you will need to be concerned with the Federal Fair Credit Billing Act. This Act gives the patient some specific rights when it comes to disputing a bill. If you don't follow the rules of the Act you may end up writing off part of or maybe even all of the patient's balance.
The patient needs to see the value in paying their doctor for continuation of their doctor's services. Good quality healthcare will help fill this bill. Good quality healthcare includes a staff with excellent customer service skills. Your staff should be able to educate the patient concerning their responsibilities of their insurance plan. An informed happy patient is more likely to pay their bill.
With all that said, the next time anyone asks you where the money is, just flash a big toothy smile and say "it's all right here," then put the 10 lb report in front of them and let the conversation flow from there.
Better Results Within Your Reach
Earlier this year, Practice Management Institute® announced a merger with The CMC Group, LLC, out of Atlanta. Some of you have asked what that means for you, our customer. In a nutshell, it means that PMI has moved even closer to becoming a one-stop resource for your practice administrative needs.
The merger creates a new entity, PMI Professional Resources, LLC, a full service coding, practice management, compliance and legal issues consulting division. Services include management consulting, compliance consulting for practices and facilities, financial consulting, and legal services.
"As recognized leaders in both consulting and education, our team has the know-how to get it right the first time," said Peter Keohane, senior partner of PMI Professional Resources, LLC.
The addition of PMI Professional Resources, LLC into the PMI family includes more than 100 practice coding, billing, and compliance books and tools for the practice. These resources are considered by many in the industry to be among the best reference materials available. The all-new 2008 PMI catalog is expected to be available in June.
PMI has also gained two strong team members: Sean Weiss, CMPE, CPC, CPC-P, CMC, CMOM, CMIS and Peter Keohane, JD, MPH, CPC, join the PMI faculty team as Director of Professional Development and Director of Curriculum Development, respectively.
"PMI certified professionals and clients will now have access to a vastly enhanced array of products and strategic thinkers," said Douglas O'Dell, President of PMI.
PMI Consulting Services, Inc., a part of the Practice Management Institute® (PMI/Assistex, Inc.), completed a merger with The CMC Group in January 2007. The merger expands the PMI products and services line, and brings an impressive array of CMC Group developed products to the national marketplace. For more information, contact PMI at 800-259-5562.
Associate Instructors Wanted
Do you have what it takes to be a part of our team?
Earlier this year, PMI announced the introduction of a new position within the Departments of Professional Services and Outreach and Network Development. The Associate Instructor (AI) position will be open to well trained and PMI credentialed individuals throughout the country who will be charged with teaching PMI curriculum on a local and regional basis. This marks the first time in the company's history where such a position has been available to those who are looking to add a unique experience to their professional portfolio.
In a nutshell: PMI is looking for a few good men and women to help us provide quality professional learning experiences to a growing number of medical communities across the U.S. This is not a full time employment situation.
The AI program is suited for medical office professionals who want to take their career one step further and share their vast experience in medical office management, coding, compliance, etc. with others in their field. In many cases these individuals are recruited in areas where it is difficult to develop a programming tour, or perhaps in areas where we would like to provide evening or weekend programming.
Consider this a joint venture between you and PMI. We are providing an exceptional opportunity for the AI to contract with a nationally known company and provide seminars on a part-time basis. The AI helps PMI provide educational opportunities in their own medical community by helping to find suitable seminar locations within the medical community, hospital etc. and by taking every opportunity to make your peers aware of the upcoming training. This basically is a team effort between PMI and the AI, each giving and supporting the other.
Some AI's will only teach in their community while others may have the desire and opportunity to travel outside of their immediate locale, again on a part time basis. This presents a wonderful way to supplement your income as well as utilize and share your knowledge.
Presently, PMI is accepting applications for this position. If you are interested in working with PMI on a contract basis to teach our curriculum in your area, please e-mail Michael Moore at mmoore@assistex.com with your resume, and a brief letter describing your experience and interest in this program.
SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION
You are receiving this message as a subscriber to The Link. If you would like to unsubscribe, please click here to "UNSUBSCRIBE".
If this email was forwarded to you and you would like to subscribe to The Link, please go to www.pmiMD.com and enter your email address.
DISCLAIMER
Advice given is general, and readers should consult professional counsel for specific legal, ethical, or clinical questions. Users of this service should consult an attorney familiar with federal and state health laws.
