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An official publication of the ACR and the ARP serving rheumatologists and rheumatology professionals

Articles tagged with "Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)"

Coding Note

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As of January 1, 2010, Medicare eliminated both inpatient and outpatient consultation codes.

I Have the Data—Now What?

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Rheumatologists practicing in the current healthcare environment are experiencing unprecedented information flow, data management issues, and a rise in quality designations and pay-for-performance incentive programs. There is increasing pressure on rheumatologists to document or capture treatment concordance with guideline recommendations and best practices and to monitor gaps in care and patient outcomes. Unfortunately, some quality programs are not considered clinically meaningful, and even those that are often bring administrative burdens related to reporting, data aggregation, and analysis.

Technology and Pay-for-Performance

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Medicare and private payers are increasingly developing programs to reward physicians based on clinical benchmarks. As more payers embrace this approach, practices are looking to technology to help them manage complex reporting requirements.

Update on Meaningful Use

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On December 30, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released the long-awaited proposed rule establishing the Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program, which lays out a set of standards, implementation specifications, and certification criteria for EHR technology. This program has been developed in response to the “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act” (ARRA), which authorizes the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to provide a reimbursement incentive for physician and hospital providers who become “meaningful users” of an EHR.

Doctor or Accountant?

Stanley B. Cohen, MD  |  

Complex coding and reimbursement rules can detract from patient care