Compliance with federal price transparency rules among hospitals dropped significantly, from 34.5% in February to 21.1% in November 2024, per a report by Patient Rights Advocate (PRA). This decline highlights the challenges in achieving full Hospital Price Transparency Compliance. The drop is attributed to weak federal enforcement, which has allowed hospitals to obscure pricing information […]
Healthcare payment integrity is a crucial aspect of efficient claims processing, and its improvement can significantly reduce costs and improve patient care. Healthcare costs continue to climb, burdening patients, providers, and insurers alike. A significant driver of this issue is the inefficiency of healthcare administration, particularly in claims processing. Despite standardized claim formats, outdated systems […]
Medicare Telehealth Policy Changes are set to reshape the landscape of telehealth services. As the COVID-19 public health emergency ends, Medicare will revert to pre-pandemic policies, imposing stricter rules for telehealth services starting January 1, 2025, unless Congress intervenes. Key changes include: Geographic Restrictions: Patients must generally live in a health professional shortage area, a […]
A new survey reveals a significant rise in cyberattacks on healthcare organizations since 2023. These attacks have led to substantial disruptions in patient care, with the average attack costing organizations nearly $1.5 million. According to the survey, 92% of healthcare IT and security professionals reported at least one cyberattack in the past year, up from […]
Healthcare providers face a rising tide of Healthcare cyberattacks, which can have devastating consequences. These attacks are becoming more frequent and costly, and healthcare organizations are spending more than any other industry to recover from them. Small Practices at Risk: Small healthcare providers are particularly vulnerable to Healthcare cyberattacks due to limited resources and staff. […]
The healthcare industry has long been burdened with paperwork, from patient intake forms to insurance documentation. While many healthcare providers have already adopted Electronic Medical Records (EMRs), there’s a growing realization that going paperless can extend far beyond just digitizing patient records. One significant area where healthcare can continue to evolve is through the use […]
Medicare, the federal health insurance program for people aged 65 and older, has been at the forefront of healthcare innovation. In recent years, telehealth has emerged as a powerful tool, transforming the way healthcare services are delivered. As technology continues to advance, the future of Medicare telehealth looks increasingly promising. Telehealth: A Brief Overview Telehealth, […]
The Role of HIPAA-Compliant Cloud Computing in Securing Healthcare Data: HIPAA-compliant cloud computing significantly mitigates security, privacy, and legal risks for healthcare organizations. Cloud computing is becoming increasingly popular in healthcare. As organizations seek scalable and accessible IT solutions, cloud vendors are providing the tools. However, ensuring HIPAA compliance is essential when using cloud services. […]
Using surgery modifiers to accurately represent the role of assistant surgeons has become increasingly important over the past three decades. Initially, a simple mention of the assistant surgeon’s name in the operative note header sufficed. However, as the healthcare landscape evolved, payers began demanding more granular details about the assistant surgeon’s role and contributions to […]
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced plans to continue allowing certain telehealth flexibilities beyond the end of 2024. These changes are part of their proposed rules for Medicare payments in 2025. While most temporary telehealth rules from the COVID-19 pandemic are set to expire, CMS wants to keep some in place. […]