• Home
  • About Us
  • Services
    • Financial Improvement
    • Denial Management / Revenue Cycle
    • Physician Advisor Services
    • Clinical Operations / Improvement
    • Quality Improvement Programs
    • Accreditation
    • Human Resources / Interim Staffing
    • Training
  • Case Studies
  • FAQ
  • News
    • News and Events
    • Newsletter Sign Up
    • Read Newsletters
    • View our Blog
  • Careers
  • Library
  • Contact Us
  • Login
    • Peer Review Solutions
    • Project Management
    • Share Point
    • Help Desk
 

Search Our Blog

Lijit Search

Connect

Recent Posts

  • Top 5 Ways Consultants Help With Accreditation
  • ADHD – Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment and Trends
  • Healthcare Reform Repeal – Is the 37th Time a Charm?
  • Giving Away Dollars, Does it Make Sense
  • BHM Consultants Cover On Trend Topics Through Quality Contribution

Archives

  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • January 2011
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009
  • April 2008
  • March 2008

Categories

  • Accreditation
  • Clinical Operations Improvement
  • Compliance
  • Financial
  • Guest Post
  • Health Care Reform
  • Health Insurance
  • Healthcare Fraud and Abuse
  • Healthcare Prevention
  • Learning Series
  • News and Events
  • PCHCH Accreditation
  • Quality Improvement Programs
  • Services
  • Training
  • Uncategorized

Tag Archives: Healthcare Compliance

Post navigation

← Older posts

Top Healthcare Compliance Issues for 2013

Posted on January 15, 2013 by Linda Ringquist

Summary:  Linkedin poll results – what do you see as the top healthcare compliance issues for 2013? The answers may surprise you.

Have you ever participated in the “answers” portion of Linkedin? It is a wonderful, interactive forum in which you can pose questions, categorize your question, and receive fantastic answers very quickly. For example, we posed a question in regard to web conferencing hosting options. We wanted to determine if there was one option that stood out from the crowd, one that was working very well. We received a variety of different answers which provided a great starting point for our research. The polls also allow you to deem which answer you feel is the “best” answer and the ability to let that person know that you thought their answer was best. The answers are a great place to network and find new connections. Start a question of your own and join in the discussions already in progress.

One of our latest questions was “What do you see as the top healthcare compliance issues looming for 2013? We received a broad range of answers which provided terrific insight as to what the burning issues are in terms of healthcare.

  1. Changes in laws and regulations – This response refers to putting the cart before the horse. Laws are put into place before all of the steps are carefully planned. The examples cited refer to different laws which require specific reporting mechanisms. The laws were put into place before all of the reporting details were worked out, leaving individuals confused as to how to comply. Some of the examples given were:
  • Patient Safety, Patient Handling requires a change in the reporting process but no formal system has been established.HIPAA Compliance
  • QI survey data for these laws requires periodic participation, online system not in place.
  • Whistleblower in place for years, OSHA Alternative Dispute Resolution Pilot, not fully operational.
  • Disclosure of governance responsibility for nursing homes, reporting not in place
  1. Inconsistency from state to state – Organizations whose boundaries span several states find it difficult to comply with each state’s regulations and can cause issues with cost effectiveness.
  2. Privacy Protection of Health Information – 2013 will have a focus on privacy protection especially when dealing with tele-medicine and/or mobile health. HIPAA compliance will be on the forefront of the radar, including HIPAA 5010 as we transition to ICD-10.
  3. Transparency so people can go and see the “audit trail” in individual cases and user-friendliness so that the end-users aren’t discourage from seeking the care and coverage they need.
  4. Healthcare IT is going to be of great importance, compliance will be key.
  5. Lack of compliance due to the allocation of scarce resources. With the scarce resources, people have to do more with less and spend less time to complete the same tasks. This hurried mentality may cause things to slip through the cracks in terms of compliance.
  6. Surviving in an increasingly divisive and frequently combative regulatory environment, especially the 26 plans with low star ratings for an extended period of time.  Plans will need to invest in mock audits in advance of CMS arrival and will need to continue with internal audits in order to meet federal expectations. Budgets for this as well as continuous training programs will impact the bottom lines.
  7. Privacy and breach investigations will require greater adherence and reporting.
  8. Insurance and the accessibility thereof.
  9. Understanding the ins and outs of Healthcare Reform.

Healthcare is certainly an important topic for 2013 and going forward into 2013. We just survived the fiscal cliff which was an indication that there are so many laws out there and there doesn’t seem to be a gatekeeper monitoring effective and expiration dates. 2014 is the big year in terms of Healthcare Reform. I wouldn’t be surprised if we are facing yet another fiscal cliff at the end of 2013. Compliance with these regulations is costly especially in terms of Healthcare IT. The other side of the coin is non-compliance is even more costly. Can you afford to be non-compliant?

As part of the healthcare IT initiatives, electronic medical records will continue to become essential. As a token of our appreciation, we invite you to download our free presentation on electronic medical records. Please click on the icon below.

BHM Healthcare Solutions


Posted in Compliance, Health Care Reform, Health Insurance, Services | Tagged Health Information, Healthcare Compliance, healthcare IT, Healthcare Reform, HIPAA 5010, HIPAA Compliance, Linkedin, Linkedin Answers, Privacy Protection, Transparency | 9 Comments

Importance of Healthcare Compliance

Posted on November 12, 2012 by Kathleen Rand

We all know that healthcare should be offered with the best services possible, but understanding the existing issues when referring to healthcare compliance issues is not as easy as it may seem. Getting the proper care and the most appropriate treatment under the healthcare reform law can sometimes make the difference between life and death, and there is no wonder that healthcare compliance is considered so important. Healthcare compliance should be found anywhere and professionals should always show their highest interest for their patients. Improving the quality of life of the citizens of a certain country is also something that should always be considered by authorities and healthcare compliance is the first step.

In fact, healthcare compliance is required and guaranteed by the law in the United States. Anyway, in the United States there are certain and very strict rules when it comes to healthcare issues. Well, the thing you have to know when it comes to healthcare compliance is that it is not limited to healthcare providers, but the rules under healthcare compliance are actually going to affect patients and insurance companies.  Some people opt for private services when it comes to getting healthcare, while others decide to get government health insurance. The most important aspect is to choose those services that you can be sure are going to work for you.

There are different companies that can offer you healthcare insurance compliance and it is very important for you to know all the main offers before making your choice. Healthcare compliance and financial aspects are also some elements that people most likely want to learn about. And there is no wonder that they do, keeping in mind the fact that healthcare is a very important aspect of our lives. Getting a bad diagnosis, mostly when it comes as a shock, is a very hard thing to handle, but when you know that you will be able to receive the most appropriate and the best treatment, you will at least manage to remain positive about overcoming the condition.

Healthcare compliance is meant to help both patients and healthcare providers, while regulating the relationship between the two parties. Actually, healthcare compliance can refer to both the patient’s adherence to a recommended treatment and the general adherence standards, regulations and requirements.

When talking about regulatory healthcare compliance, all employees and workers in the healthcare system need to be aware of the laws that regulate the well-functioning of the system. Regulatory compliance is going to vary from one state to another. Anyway, when referring exclusively to compliance in medicine, the word is synonymous with adherence. Generally, healthcare compliance is going to refer to the degree in which patients follow the medical advice offered by specialists for their particular cases. Although, healthcare compliance will describe most of the times the use of treatments that include medications, the rules will also apply to patients who are recommended to follow therapy sessions or counseling. Patients can be submitted to various types of treatment schemes depending on their issues and the general state of health, and healthcare compliance will regard all such treatments, linked to the degree in which patients correctly follow a certain medical advice.

Anyway, healthcare compliance will not only refer to patients. All types of agents involved in the healthcare system are going to be included in the regulations of healthcare compliance. Patients and healthcare providers affect the functioning of the system equally. Improving the healthcare compliance will be a purpose that can be accomplished with a positive relationship between patients and their healthcare providers. Insurance companies are also going to be included under healthcare compliance rules. When a disease is found/diagnosed, patients need to receive the proper treatment as soon as possible. Doctors need to make sure that the treatment administrated is the best one, while patients need to correctly follow their recommendation for the treatment to be effective.

About Us

BHM Healthcare Solutions website:

http:///www/bhmpc.com

Contact Us

newideas@bhmpc.com

 

 


Posted in Compliance, Health Care Reform, Health Insurance | Tagged Affordable Care Act, BHM Healthcare Solutions, Compliance in Healthcare, Healthcare Compliance, Healthcare Insurance, Healthcare Reform Law, Regulatory Compliance | 3 Comments

9 Steps for a Successful HIPAA Audit

Posted on October 29, 2012 by admin

How can your organization become and remain compliant with the HIPAA standards? Is your hospital ready for an audit? A new audit pilot program could increase the number of HIPAA audits conducted.

The Office of Civil Rights through the HITECH Act requires HHS to conduct audits periodically to ensure hospitals are adhering to the guidelines and standards set forth in HIPAA. These audits are scheduled to begin December 2012. Based upon these findings, a more permanent audit program will be created. The pilot program will audit 115 hospitals. All hospitals should treat HIPAA audits just as they would any accreditation survey, by always knowing the HIPAA standards and protocols and utilizing them in all applicable areas of the organization. The current practice is for an organization to have 15 days, from the time they receive notification of the audit, to prepare any documentation to prove HIPAA compliance.

According to Becker’s Hospital Review, http://www.beckershospitalreview.com/healthcare-information-technology/9-ways-hospitals-should-prepare-for-hipaa-audits.html, there are 9 steps to follow to achieve success with a HIPAA audit:

  1. Become familiar with the protocols related to the audit
  2. Maintain excellent documentation that is always current
  3. Review results from audits conducted during the initial pilot
  4. Assess current HIPAA program governance
  5. Update the risk analysis
  6. Conduct mock audits
  7. Change your mindset
  8. Focus on the spirit of the audit
  9. Discuss the process with other hospitals

The number of HIPAA audits will increase exponentially over the next few years, which will make everyday compliance necessary. Sometimes it is necessary to engage a healthcare compliance consultant to help muddle through the complexities of HIPAA compliance. BHM Healthcare Solutions offers as one of our many services HIPAA compliance.

Please visit our website to learn more: http://www.bhmpc.com

Follow us on Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/company/bhm-healthcare-solutions

 


Posted in Compliance | Tagged BHM Healthcare Solutions, Healthcare Compliance, HIPAA, HIPAA Audit, HIPAA Audit Pilot Program, HIPAA Compliance, HIPAA Standards, HITECH Act | 5 Comments

Healthcare Compliance – The Joint Commission’s Influenza Vaccination for Licenses Independent Practitioners and Staff

Posted on July 13, 2012 by Linda Ringquist

The standard is effective July 1, 2012 for all accreditation programs (except ambulatory health, behavioral health, home care, laboratory services and office-based surgery programs, and for the Medicare/Medicaid certification –based long term care program option). The exceptions have an effective date of July 1, 2013. Prior to December 2011, this standard only applied to critical access hospitals, hospital, and long term care accreditation programs only. The standard pertaining to the flu vaccination is IC.02.04.01 and can be found on The Joint Commission website. This standard is for on-site services only.

The elements of performance for this standard are as follows:

  1. The organization establishes an annual influenza vaccination program that is offered to licensed independent practitioners and staff.
  2. The organization educates licensed independent practitioners and staff about, at a minimum, the influenza vaccine; nonvaccine control and prevention measures; and the diagnosis, transmission and impact of influenza.
  3. The organization provides influenza vaccination at sites and times accessible to licensed independent practitioners and staff.
  4. The organization includes in its infection control plan the goal of improving influenza vaccination rates.
  5. The organization sets incremental influenza vaccination goals: consistent with achieving  the 90% rate established in the national influenza initiatives for 2020.
  6. The organization has a written description of the methodology used to determine influenza vaccination rates.
  7. The organization evaluates the reasons given by staff and licensed independent practitioners for declining the influenza vaccination.
  8. The organization improves its vaccination rates according to its established goals at least annually.
  9. The organization provides influenza rate data to key stakeholders which may include leaders, licensed independent practitioners, nursing staff, and other staff at least annually.

The standards were written due to the effect on safety in patient care. Patient safety is increased with the decreased exposure to the influenza virus while receiving health care.

For more information, please review the “R3” report on the Joint Commission website. BHM Healthcare Solutions is one of the top healthcare consulting firms in the country. Our TJC consultants are experts in their field.  To find out more information on our TJC accreditation consulting, please contact one of our experts and setup a free consultation, please call 1-888-831-1171.


Posted in Accreditation, Compliance, Healthcare Prevention, Quality Improvement Programs, Services | Tagged BHM Healthcare Solutions, CARF Accreditation, COA Accreditation, Healthcare Compliance, HIPAA Compliance, NCQA Accreditation, URAC Accreditation | 15 Comments

The Importance of Physician Advisor Services

Posted on July 6, 2012 by Linda Ringquist

According to a report issued by the Department of Health & Human Services, the Office of the Inspector General reviewed a case involving University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Presbytarian Shadyside (the University). The final report is entitled Review of Medicare Acute Care Inpatient Same-Day Readmissions at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Presbytarian Shadyside Hospital. The full report can be found at http://oig.hhs.gov/oas/reports/region3/31000013.pdf.

Title XVIII of the Social Security Act established the Medicare program, which provides health insurance cove rage to people aged 65 and over, people with disabilities, and people with end-stage renal disease. Medicare Part A provides inpatient hospital insurance benefits and coverage of extended care services for patients who have been discharged from the hospital.

Section 1886(d) of the Act established the prospective payment system (PPS) for inpatient hospital services. Under the PPS, The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services pays hospital costs at predetermined rates for patient discharges.

BHM Healthcare Solutions

The Medicare Claims Processing Manual, Pub, no. 100-04, chapter 3, section 40.2.5, states that when a patient is discharged/transferred from an acute care PPS hospital, and is readmitted to the same acute PPS hospital on the same day for symptoms related to, or for evaluation and management of, the prior stay’s medical condition, hospitals shall adjust the original claim generated by the original stay by combining the original and subsequent stay onto a single claim.

The University, during the calendar years 2008 and 2009, received $913,355 for 47 readmissions for which an inpatient was discharged and readmitted the same day. A prior OIG report found that same-day provider readmissions for which a beneficiary was discharged to another provider after the initial admission and prior to being readmitted were vulnerable to billing errors. That review found that 41 of 73 readmissions were billed incorrectly.

The review’s objective was to determine whether the University billed same-day readmissions in accordance with Federal requirements. The following were conducted in conjunction with the review: (1) reviewed applicable Federal laws, regulations, and guidance; (2) extracted the University’s inpatient paid claims data from CMS’s National Claims history file; (3) identified 47 inpatient same-day readmissions; (4) selected 27 readmissions for which the patient was discharged to another provider and subsequently readmitted; (5) reviewed the admission and readmission records, itemized bills and readmission advices; (6) discussed the incorrectly billed readmissions with the University to determine the underlying causes of non-compliance with Medicare requirements; and (7) calculated the correct payments for those readmissions requiring adjustments.

As a result of the review, 7 of the same-day readmissions were billed incorrectly resulting in $25, 547 in overpayments by Medicare. These 7 should have been combined with the initial hospital stays in single claims for continuous stays rather than as separate claims for separate stays. The overpayments occurred because the University did not have adequate training to review same-day readmissions and prevent incorrect billings.

The recommendations set forth by the OIG were: (1) refund to the Federal Government $26,547, (2) strengthen training to ensure that same-day admissions are reviewed and billed correctly, and (3) cases are sent to physician advisors review.

Non-compliance with Medicare can be very costly. BHM Healthcare Solutions offers physician advisor training and physician advisor services. For more information, go to the BHM Physician Advisor page. For a free consultation, please call 1-888-831-1171.

BHM Healthcare Solutions

 


Posted in Compliance, Services | Tagged BHM Healthcare Solutions, Compliance in Healthcare, Healthcare Compliance, Physician Advisor Services, Physician Advisor Training, Physician Advisors | 2 Comments

Healthcare Reform – Part 2 of 2 – Expanding Medicaid

Posted on July 5, 2012 by Linda Ringquist

Original source of article is www.cnn.com

Healthcare Reform is the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. It is also affectionately known as ObamaCare. It was first signed in March 2010 and has over 90 changes that go into effect from 2010 to 2014. Many lawsuits have already been filed questioning whether this act is constitutional or not. The 2 issues of particular interests are: individual mandate and expanding Medicaid. This article will focus on expanding Medicaid. Please return to our site to view Part 1 – The Basics of Individual Mandate.

Medicaid is a program that is administered jointly by the federal government and the states. It provides insurance for low-income Americans who can’t afford health insurance. The federal government provides funding to the states, but the states ultimately administer the program. The expanding Medicaid part of Healthcare Reform will provide coverage to more Americans by increasing the amount they can earn and still qualify for the program. This is going to be a very expensive endeavor. The federal government is going to fund the initial cost of the program, but will then pass the costs on to the states beginning in 2016, with the states having full responsibility starting in 2020. The court issued a limited ruling June 28, 2012, saying that the federal government could expand the Medicaid program, but that it cannot take away current funding if the states choose not to participate in the program.

All those opposed……

As with every regulation, expanding Medicaid has both those that are opposed and those that are in support. The opposition comes from the states which believe the expansion program is unconstitutional on the basis that it is an unfunded mandate. The government is telling states to add services but not providing the funding to do so.

All those in favor…….

The supporters are defending the law stating that the federal government is well within its rights to set the rule for the federal program. The 11th Circuit Court of appeals is in agreement with the supporters.

BHM Healthcare Solutions is a behavioral health consulting company who provides services including, but not limited to, financial, quality, healthcare compliance and accreditation, physician advisor services, revenue cycle, denials management, human resources and training. Our healthcare management consultants provide expertise for all of your consulting needs.  Please call today for a free consultation. 1-888-831-1171.


Posted in Health Care Reform, Health Insurance | Tagged Behavioral Health Consulting, Healthcare Compliance, Healthcare Management Consultants, Physician Advisor Services | 4 Comments

Healthcare Reform – Part 1 of 2 – The Basics of Individual Mandate

Posted on July 4, 2012 by Linda Ringquist

Original source is www.cnn.com

Healthcare Reform is the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. It is also affectionately known as ObamaCare. It was first signed in March 2010 and has over 90 changes that go into effect from 2010 to 2014. Many lawsuits have already been filed questioning whether this act is constitutional or not. The 2 issues of particular interests are: individual mandate and expanding Medicaid. This article will focus on individual mandate. Please return to our site to view Part 2 – expanding Medicaid.

Individual mandate attempts to increase insurance coverage to Americans. As of 2014, anyone who doesn’t have insurance through Medicare, Medicaid, or their employer will be forced to purchase insurance. The law will offer assistance in the form of stipends to Americans below a certain income level to help with the costs. On June 28, Chief Justice John Roberts said, “the government didn’t have the power to institute the individual mandate under the Coverage Clause, but that the mandate could stand as a tax.”

Individual mandate is opposed by many. Their premise is how can the government require Americans to buy insurance from a particular company? The individual mandate has been compared to requiring us to purchase flood insurance if we are located in a flood zone and to purchase liability insurance as part of our auto insurance. Lawyers who are opposed to individual mandate believe there is a fundamental difference. You can choose not to live in a flood zone or not to drive.  Lawyers are stating this individual mandate is not only unprecedented, but also unconstitutional.

Individual mandate is supported by many also. The premise of their view is they agree that this is unprecedented but don’t believe it to be unconstitutional. They feel that health care is fundamental and at some point in every American’s life, he/she will require health care. So, people who don’t have insurance are still going to require health care. Without insurance, the cost for those unable to pay is passed on to others through hospitals and providers raising their fees. The individual mandate, according to it’s supporters, is a way to regulate the payment.

BHM Healthcare Solutions is a behavioral health consulting company who provides services including, but not limited to, financial, quality, healthcare compliance and accreditation, physician advisor services, revenue cycle, denials management, human resources and training. Our healthcare management consultants provide expertise for all of your consulting needs.  Please call today for a free consultation. 1-888-831-1171.

 

 

 


Posted in Health Care Reform, Health Insurance | Tagged Behavioral Health Consulting, Healthcare Compliance, Healthcare Management Consultants, Physician Advisor Services | 1 Comment

Part 1 of 2 – New CARF Standards Effective for Surveys Conducted After June 30, 2012

Posted on June 26, 2012 by Linda Ringquist

Original source of information is the CARF website. The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities International (CARF) was founded in 1966 and serves the following areas: aging services, behavioral health, business and services management networks, child and youth services, employment and community services, and medical rehabilitation. Their mission is “to promote the quality, value, and optimal outcomes of services through a consultative accreditation process that centers on enhancing the lives of the persons served.” CARF is constantly updating their policies and practices to keep up with the ever-changing world or Rehab. Thus far in 2012, the following four initiatives have been announced:

  1. Case management standards to Aging Services accreditation area
  2. Accreditation for supported education in 2012 Employment and Community Services Standards Manual
  3. Accreditation for independent evaluation services in 2012 Medical Rehabilitation Standards Manual
  4. Accreditation for student counseling in 2012 Behavioral Health Standards Manual

This current blog will focus on case management standards and supported education. The following blog will focus on independent evaluation and student counseling.

According to the director of CARF’s Aging Services accreditation area, “Many aging services organizations offer home and community services for diverse populations that continue to reside in their own homes. Case management accreditation provides standards for delivering high quality services that assess consumer’s individual needs, refer them to the appropriate services, and arrange or coordinate their care.” These standards are now being extended to case management and are already a part of other areas which CARF accredits. Aging organizations can choose to become accredited in case management but not required. Organizations that manage the care of people in assisted living facilities, long-term care settings, or continuing care retirement communities are not required to add these standards to their existing accreditation.  The effective date of the case management standards is surveys conducted after June 30, 2012.

Supported education refers to the postsecondary education of people with disabilities.  The purpose is to support individuals who are enrolled or want to enroll in an education program to achieve their educational goals. According to Paul Andrew, managing director of CARF’s Employment and Community Services accreditation area, “Supported education expresses the belief that persons with disabilities can attend classes, learn and improve their options. Individuals with postsecondary degrees or certificates can enjoy the benefits of higher levels of earnings and savings, increased personal and professional mobility, improved quality of life for their children, and more job and career choices.”  These standards will apply to surveys conducted after June 30, 2012.

Please return to our website to view part 2, the conclusion of the new CARF standards effective for surveys conducted after June 30, 2012. These will include: Accreditation for independent evaluation services in 2012 Medical Rehabilitation Standards Manual and Accreditation for student counseling in 2012 Behavioral Health Standards Manual.

BHM Healthcare Solutions is one of the top healthcare consulting firms in the country. One of our many areas of expertise is CARF accreditation. Our CARF accreditation consultants always stay abreast of any regulatory changes and are experts in helping our clients obtain or renew accreditation status. If you are in need of CARF accreditation consulting, please contact us by calling 1-888-831-1171.

 


Posted in Accreditation, Compliance, Quality Improvement Programs, Services | Tagged BHM Healthcare Solutions, CARF Accreditation, CARF Accreditation Consultants, CARF Accreditation Consulting, Healthcare Accreditation, Healthcare Compliance, Healthcare Consulting Firms, Healthcare Management Consulting | 10 Comments

Healthcare Reform and the Presidential Election

Posted on June 18, 2012 by Linda Ringquist

Original source is “The Hill” Healthwatch Blog

Healthcare Reform is a buzz word in terms of the upcoming presidential election. Three new articles were added to the website just since yesterday regarding this issue.

Obama Issues Veto Threat for Healthcare Bill

June 6, 2012, the White House threatened to veto a GOP-backed healthcare bill set for a House vote tis week. Republicans argue that H.R. 436, which would repeal the reform law’s medical device excise tax, would additionally lower healthcare costs. The White House said the measure “would fund tax breaks for industry by raising taxes on middle-class and low-income families” and increase the number of uninsured Americans. “The medical device industry, like others, will benefit from an additional 30 million potential consumers who will gain health coverage under the Affordable Care Act starting in 2014”, read the statement of administration policy. “This excise tax is one of several designed so the industries that gain from the coverage expansion will help offset the cost of that expansion.” In addition to repealing the device excise tax, the GOP bill will allow health care savings accounts to expense over-the-counter drugs and make it easier to utilize unused balances in these accounts. This bill is expected to see a floor vote on June 7 or June 8, 2012.

Romney: Obama “Knowingly” Held Back Economy to Pass Healthcare Reform

Mitt Romney alleged on June 6, 2012 that President Obama purposely slowed down the economic recovery to focus on healthcare. Romney stated “The idea that they knowingly slowed down our recovery in order to put in place Obama Care – which they wanted and they considered historic, but the American people did not want or consider historic – is something which I think deserves a lot of explaining.” Romney went on to say that Obama and his advisors discussed “the fact that Obamacare would slow down the economic recovery in this country, and they knew that before they passed it.”

Sebellius: “We’ll be ready if Supreme Court Strikes Healthcare Law”

Kathleen Sebellius, Health and Human Services Secretary said she is confident the Supreme Court will uphold the law but has a contingency plan should it not be upheld. The decision on this issue is expected to be rendered by the end of June 2012. A report last week stated that in private, President Obama expressed concerns that he may have to revisit the healthcare issues during his second term. This statement contradicts his views he has expressed publicly. According to Sebellius, she is gearing up for 2014, the time when some portions of the law are due to become effective. She also stated, “It’s best to anticipate the law is fully constitutional.”

Healthcare laws and regulations are changing at a rapid rate. Healthcare compliance and healthcare accreditation are affected by these changes. BHM Healthcare Solutions is one of the leading healthcare consulting firms. For more information, please visit our accreditation page and contact our health accreditation consultants 1-888-831-1171.


Posted in Compliance, Financial, Health Care Reform, Health Insurance, Services | Tagged BHM Healthcare Solutions, Compliance in Healthcare, Health Accreditation Consultants, Healthcare Compliance, Healthcare Consulting Firms, Healthcare Reform | 17 Comments

What the Hill? The Latest and Greatest Healthcare News from Capitol Hill

Posted on June 6, 2012 by Linda Ringquist

Following are snipets from “The Hill” website highlighting some of the latest newsworthy issues.

Poll: Employers say striking entire health law is best outcome

According to a new poll, most American employers affirm that a decision by the Supreme Court to reject the healthcare law in its entirety would be the best choice for their finances. The survey was issued from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans. 58% of those surveyed believe making the healthcare law null and void would be best for their bottom line. However, 66% believe the Supreme Court will only void certain mandates such as to buy health insurance. The survey was issued at an opportune time with the presidential elections drawing near.

In a statement, the International Foundation acknowledged that “reaching a consensus on the Affordable Care Act among our members would be difficult” but that improving the American healthcare system is vital. “It’s clear that our members agree that steps must be taken to address the access to quality, affordable healthcare in America,” said Michael Wilson, the group’s CEO.

The survey was also used to poll which provisions of the healthcare law are most important to American workers. The number one provision was to allow children to be covered under their parents insurance until age 26. The second most important provision was the elimination of pre-existing exclusions from insurers.

Health law exchanges might not spur insurer competition, study finds

States and the federal government will have to work hard to make sure that new insurance exchanges in President Obama’s healthcare law actually create more competition, a new study says.

The healthcare law requires each state to establish an exchange which is a new marketplace easily accessible for both individuals and businesses to shop for insurance. The federal government may setup an exchange in states that don’t set up their own.

Exchanges are similar to the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. FEHBP allows federal workers to choose from a range of health plans. Plans have to meet certain criteria in order to participate. Not all areas of the country have many FEHBP plans.

But some areas of the country don’t have many competing FEHBP plans, which may cause an issue in terms of competition, according to a study published in Health Affairs. States and the federal government would have to start taking steps now to avoid this issue, the study says.

GOP prepares for Supreme Court’s healthcare ruling

House Republicans are worried about the Supreme Court’s healthcare decision which is expected to occur by the end of the month of June 2012.

Reps. Tom Price (R-Ga.) and Phil Roe (R-Tenn.), who are both doctors, spoke with reporters. They confirmed that Republicans might not offer a comprehensive replacement plan if the court strikes the Affordable Care Act. Price also stated that Republicans’ plan probably won’t include one of the most popular pieces of President Obama’s law — not allowing insurance companies to deny coverage to people who have pre-existing conditions. Republicans have said before that they’re likely to let those denials return.

“Preexisting illnesses and injuries for children — there isn’t anything that we would do that would preclude a health care entity, an insurance company, from excluding those,” Price said Tuesday.

CMS rethinking analytics

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is launching an initiative to improve the transparency and utility of its data and, more importantly, its healthcare delivery. The effort will create a new Office of Information Products and Data Analysis that will make dissemination of data resources “a core function of CMS.” These resources will include a comprehensive CMS Data Navigator, a dashboard for statistics on Medicare enrollment, and others.

These are just a few of the exciting healthcare issuess we are following. BHM Healthcare Solutions is one of the top healthcare consulting firms specializing in healthcare consulting, healthcare compliance, and healthcare accreditation. Some of our areas of expertise are: CARF accreditation, COA accreditation, HIPAA compliance, patient centered health care home accreditation, URAC medical home accreditation, NCQA accreditation, and URAC accreditation. Please visit our accreditation page for more details. Please call 1-888-831-1171 for a free consultation today!


Posted in Accreditation, Compliance, Health Care Reform, Health Insurance, Services | Tagged CARF Accreditation, COA Accreditation, Healthcare Accreditation, Healthcare Compliance, Healthcare Consulting, Healthcare Consulting Firms, HIPAA Compliance, NCQA Accreditation, Patient Centered Health Care Home Accreditation, URAC Accreditation, URAC Medical Home Accreditation | 6 Comments

Post navigation

← Older posts

BHM Healthcare Solutions
Healthcare Management and Consulting Firm Improving Financial &
Operational Performance of Health Care Enterprises
Suite 102, 1033 Corporate Square Drive St. Louis, MO 63132
888-831-1171 Office, 888-818-2425 Fax
email: results@bhmpc.com

 


Copyright © 2011 BHM. All rights reserved
  • Home
  • |
  • About Us
  • |
  • Services
  • |
  • BHM Staff
  • |
  • Case Studies
  • |
  • Contact Us
  • |
  • FAQ
  • |
  • Newsletter
  • |
  • Careers
  • |
  • Privacy Policy & Terms of Use