Cracking the Code to Healthcare Billing, Coding and Reimbursement

Medical billing, coding, and reimbursement are the triumvirate that constitute the heart of a healthcare financial system. These three systems work in tandem with each other; yet, one miss in the cog in the wheel results in utter chaos. The whole system can go into disarray.

A marathon, four-hour session that is being organized on October 17 by GlobalCompliancePanel, a leading provider of professional training for all the areas of regulatory compliance, will explain all these elements in detail, so that confusions regarding the same can be eliminated.

At this session, which meets AAPC guidelines for 6.0 Core A continuing education units, Rich Hendriksen, Chief Executive Officer and founder of Nokomis Health, will be the expert. Kindly log on to https://www.globalcompliancepanel.com/virtual-seminar/4-hour-virtual-seminar-on-medical-claims-boot-camp—cracking-the-code-to-healthcare-billing,-coding-and-reimbursement-10309LIVE to register for this valuable session.

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At this course, the expert will explain the fundamentals of medical billing, coding, and reimbursement. He will show how all of these components work with each other. He will demonstrate how to practically apply all the latest industry knowledge and standards. As a result of this learning, those who work with medical claims and claims data stay ahead of the game. They will learn the following:

• The claim flow process from registration through adjudication and payment
• How physicians and hospitals set and manage charges
• Critical data elements on the two major claim forms and what they mean
• How and why the major coding systems are utilized
• How various reimbursement methods are used by payors.

The expert will organize the learning in this session into three parts: the life cycle of a claim, coding systems, and reimbursement. He will explain each of these in depth.

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About the expert: Rich has 30 years of experience in healthcare systems, coding, billing, and reimbursement. He has led managed care departments and provider contracting units at a variety of organizations, including hospitals, clinics, and health plans.

Rich has worked with over 70 different organizations, ranging from hospitals and clinics to third-party administrators, law firms, and internet-based companies. As a respected industry expert, he is well known for his unparalleled depth of knowledge in all aspects of healthcare coding, billing and reimbursement.

Reviving cerebrum foundational microorganisms may hold key to future MS medications

Researchers have figured out how to make more seasoned cerebrum undifferentiated organisms in rodents progressively young. The disclosure could prompt improved medications for maturing related illnesses that corrupt the mind and sensory system.

The examination concerns oligodendrocyte begetter cells (OPCs), which are a kind of foundational microorganism, or juvenile cell. OPCs are basic for the sound working of the cerebrum and the remainder of the focal sensory system.

OPCs develop, or separate, into oligodendrocytes, which are the phones that produce the myelin sheath that encompasses nerve filaments and jam the electrical sign that they convey.

Annihilation of myelin is a distinctive component of numerous sclerosis (MS), and maturing related changes to OPCs add to the procedure. Maturing can likewise decrease OPC work in sound people.

Scientists at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom found that expanding firmness in the maturing mind hinders the capacity of OPCs.

When they transplanted OPCs from more established rodents into the cerebrums of more youthful rodents, the matured OPCs started to capacity like energetic OPCs.

Stiffening of stem cell niche:

The team eventually established that the loss of function in the OPCs was a result of something happening in their microenvironment, or stem cell “niche.”

“Here we show,” write the authors in a recent Nature paper, “that the OPC microenvironment stiffens with age, and that this mechanical change is sufficient to cause age-related loss of function of OPCs.”

It appears that the stem cell niche reflects the aging-related changes in the “chemical and mechanical signals” that it sends to the OPCs residing in it.

Once the transplanted aged OPCs sensed that they were in a more youthful, soft environment, they began to behave more like vigorous, younger OPCs.

To explore what was going on in more detail, the team ran some laboratory experiments with OPCs and “biological and synthetic scaffolds to mimic the stiffness of young brains.”

‘Molecularly and functionally rejuvenated’

The researchers observed that when they grew aged OPCs on soft material scaffolds, they started to behave more like youthful OPCs.

The aged OPCs were “molecularly and functionally rejuvenated” as a result of being on the softer material.

Conversely, placing young OPCs on scaffolds comprising stiffer material, caused them to behave like older ones.

“We were fascinated,” says co-senior study author Dr. Kevin J. Chalut, “to see that when we grew young, functioning brain stem cells on the stiff material, the cells became dysfunctional and lost their ability to regenerate, and in fact began to function like aged cells.”

Dr. Chalut works in the Department of Physics and the Stem Cell Institute at the University of Cambridge.

He observes, however, that the more interesting finding was seeing the old OPCs growing in the soft material, and how “they began to function like young cells — in other words, they were rejuvenated.”

“This suggests a new way forward to override the age-related loss of function in this important stem cell system,” he adds.

Read more at https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326066.php

Good Laboratory Practices (GLPs) Comparing and Contrasting GMP

To compare and contrast between Good Laboratory Practices and Good Manufacturing practices.

Good Laboratory Practices (GLPs), 21 CFR part 58 are not set of guidelines but they are regulations for conducting nonclinical laboratory studies that support or are intended to support applications for research or marketing permits for products such as food and color additives, human and animal drugs, medical devices for human use, biological products and electronic products that are regulated by the FDA.

GLPs are enforceable by law. They do not include manufacturing of product. GLPS are for non-clinical laboratory studies in which tests article are studied in test system under laboratory conditions to determine their safety. This does not include studies utilizing human subjects, or clinical studies, or field trials on animals.

• What are Good Laboratory Practices
• Why were they created
• What is the objective of GLPs and how are they associated with GMPs and SOPs
• Statistical procedures for data evaluation
• Instrumentation validation
• Analytical and laboratory certification
• Documentation and maintenance of records
• Consequences of noncompliance
• Disqualification and reinstatement

Who will be benefited by this

• Quality Assurance Personnel
• Quality Control Personnel
• Research and Development Personnel
• Regulatory Affairs Personnel
• Project Managers
• Manufacturing Managers
• Validation Engineers
• Internal Auditing Personnel
• Microbiology Personnel
• Auditors

Instructor Joy McElroy With over 20 years total experience in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, Joy has gained extensive knowledge of Quality Assurance, Process and Cleaning Validation, and Equipment Qualification. She has written and executed Equipment Qualification and Validation Protocols for numerous Companies such as Mallinckrodt, Wyeth Lederle, Merck, BioMerieux, Catalent, and Phillips Medisize. 

Her knowledge, experience, and strong work ethic have made her a highly sought-after engineer in both the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. Joy specializes in Equipment Qualification, Sterilization, Cleaning Validation, and GMP Compliance Auditing.

How the Things Will Change The Way You Approach [Phase I Gmps]

Early clinical trials are conducted to establish initial safety of a drug. The studies are generally in small number of healthy subjects and use lower doses of the drug product. Therefore, only small amounts of investigational material are required. In order to not undertake substantial costs and to reduce regulatory burden during these early stages, the FDA has established guidelines to allow early stage investigational products to be manufactured under less stringent GMPs.

This workshop will review the current regulations, guidance documents for early stage manufacturing and GMPs in detail. Regulatory strategies and logistical considerations for early development stage product, including vendor selection and management, stability, labeling, and documentation requirements will also be reviewed and explored.

So, that you may understand differences between GMP requirements for early and later stage clinical development. Explore and discuss ways to develop and implement strategies for early GMPs for phase I clinical studies.

• Directors
• Managers
• Supervisors in Regulatory Affairs
• Manufacturing
• Quality Assurance, and Clinical Operations

Facts – Until You Reach Your the New EU Medical Device Regulation

The Commission adopted a package of measures on innovation in health. The package consisted of a Communication and two regulation proposals to revise existing legislation on general medical devices and in vitro diagnostic medical devices. In particular, the Directives on active implantable medical devices (90/385/EEC) and on medical devices (93/42/EEC) are intended to be replaced by a Regulation on medical devices, while the Directive on in-vitro diagnostic medical devices (98/79/EC) is intended to be replaced by a Regulation on the same subject.

The revisions therefore affected all kinds of medical devices including in vitro diagnostic medical devices, from home-use items like sticking plasters, pregnancy tests and contact lenses, to X-ray machines, pacemakers, breast implants, hip replacements and HIV blood tests.

This will look at what to expect when the new regulation is implemented. Including: the transition period, Effect on Notified Bodies, Impact of the MDR on Quality Management Systems (QMS), technical documentation, clinical trial requirements, UDI and combination products.

-> Because the current Directive will be significantly altered and replaced by a Regulation which is legally binding on all Member States.

• Clinical Trial Managers
• Regulatory Affairs
• Medical Officers
• The updated Regulation
• Implementation Dates and Transition
• Main changes and Products Affected
• Effect on Medical Device Manufacturers

New EU Medical Device Regulation

Effectively Dealing with Harassment and Its Relationship to Discrimination, Retaliation, and Hostile Work Environments

In any case of workplace harassment, an employer’s behavior must meet a certain standard in the eyes of the law. Just posting an anti-harassment policy, while a positive step, is insufficient to prove that an employer took workplace harassment seriously.

Workplace harassment isn’t limited to sexual harassment and doesn’t preclude harassment between two people of the same gender. The harasser can be a boss, a supervisor in another department, a co-worker, or even a non employee. The victim doesn’t necessarily have to be the person being harassed; it can be anyone affected by the harassing behavior.

Harassment can also be considered a form of employment discrimination under various federal, state and local laws. In order to be considered discrimination, the harassment must be based on some protected trait. Under federal law, those traits include race, color, national origin, gender, pregnancy, age, religion, disability, and genetic information. Many state and local governments have enacted similar anti-discrimination laws.

Retaliation claims are costly and time-consuming for employers. Missteps in handling sensitive employee issues could result in the organization writing a check with a lot of zeros.

Additionally, workplace harassment may constitute a hostile work environment. Some conduct can be so severe on its own that even one incident can create a legal claim of workplace harassment.

How companies investigate potential misconduct can affect the company’s reputation as well as its bottom line.  Because cultural and generational diversity is changing the landscape of the U.S. workforce, that diversity can become fuel for all types of litigation. Understanding how to recognize harassment and effectively conduct workplace investigations can greatly reduce the chances of an organization being sued.

An employer can avoid or reduce liability by taking appropriate preventative measures. Participants will learn the best practices employers can employ to minimize the likelihood of retaliation violations.

Employers first need to understand exactly what harassment is: unwelcome conduct from a boss, coworker, group of coworkers, vendor, or customer whose actions, communication, or behavior mocks, demeans, puts down, disparages, or ridicules an employee. Physical assaults, threats, and intimidation are severe forms of harassment and bullying.  Harassment may also include offensive jokes, name-calling, offensive nicknames, pornographic images on a laptop, and offensive pictures or objects. Interfering with an employee’s ability to do his or her work also is considered a form of harassment.

Employees can also experience harassment when they are not the target of the harasser because of the negative work environment that can develop because of the harassment. This is referred to as a hostile work environment. Additionally, workplace harassment can result in claims of discrimination and retaliation.

Employers often overlook the importance of promptly investigating complaints of harassment and taking quick and appropriate corrective action. Since an employer’s prompt and effective response to complaints can limit or eliminate its liability in a discrimination, harassment, or retaliation lawsuit, it is imperative that employers implement an effective mechanism to investigate and resolve workplace complaints.

Charges of harassment in the workplace can result in costly consequences for companies. In 2017, the EEOC handled 84,254 charges and secured more than $125 million for victims of harassment and discrimination in private, federal, state, and local government workplaces.

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Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) Management and Audit

An environmental, health and safety (EHS) management and audit program is now a prerequisite for organizations in various kinds of business. Allied to the emergence of and developing along with the concepts of worker safety and corporate social responsibility; the environmental, health and safety audit is today a major component of an organization. Organizations that need visibility and are desirous of earning a good name should make the environmental, health and safety management and audit a part of their culture.

The practice of companies auditing their environmental, health and safety (EHS) began in the 1970’s, almost contemporaneously with the enactment of OSHA. Around that time, the environmental issue was gaining ground in the corporate circles of the West with the governments and other agencies pitching in with their efforts to create greater awareness of the impact of business activities on the environment. As a result, the thinking that the top management of an organization needs to be viewing this issue more seriously started to develop and got ingrained over the years.

Cannot be glossed over
As a result of various legislations on the issue of environmental safety; the role of the Board of Governors became central in ensuring this aspect of the business. Environmental health and safety was no longer something that needed to be administered superficially, but in formal and designated ways, more specifically in the form of an audit. In order to incentivize corporate entities to implement environmental health and safety (EHS) management and audit; the trend started moving towards making these activities carry value addition to the organization.

Environmental health and safety management and audit is now a more formalized activity that needs to be carried out in a proper, set and well-defined manner. The processes that go into the EHS management and audit are clearly laid out in the form of standards such as the ISO 14001 standard, which is essentially an Environmental Management System (EMS) audit. To strengthen and enrich the audit activity and round it better; a few related and parallel standards such as the relevant parts of the 9000 family of standards, which deals with quality management, and 18000 series audits can be carried out with ease to supplement the environmental, health and safety audit.

Role of environmental health and safety (EHS) management and audit
Environmental health and safety (EHS) management and audit have now evolved into being a practice that is coupled with and fused into many business-related activities. The practice now is to make an environmental health and safety management and audit an inseparable part of the Quality Management System. Environmental health and safety (EHS) management and audit audits are now a sure means to ensure that the organization has a reputation for corporate social responsibility by implementing this audit.

Aspects of an environmental health and safety management and auditThe aim of environmental health and safety management and audit is to instill the EHS right from the top management down to the line level employee. A properly carried out EHS management and audit system should ideally take these factors into consideration:

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200+ followers. WOWWWWWW…

Hello Everyone,

Today we have the pleasure of celebrating the fact that we have reached the milestone of 200+ followers on WordPress. Since we started this blog, we have had such a great time connecting with everyone.  we never expected to actually to connect with other people in the blogging community.

we are so incredibly thankful for each and every one of you who follows and comments on my blog posts. Please know that!

we would continue our blogging in these areas FDA Regulation, Medical Devices, Drugs and Biologics, Healthcare Compliance, Biotechnology, Clinical Research, Laboratory Compliance, Quality Management ,HIPAA Compliance ,OSHA Compliance, Risk Management, Trade and Logistics Compliance ,Banking and Financial Services, Auditing/Accounting & Tax, Packaging and Labeling, SOX Compliance, Environmental Compliance, Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet, Geology and Mining, Human Resources Compliance, Food Safety Compliance and etc.

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Business Process Management in Healthcare helps reduce inefficiencies

For many years before the advent of automation and computerization ,healthcare processes, such as billing, admissions, and many elements of care were carried out manually. Although it was a capable method to quite an extent, it relied on the use of the manual process or the human method. This was always prone to mistakes and errors, because humans are prone to committing errors that can creep in even with the best of intentions, as a result of which the healthcare industry ended up losing billions of dollars that could otherwise have gone into meaningful forms of investment.

A result of technological developments

This is why Business Process Management (BPM) in Healthcare came into existence with the advent of and as a byproduct of automation. Business process management in healthcare is being considered a major step in helping healthcare settings reduce costs and inefficiencies. When a unit implements business process management in healthcare; there is an automatic reduction in errors and inefficiencies. Let us see how:

Impetus from the higher authorities

There is now a general tendency and effort to push for automation in the healthcare industry. Even the American Congress has been aggressively pushing for reforms in the healthcare industry, a prime feature of which is fostering business process management in healthcare. Overall, BPM in healthcare is a means for improving efficiencies throughout the healthcare chain and bringing about greater integration and accountability through automation.

Core areas of business process management in healthcare

Business process management in healthcare is useful across the healthcare process chain, but is particularly so in at least there important areas:

Billing:This is one of the prime areas in which business process management in healthcare can make a huge difference. With complete automation of this critical area of business, healthcare units ensure that there is total coordination and traceability of the billing process.

Software:Apart from billing, another area in which business process management in healthcare helps tremendously is software. Software applications can bring about a huge change in the speed of operations. This area of BPM in healthcare reduces the need for human intervention at various stages of the business process.

Big data:Another of the areas in which business process management in healthcare holds huge promise is big data. Big data can help to make sense of various data used in healthcare administration and disease management across entire geographies. This makes the role of business process management in healthcare all the more meaningful and exciting.

 

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The increasing role of the social media in healthcare

 

With the social media having moved beyond being a platform for sharing personal information; its role in healthcare has nearly exploded of late. This is mainly because the growth of the social media has more or less coincided with that of the electronic records in healthcare.

Whatever the identifiable or unidentifiable reasons for the convergence of social media in healthcare; the fact is that social media in healthcare is a major phenomenon that is here to stay.

Social media in healthcare is being analyzed for potentially huge business opportunity, and it is being taken up for serious discussion in legal circles, with the American Congress and many other legislative bodies around the world thinking of taking serious steps for regulating it.

The most fundamental aspect of social media in healthcare is that its growth has been helped by the core feature it brings: its ease of adaption in this sector. Healthcare information, as we all know, is very vital, and speed is of great importance. This is why social media in healthcare has come to be one of the most talked about scenarios in the healthcare today, propped in no less measure by the gigantic size of the American healthcare economy.

The advantages social media brings into healthcare

 

As just seen, the social media in healthcare facilitate great use because they help transmit information at a pace that was difficult to imagine till recently. With the development of the electronic health records (EHR) in the US, technology has made possible the customization of health records. A platform like the social media can help accelerate this pace enormously. It can also help practitioners and other stakeholders of healthcare information, such as Business Associates and Covered Entities and a host of related ones gather information and transmit it and process it at lightning speed.

Concerns

The enormous benefits that the social media bring into healthcare notwithstanding; there is room for serious concern.

Like all other technology-driven tools, the social media in healthcare comes with an inherent risk: the laxity of records. Loose or nil security or healthcare records are a serious cause for concern. The recent breaches in health data have cost many healthcare organizations in the US millions of dollars.

The social media in healthcare give an opportunity for marketers to pitch their products or services, but they also open up lots of opportunity for the unscrupulous among these to exploit and manipulate this information. This is akin to the potential drawbacks credit cards and other such facilities bring. The social media in healthcare is a tool that is open to a high degree of vulnerability to breach. This is all the more true of new technologies, such as the cloud, which the social media in healthcare have embraced with open arms.

So, while the social media in healthcare is a force to reckon with, it is not something that is totally free of drawbacks. Till regulatory action frees the sector of these, the social media in healthcare will continue to grow, albeit with its concerns.

 

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