Ohio Health Information Management Association

AHIMA Publishes Overview of Meaningful Use Rule
Posted July 29, 2010

AHIMA released a detailed outline of the final rule on the meaningful use EHR incentive program. The guideline describes the content of each section of the 864-page prepublication copy, which the Department of Health and Human Services made available mid-month. In August AHIMA will begin releasing updates to its popular ARRA white paper series reflecting the changes made in the final meaningful use rule as well as the final rule on EHR standards and certification criteria. Read the meaningful use rule overview.

Privacy Modifications Exempt Information “Conduits”
Posted July 29, 2010

Organizations that serve as “conduits” of protected health information are not covered by the recent draft modifications to HIPAA, according to an HHS lawyer. Some stand-alone PHR firms such as Google Health and Microsoft Health Vault would also be exempt in certain situations.

HHS’s Office for Civil Rights lawyer Adam Greene described the exemption during a July 9 meeting with the Health IT Policy Committee’s Privacy and Security Tiger Team. Organizations that are “mere conduits” for the electronic transport of PHI would not be considered business associates when working with HIPAA covered entities such as providers, health plans, or claims clearinghouses, Greene said. Read more at the Journal of AHIMA web site.

Collaboration Agreement Established Between IHTSDO and WHO
Posted July 29, 2010

On July 22, 2010 an agreement was signed between the International Healthcare Terminology Standards Development Organisation (IHTSDO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) with an aim to “increase collaboration in order to create and maintain jointly usable and integrated classification and terminology systems to make efficient and effective use of public resources and avoid duplication of effort.”

The collaboration fosters harmonization towards complementary use of SNOMED CT and WHO Classifications (including ICD-10), and enhances the work towards the next version. Used appropriately together the systematized terminology and the international classifications have the potential to “improve the accuracy, the reliability, and the quality of health and healthcare, to eliminate gaps in information, and to control costs.”

Classifications are widely used in the United States’ health systems for disease and operations indexing and as the basis for health care services reimbursement. SNOMED CT is standardized healthcare terminology representing clinical concepts in a consistent and comprehensive way in health records. Meaningful exchange of health data is enabled by adoption of this international standard.

For more information please access the WHO announcement or the IHTSDO announcement.

House Subcommittee Reviews CMS Meaningful Use Final Rule
Posted July 22, 2010

The House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee held a hearing July 20 on promoting the adoption of health information technology (HIT) through the meaningful use incentives. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published the final rule for the HIT incentive program on July 13. Providing the administration’s perspective on the final rule were:

David Blumenthal, MD, National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Tony Trenkle, Director, Office of E-Health Standards, CMS

For further information on the hearing and to review the witness testimony, you can visit the House Ways and Means web site. The House Energy and Commerce Committee, the Senate Finance Committee, and the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee also have jurisdiction over this issue but have not scheduled hearings to review the rule.

In response to the meaningful use final rule, AHIMA has developed an outline of the regulation which provids a high level understanding of the provisions. A detailed analysis of the major components will be provided soon. You can find the outline located on the Policy section of the web site later this week.

Tracking Changes in the Meaningful Use Rule
Posted July 22, 2010

How did the objectives and measures change in the meaningful use final rule? Overall, the final rule maintains the same objectives and measures drafted in the proposed rule. Two objectives were added and two were removed, deferred to stage 2. However, the final rule allows participants in the EHR incentive program to meet fewer objectives in stage 1 than initially proposed. The rule divides objectives into “core” and “menu” sets and allows participants to select five of 10 applicable menu objectives. Overall the measures associated with the objectives are more modest than drafted in the proposed rule. Many of the thresholds have been lowered. For a complete comparison of each objective and measure, visit the Journal of AHIMA web site.

GAO Publishes Report on NQF Contract with HHS
Posted July 22, 2010

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) published the first of two reports last week as required by the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA). The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is directed by this act to enter into a four-year contract with an entity to perform five duties related to healthcare quality measurement, and authorized $40 million from Medicare trust funds. The five duties addressed the following:

In January 2009, HHS awarded the contract to the National Quality Forum (NQF). This report describes NQF’s work for the first of four contract years, and HHS has flexibility to determine on an annual basis the specific work it expects NQF to perform for each of the MIPPA duties.

Meaningful Use Final Rule Released
Posted July 14, 2010

On Tuesday the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) unveiled final rules on meaningful use and standards and certification under the electronic health record (EHR) incentive program established under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The rules were announced at a press conference by HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, along with newly appointed Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) administrator Donald Berwick, U.S. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin, and National Coordinator for Health IT David Blumenthal.

Display copies of the meaningful use rule and the standards and certification rule have been posted to the Federal Register. Official publication of both rules is scheduled for July 28. The meaningful use rule becomes effective 60 days after publication, and the standards and certification rule becomes effective 30 days after publication. Links to pre-publication copies of both rules and more detail can be found via the Journal of AHIMA.

CMS issued a proposed rule in December 2009 outlining the proposed provisions governing EHR incentive programs, including defining the central concept of “meaningful use” of EHR technology. An interim final rule for standards and certification criteria for EHR technology was issued in December 2009 as well. Regarding meaningful use, the final rule adds “flexibility and choice,” Blumenthal said, allowing participants to “take different pathways to meaningful use.” The revised objectives are intended to be both “ambitious” and “achievable,” so that “if you try, you can get there.”

In addition, Blumenthal said that “privacy and security has been built into the meaningful use matrix” and serves to align with the privacy proposed regulation that was issued last week.

Blumenthal also said that “the intention is for information to follow patients” and the more robust health information exchange requirements become more robust during stages 2 and 3 of meaningful use. “The capability for exchange is not where it should be, therefore they will become more robust,” he said.

The meaningful use rule notes that the introduction of the new X12 5010 standards and the coming introduction of ICD-10 in 2013 “provides an opportunity for change in Stage 2 of meaningful use.” CMS “therefore intend(s) to include administrative transactions as a part of Stage 2 of meaningful use and expect(s) providers and vendors to take this into consideration in their decisions leading up to 2013,” the rule says.

AHIMA President Rita Bowen, MA, RHIA, CHPS, SSGB, said that the association congratulated HHS on the release of the final rules. “As the nation’s health information management leader, AHIMA and our members know all too well the failure of paper records to meet the demands of today’s healthcare decision making and are ready to ensure the proper implementation of electronic health records,” Bowen said in a statement to the media. “With this last hurdle behind us, the health information management profession can move forward with final preparations for implementation.”

AHIMA will follow up with an outline and analysis of the final rules. For background and resources, visit AHIMA’s ARRA resource page.

Final Regulations for CMS Meaningful Use and ONC Standards to be Published Soon
Posted July 12, 2010

The long-awaited final regulations for the Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program (Meaningful Use) and the Office of the National Coordinator Health Information Technology: Initial Set of Standards, Implementation Specifications, and Certification Criteria for EHR Technology are currently under the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) review process. Once OMB has approved the final changes to the regulation, they will be published in the Federal Register. The proposed regulations for both programs were published in mid-January amid speculation about the intensity and requirements for meeting the incentive program. AHIMA provided a lengthy response to both proposed regulations with recommendations and feedback regarding its impact on HIM professionals. We will be sharing the latest news with you as the regulation is published.

FDA Publishes Draft Plan for CDER Data Standards
Posted July 12, 2010

On Thursday, June 17 the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published an announcement in the Federal Register [75FR34452] on the availability for public comment of the draft entitled "CDER Data Standards Plan Version 1.0.’’ The draft plan outlines the general approach proposed for development of a comprehensive data standards program in the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER). The draft plan identifies key objectives for a data standards program at CDER, processes to be developed to ensure successful use of those standardized data, and a set of recommended projects to begin in calendar year (CY) 2010. You can find more information and obtain a copy of the draft plan here.

Written comments/feedback on the draft plan are due by September 15. If you are interested in reviewing the plan and providing feedback please contact Allison Viola at Allison.viola@ahima.org or (202) 659-9440.

CMS Issues Hospital Outpatient PPS Proposed Rule for CY 2011
Posted July 12, 2010

The hospital outpatient prospective payment system (OPPS) proposed rule for calendar year (CY) 2011 has been placed on display at the Federal Register and is expected to be published on August 3. This proposed rule would revise the Medicare hospital OPPS and update the revised Medicare ambulatory surgical center (ASC) payment system to implement applicable statutory requirements and other changes. These proposed changes would be applicable to services furnished on or after January 1, 2011.

New quality measures for three subsequent payment determinations are also proposed. These new measures include structural measures pertaining to health information technology (HIT) and the use of electronic health records, claims-based imaging efficiency measures, and chart-abstracted measures for the emergency department, diabetes mellitus, and exposure time for fluoroscopy procedures.

Additionally, this proposed rule includes proposals to implement provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (Affordable Care Act) relating to payments to hospitals for direct graduate medical education (GME) and indirect medical education (IME) costs; and new limitations on certain physician referrals to hospitals in which they have an ownership or investment interest.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will accept comments on the proposed rule until the close of business on August 31. Access the display copy of this proposed rule here.

New Statutory Provision Clarifies Three-Day Payment Window
Posted July 1, 2010

President Obama signed into law the “Preservation of Access to Care for Medicare Beneficiaries and Pension Relief Act of 2010” on June 25. Among other provisions, the law clarifies Medicare’s policy for payment of services provided in hospital outpatient departments on either the day of, or during the three days prior to an inpatient admission (known as the three-day payment window). The provision is effective for services furnished on or after June 25.

The new law clarifies Medicare’s policy to be consistent with the way hospitals have largely been billing the program as far back as 1991. Under this policy, a hospital includes, in its charges for the inpatient hospital stay, charges for all diagnostic services and non-diagnostic services “related” to the inpatient stay that are provided during the three-day payment window.

The new statute clarifies that the term “other services related to the admission” includes “all services that are not diagnostic services (other than ambulance and maintenance renal dialysis services) for which payment may be made by” Medicare that are provided by a hospital to a patient: (1) on the date of the patient’s inpatient admission, or (2) during the three days (or in the case of a hospital that is not a subsection (d) hospital, during the one day) immediately preceding the date of admission unless “the hospital demonstrates (in a form and manner, and at a time, specified by the Secretary) that such services are not related to such admission.” The statute makes no changes to the billing of diagnostic services.

The provision also prohibits Medicare from reopening, adjusting, or making payments when hospitals submit new claims or adjustment claims for services that were provided prior to the date of enactment in order to separately bill outpatient non-diagnostic services.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) expects to provide instructions in the near future advising hospitals how to bill for related therapeutic services provided during the three- or one-day payment window. Until the instruction is issued, hospitals should include charges for all diagnostic services and all non-diagnostic services that it believes meet the requirements of this provision. If a hospital believes that a non-diagnostic service is truly distinct from, and unrelated to, the inpatient stay, the hospital may separately bill for the service provided that it has documentation to support that the service is unrelated to the admission, consistent with the new provision. Such separately billed service may be subject to subsequent review.

Hospitals may continue to bill Medicare separately for services provided prior to June 25 that are unrelated to an inpatient stay provided that such a claim meets all applicable filing deadlines and the hospital has supporting documentation that the service is truly unrelated to an inpatient stay.

Physician Fee Schedule to integrate PQRI and Meaningful Use
Posted July 1, 2010

On June 28, Health Data Management reported that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) requires the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to develop a plan by January 1, 2012, to move toward integrating the reporting measures under the electronic Physician Quality Reporting Initiative and the electronic health record (EHR) incentive program (meaningful use) of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

CMS begins addressing these integration efforts in the proposed rule establishing payment policies under the Medicare Part B physician payment fee schedule for calendar year 2011. "In an effort to align PQRI with the EHR incentive program, we propose to include many ARRA core clinical quality measures in the PQRI program to demonstrate meaningful use of EHR and quality of care furnished to individuals," CMS says in the proposed rule. "We propose the selection of these measures to meet the requirements of planning the integration of PQRI and EHR reporting."

CMS expects to publish the proposed rule on July 13. It is available in a non-final format now at the Federal Register's Public Inspection Desk.

CMS launches website for Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs
Posted July 1, 2010

BNA Healthcare Policy reported that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) launched a website on June 18 that serves as a one-stop location for detailed information about the electronic health record (EHR) incentive programs. The site provides information on eligible providers, certification requirements for EHR technology, how to register for incentive funding, supporting documentation to help states get started, and other critical information for the programs.

For more information, visit the CMS web site.

ONC Issues Final Rule on Certification Temporary Program
Posted June 24, 2010

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) released a final rule establishing the temporary program for EHR certification under the meaningful use incentive plan. The rule establishes the means by which EHR products will be tested and certified for use in the program.

ONC proposed a temporary program to speed the certification process for the start of the meaningful use program in October. The program will run through 2011 and then cede to a permanent program, which is still under development. The temporary program becomes effective upon the rule’s publication in the Federal Register, which ONC expects to be June 24..

See this article in its entirety from the Journal of AHIMA.

ONC Health IT final rule re: temporary certification program
Posted June 22, 2010

The HHS Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) released a final rule June 18 establishing a certification program for health information technology. The rule describes the temporary certification program for EHRs, and what organizations need to do to be authorized to test and certify EHR technology.

“[EHR technology certification] assures healthcare providers that the EHR technology they adopt has been tested and includes the required capabilities they need in order to use the technology in a meaningful way to improve the quality of care provided to their patients,” according to the June 18 HHS press release.

The rule specifically establishes a temporary certification program that will help ensure the availability of certified technology prior to October, when some providers become eligible for EHR meaningful use incentive payments. It also states that a permanent program that will eventually replace the temporary one.

To qualify for incentive payments organizations must use certified technology per the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs provisions. The program was authorized in the 2009 Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act enacted as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The final rule takes effect June 24, when it will be published in the Federal Register. The ONC expects to release the permanent certification program final rule later this fall, according to the press release.

“By purchasing certified EHR technology, hospitals and eligible professionals and hospitals will be able to make EHR purchasing decisions knowing that the technology will allow them to become meaningful users of EHRs, qualify for the payment incentives, and begin to use EHRs in a way that will improve quality and efficiency in our health care system,” David Blumenthal, MD, MPP, National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, stated in the press release. “We hope that all HIT stakeholders view this rule as the federal government’s commitment to reduce uncertainty in the health IT marketplace and advance the successful implementation of EHR incentive programs.”

Representatives Kennedy and Eshoo Introduce Genetics Legislation
Posted June 17, 2010

Representatives Patrick Kennedy (D-MA) and Anna Eshoo (D-RI) have introduced legislation to secure the promise of personalized medicine for all Americans by expanding and accelerating genomics research and initiatives to improve the accuracy of disease diagnosis, increase the safety of drugs, and identify novel treatments. HR 5440 was introduced on May 27, and referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee. The legislation creates an Office of Personalized Healthcare within the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The office would be responsible for coordinating the activities related to genomics and personalized medicine of DHHS with those of other relevant agencies and public and private entities to ensure that personalized medicine meets the highest standards of safety, efficacy, and clinical validity and utility. For further information on this legislation you can visit the AHIMA Advocacy Assistant.

Senate Passes National Health Information Technology Week Resolution
Posted June 17, 2010

On June 10, the US Senate passed S. Res. 550, designating the week of June 14-18, as National Health Information Technology Week. S. Res. 550 was introduced by Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) to recognize the value of health information technology in improving health quality. The resolution specifically:

AHIMA Submits Comments on Hospital Inpatient PPS Rule
Posted June 17, 2010

AHIMA submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on the proposed changes to the Medicare Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System (PPS) and fiscal year (FY) 2011 rates, as published in the May 4 Federal Register. We urged CMS to stop referring to their proposed payment adjustment as a “coding and documentation” adjustment and instead refer to it as a “budget neutrality” adjustment or similar term.

AHIMA indicated our support for the proposal to freeze regular updates to ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM/PCS effective on October 1, 2011, and to allow limited code updates on October 1, 2012, but we expressed our lack of support for a limited code update on October 1, 2013. AHIMA urged CMS to publish the proposed ICD-10-CM/PCS-based MS-DRGs no later than the FY 2013 hospital inpatient PPS proposed rule.

AHIMA commended CMS’s plans to accept and process up to 25 diagnoses and 25 procedures beginning next year. We also commended CMS’s intentions for exploring mechanisms of quality data submission through the use of electronic health records. We urged CMS to review quality measures in comparison with meaningful use requirements for a coordinated approach toward aligning national priorities for quality measurement and improvement. The deadline for comment submission is June 18. Read AHIMA's comments.

FY 2011 IPPS, LTCH PPS Proposed Rule Published
Posted May 6, 2010

Proposed changes to the hospital inpatient prospective payment systems for acute care hospitals and the long term care hospital prospective payment system as well as the proposed fiscal year 2011 rates were published in the May 4 Federal Register. Comments on the proposed rule must be received by June 18.

OCR Requests Input on Pending Disclosures Regulation
Posted May 6, 2010

On May 3 the Office for Civil Rights published a request for information on accounting of disclosures seeking input on its upcoming regulation to enact new provisions specified under the HITECH Act. The information, OCR writes, will help it “better understand the interests of individuals with respect to learning of such disclosures” as well as “the administrative burden on covered entities and business associates of accounting for such disclosures.”

In all, OCR poses nine questions on the consumer benefits, expectations, and current demand for accountings of disclosures; the capabilities of current EHR systems, including their ability to distinguish between use and disclosure; if the upcoming January 2011 deadline is feasible; and whether a special EHR module could provide the accounting function, especially in decentralized systems. Comments are due to OCR on or before May 18. Read more at the Journal of AHIMA Web site and share your thoughts.

Hospital Inpatient PPS Proposed Rule for FY 2011 on Display
Posted April 22, 2010

The hospital inpatient prospective payment system proposed rule for fiscal year 2011 has been placed on display at the Federal Register and is expected to be published on May 4. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) are seeking input on whether the ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM/PCS code sets should be frozen so that the last regular update prior to ICD-10-CM/PCS implementation would be made on October 1, 2011, with only limited updates on October 1, 2012, and October 1, 2013, to capture new technologies and diseases. Regular updates to ICD-10-CM/PCS would resume on October 1, 2014. An analysis of the reporting of the present on admission indicator and hospital-acquired conditions is also discussed. CMS will accept comments on the proposed rule until the close of business on June 18. Access the display copy of the proposed rule here.

Healthcare Reform Includes AHIMA-supported Language on Administrative Simplification
Posted March 28, 2010

With healthcare reform facing such an uncertain future in Congress, it was not clear whether or not the AHIMA supported administrative simplification provisions would survive and be enacted into law. We are happy to report that despite all of the interesting process developments surrounding healthcare reform, the administrative simplification provisions are included in both the healthcare reform package (HR 3590) and the House-generated healthcare reform legislative fixes included in the budget reconciliation package (HR 4872). These important provisions establish the requirements for operating rules for the HIPAA transaction standards and require the Secretary to develop a streamlined process to update existing standards. AHIMA has been advocating for these provisions for several years and is pleased with their enactment. For additional information on AHIMA’s position visit the AHIMA Community of Practice (login via myAHIMA) under the category “Hill Day 2010” and the topic “Administrative Simplification.”

CMS Will Begin Processing More Diagnosis, Procedure Codes in 2011
Posted March 28, 2010

Effective January 1, 2011, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will be able to accept and process up to 25 ICD-9-CM diagnosis codes on institutional claims. In addition additional associated present on admission codes and up to 25 ICD-9-CM procedure codes will be accepted and processed, according to a CMS provider education article. CMS currently processes only the first nine diagnosis codes and six procedure codes submitted. AHIMA has long advocated for an expansion in the number of diagnosis and procedure codes processed by CMS.

OHIP Receives more than $50 M for Statewide HIE & REC Projects
Posted February 17, 2010

The Ohio Health Information Partnership (OHIP), the state designated entity for health information exchange development, is allocating more than $50 million in funding to help make electronic health records more widely available in Ohio. Click Here for more information.

ODH Releases 2010 Copy Cost Rates
Posted January 29, 2010

The Ohio Department of Health recently released the 2010 schedule of maximum allowable fees that health care providers may charge for copying medical records. This year the maximum allowable fees decrease. View details.

Analysis of 2010 OPPS Final Rule Posted
Posted January 14, 2010

The final rule for calendar year (CY) 2010 changes to the Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and changes to the Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System was published in the Federal Register on November 20, 2009. This rule is effective for services rendered on or after January 1. This analysis summarizes key provisions in the CY 2010 OPPS final rule that may be of particular interest to HIM professionals.

Fed Issues Proposed Criteria for “Meaningful Use,” EHR Certification
Posted January 8, 2010

Healthcare rang in the New Year with long-awaited specifications for the EHR incentive programs enacted under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

On December 30, the Centers for Medicare and Medicare Services released a proposed rule defining the “meaningful use” of EHRs and describing the provisions of the incentive programs that encourage the adoption and use of EHRs. A related interim final rule issued by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT sets initial standards, implementation specifications, and certification criteria for EHR technology.

Both regulations are expected to be officially published in the Federal Register on January 13, 2010, and will be open to public comment for 60 days thereafter. The interim final rule for certification will take effect 30 days after publication.

Read more on the Journal of AHIMA Web site, including links to the rules and AHIMA’s initial overview of the meaningful use proposed rule.

AHIMA has begun its review of both rules in anticipation of commenting to the federal government, providing more information to members, and offering an HIM perspective to the industry. Watch future e-Alerts and AHIMA’s ARRA Web page for information.

2010 ICD-10-CM/PCS Files, Guidelines Available
Posted January 8, 2010

The 2010 files of ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS have been posted on the CMS Web site. The 2010 Official Coding Guidelines for ICD-10-CM are also posted here. Nearly 2,000 new diagnosis codes were added and more than 2,000 new procedure codes were added to the 2010 version.

CMS Imposes Documentation Request Limits on RACs
Posted December 10, 2009

On December 2 the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced new limits on the number of medical and related claims records that recovery audit contractors (RACs) may request from hospitals and other providers in the course of an audit. RACs are charged on behalf of CMS with detecting and recovering improper Medicare payments (such as overpayments) to providers. A copy of the December 2 announcement can be found here.

2010 HCPCS Codes Posted
Posted November 19, 2009

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the modifications to the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) code set. These changes have been posted to the HCPCS Web page. Coding changes are effective January 1, 2010. The content of the 2010 HCPCS annual update reflects CMS' final coding decision for negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) devices. The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008, section 154(c)(3), requires the Secretary to evaluate the HCPCS codes for NPWT using an existing process and to consider all relevant studies and information in making the evaluation. CMS utilized its existing public process for evaluating HCPCS coding and determined that the current HCPCS codes for NPWT are appropriate and should not be changed. Read more about CMS' evaluation.

AHIMA Continues to Pursue Halting Red Flags Legislation
Posted November 19, 2009

AHIMA continues to work to put the brakes on HR 3763, legislation that would amend the Fair Credit Reporting Act to provide for an exclusion from the Red Flags Rule for certain businesses, including healthcare practices with 20 or fewer employers. In addition to meeting with Senate staff to raise our concerns with this legislation, AHIMA is asking its members to send letters opposing this measure to your Senators. Letters can be sent by visiting the Action Center of the Advocacy Assistant. In less than two weeks, 193 letters have been sent to the Senate opposing HR 3763, with Illinois leading the effort with 18 letters sent to their Senators. This is a great effort but we still need help! HR 3763 easily passed the House in October and it is imperative that it does not pass the Senate. If you have not yet sent letters to your Senators, please visit the Advocacy Assistant and send your letters today.

More Delays for the Red Flags Rule
Posted November 8, 2009

The Federal Trade Commission has announced a new delay for the Red Flags Rule. Enforcement will now begin June 1, 2010. The delay, announced October 30, comes at the request of Congressional members, the FTC said. The rule was scheduled to go into effect November 1.

The announcement comes a week after the House of Representatives passed an amendment to the rule that would exclude certain businesses, including small healthcare, accounting, and legal practices. The House bill is currently in the Senate (see story 3). Read more at the Journal of AHIMA.

CMS Announces Policy, Payment Updates for Medicare Home Health
Posted November 5, 2009

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced on October 30 a two percent market basket update to Medicare’s calendar year (CY) 2010 home health prospective payment system (HH PPS) rates and modifications to the home health outlier policy. Beginning January 1, 2010, the final rule will require home health agencies to submit the Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS) data as a condition of payment under HH PPS. CMS is implementing an improved version of OASIS, called OASIS-C, to collect data on all episodes of care beginning January 1, 2010.

This final rule will be published in the Federal Register on November 10. The effective date is January 1, 2010.

Click here for Archived Updates.