Posted by Kathleen Sidesky on Thu, May 03, 2012
Mark Parkinson, AHCA/NCAL President & CEO, provided a leadership update at an early morning session at the AHCA/NCAL Spring Conference for Multifacility CEOs and Senior Executives. The former Governor of Kansas assessed the industry approximately one year from becoming leader of the association and here are his top 5 observations:
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Quality is and will continue to be a reimbursement issue.
The government won’t fund every health care practice and reimbursement will be tied to quality. Hospitals in the bottom quartile of ranking for readmissions from the previous year will have a percent of Medicare payments withheld.
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There are multiple business models that will make it.
The key is to diversify payer mix and product line, such as niche Medicaid facilities (head injury, Parkinson’s, MS, etc.), high acuity Medicare facilities, and assisted living facilities, just to name a few.
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Old-style political relationships matter.
Despite the advent of technology and massive fundraising, nothing trumps genuine relationships and handshakes.
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Use of technology can improve performance & bottom line.
From survey software, tracking/documentation software, readmission software, and EMR software, there’s no getting around the fact that technology is here to stay.
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Interest rates are historically low.
When you look at the history of mortgage rates for newly issued project pools and 10 year treasuries, they have gone way down from their peak at approximately 14% in December 1981 to nearly 3.9% in December 2011.
Posted by Kathleen Sidesky on Tue, Apr 24, 2012
As the world changes and things begin moving faster and faster, those in every facet of life have two choices; to keep up or get left behind. So it goes with healthcare technology.
While healthcare, especially senior care, has benefited greatly from many of the advances in technology, it has also been very hesitant to change the person-to-person aspects. As new facilities spring up and established facilities merge together, new technologies with greater accuracy and more efficiency help more people; and, even post-acute facilities need to get their heads in the game and be hip to the changes.
The IT headache, which can result from the constant changes and new technologies, can really lead some to want to opt-out altogether. However, the need to provide better levels of care than competitors while still keeping up with doctors, hospitals, and the ever changing technology landscape is paramount.
What's even more important is that your team always has to be “on.” 24/7/365. As a healthcare provider this is not news; post-acute care facilities are one of those things which truly never sleeps. But just like you need your staff to always be on when they're scheduled, you need an IT provider who's going to have its networks available and secure, its phones staffed with people on the other end who have the answers you need and the can-do attitude to make sure your business runs smoothly.
Do you want a partner that is committed to not only the technology, but the post-acute care industry as well? VCPI has been in business for more than 10 years, with a team of professionals who understand the business and technology. Rather than leave your technology up to chance with someone who is offering you some kind of “too–good–to–be–true” discount, turn to us. Call VCPI today at 877-908-VCPI to find out how we can help you with your technology challenges. Don't you deserve the same kind of care you give your residents?
Posted by Kathleen Sidesky on Wed, Apr 11, 2012
A couple of big news items have hit the healthcare IT/long-term care industry within the past week or so. I get an "update" just about every hour, but not a lot of true information. Well, here's some information my colleagues and I found and wanted to share with you.
ACOs - “The CMS designated 27 healthcare entities in 18 states as the first Medicare Shared Savings Program accountable care organizations. The entities will aim to create financial incentives for physicians, hospitals, and other healthcare providers to better coordinate care and improve the health of Medicare beneficiaries while lowering their costs,” according to Modern Healthcare. Read the full article at Modern Healthcare.
To download the list of participating organizations, click here.
ICD-10 – “The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced a proposed rule that would delay, from October 1, 2013 to October 1, 2014, the compliance date for the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Edition diagnosis and procedure codes (ICD-10).
The ICD-10 compliance date change is part of a proposed rule that would adopt a standard for a unique health plan identifier (HPID), adopt a data element that would serve as an “other entity” identifier (OEID), and add a National Provider Identifier (NPI) requirement.” – April 9, 2012, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Read the complete fact sheet provided by CMS for more information.
Posted by Kathleen Sidesky on Wed, Mar 21, 2012
2012 – The Dawn of HIPAA Compliance Audits…
January 2012 marked the beginning of the HIPAA audit compliance program, as announced by The Department of Health & Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights. A total of 150 audits are planned for healthcare organizations of all shapes and sizes to measure their compliance with the HIPAA privacy and security rules. KPMG will be performing audits on covered entities that represent the diverse range of providers, health plans and clearinghouses operating today.
In advance of these audits, industry experts are advising that organizations take steps to prepare themselves for a potential compliance evaluation, including:
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Conducting a comprehensive review of security governance documentation and training.
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Addressing the entire life cycle of electronic and hard copy protected health information throughout the organization, including its creation, its maintenance, and its disposal.
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Examining and documenting in advance any compliance gaps and associated remediation tasks.
Get Prepared!
VCPI can help your organization measure its current compliance levels and get ahead of the game when it comes to HIPAA audits. We have two assessment offerings that can establish your information security baseline:
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Our HIPAA Security Assessment (HSA) is a focused review that covers all Standards and Implementation Specifications in the HIPAA Security Rule as well as requirements related to the HITECH Act Breach Notification rules.
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Our Technology Risk Assessment (TRA) establishes a comprehensive, enterprise-wide information security review of your environment, leveraging a combination of applicable laws and regulations concerning information security (i.e., HIPAA Security Rule, HITECH Act) and industry best practices and frameworks (i.e., NIST SP800-53, ISO/IEC 27002, PCI-DSS).
Call VCPI at 877-908-8274 today to schedule your compliance assessment so you are ready to meet any audits that come your way!
Posted by Kathleen Sidesky on Mon, Jan 30, 2012
Our last blog focused on what you're doing to face the changes taking place and what you can do to help manage them. Now let's take a look at the Top 11 Trends for 2012 in Healthcare Data from a new perspective...specifically a risk management perspective. A few of the highlights from the article include:
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Predictions include healthcare organizations will not be immune to data breach risks caused by the spread of mobile devices in the workforce, according to Dr. Larry Ponemon, chairman and founder, Ponemon Institute. Have you taken the necessary steps to protect your devices?
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Growing reliance on business associates will create new risks, believes Larry Walker, president of The Walker Company. Economic realities will force healthcare providers to continue to outsource many of their functions, such as billing, to third parties or business associates (BA).
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Mobile will explode in healthcare, believes Christina Thielst, health administration consultant and blogger. The use of tablets, smartphones and tablet applications in healthcare is growing exponentially.
Read the entire article posted provided by BridgeFront of Portland, OR, to learn more about the other eight trends. Bridgefront is a leader in the online education industry for healthcare, government, business, and educational institutions.
Posted by Kathleen Sidesky on Wed, Jan 11, 2012
Are you ready for 2012?
Hopefully, your answer is “Yes!” But, like most people, time has probably slipped away from you and you feel like you’re overwhelmed and starting the year behind where you should be. Don’t panic just yet. There is still time to get your business in order.
The Journal of AHIMA (American Health Information Management Association) ran a great article in the January issue on the top 10 areas you should be focusing on in 2012. For instance…
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If you wait until the last minute to schedule time with ICD-10 consultants, you’ll find they are already booked through the implementation deadline. "Organizations have been signing advance contracts with vendors and consultants in order to beat the rush," says Sue Bowman, RHIA, CCS, director of coding policy and compliance at AHIMA*.
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"The push for ACOs puts additional importance on the need for accurate and well-organized health records and improved information flow," according to Lydia Washington, MS, RHIA, CPHIMS, director of practice leadership at AHIMA. HIM departments will have to better integrate health information across multiple organizations, pulling and pushing records as the group coordinates patient care*.
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The state-level HIEs must become self-sufficient before funding runs out, but recent studies conducted by industry groups show many HIEs do not have solid sustainability plans in place. With only two more years of anticipated government funding left, 2012 will be a vital year for HIEs to identify a solid sustainability plan and get it in place*.
…and there’s much more information in the article to help you maneuver your way through all the changes and regulations taking place in our industry. Read it now and start 2012 off on the right foot!!
*Journal of AHIMA, January 2012
Posted by Kathleen Sidesky on Thu, Dec 22, 2011
Universal Applications for all Health Care Providers
VCPI and The Corridor Group conducted a study of 30 leading home care executives to understand their challenges and see what emerging strategies are taking place in the industry today. However, the challenges identified and strategies outlined – in both the study and follow-up webinar discussion and Q&A session – can be similarly applied to other long-term and post-acute care providers.
Get their perspective on the industry, its challenges and best practice responses on how to:
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Prepare and partner for accountable care, bundled payments and the new care continuum for the 21st century;
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Address increase regulatory scrutiny; and
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Gain operational efficiencies for competitive survival.
Additionally, get answers from the experts on questions concerning:
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EMR (electronic medical record) preparation requirements and “gold standard” certification;
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Cost justification for implementing needed technology;
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The role of a telehealth strategy within the health care organization; and
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The future of ACOs – who they’ll be and how they’ll qualify.
Download the free white paper and follow-up Q&A to see how you compare! Then call us at 877-908-VCPI to discuss how we can help you prepare for these upcoming challenges.
Posted by Kathleen Sidesky on Wed, Nov 30, 2011
Is everyone feeling the same pain? VCPI recently joined with The Corridor Group to conduct a study of 30 leading home care executives to understand their challenges and see what emerging strategies are taking place in the industry today.
"Eighty percent of those interviewed indicated that the industry overall is not well-poised to address challenges. Whether it is lack of adequate staffing, fiscal challenges, or technology advancements, executives indicate the industry is not prepared for healthcare reform. And why, you ask? First, many providers struggle with forming highly connected partnerships that will be essential for managing care transitions and improving outcomes. Second, while some are exploring models for risk-sharing, overall efforts are fragmented and often viewed as cottage ventures. And, third, today’s staff is rewarded on volume. Changing the mindset from volume to value must be carefully navigated."
That was just a glimpse of our findings. Executives interviewed offered their perspective and guidance for the top items on their radar they need to focus on to get themselves ready for upcoming changes:
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Preparing and partnering for accountable care, bundled payments and the new care continuum for the 21st century;
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Increased regulatory scrutiny; and
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Gaining operational efficiencies for competitive survival.
Find out more about these executives and their challenges by downloading our free whitepaper and see how you compare! Then call us at 877-908-VCPI to discuss how we can help you prepare for these upcoming challenges.
Posted by Kathleen Sidesky on Wed, Oct 26, 2011
What a great conference last week in beautiful Washington DC! Since it was my first conference, I wasn't sure what to expect. Who knew it would be so rewarding!!
Thank you to those folks who were able to stop by our booth and enter our drawing. I am pleased to announce that Erik Stuller from Presbyterian Home of Maryland won our gift basket. Congratulations Erik!
If you missed us at LeadingAge, or want to find out more about our products and services, visit the Solutions area of our website. Or, call Andrea Harman, our Business Development Specialist, at 412-273-1013. She'll be able to answer any question you may have about VCPI.
Hopefully we'll see you next year at LeadingAge 2012 in Denver!! - Katey Sidesky, Marketing & Business Development Manager, VCPI
Posted by Jennifer Clement on Wed, Aug 10, 2011
This week, talk amongst industry leaders has been about cuts. Here's a roundup:
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SNF PPS rate cuts of 11.1% - check done, happening in October.
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Group Therapy. The impact is estimated at 2.5% - 6% according to a review of PointRight data for 3500 facilities.
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Affordable Care Act. SNFs will likely face additional "productivity adjustments" of 1-1.5% beginning in 2012 and annually beyond.
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If Congress doesn't find 1.2 trillion in savings by 12/23/11, across the board 2% cut will occur.
IPAB. SNFs are not exempt from Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) reviews beginning in 2015.
With Healthcare Delivery Reform coming at us fast, technology investment is unavoidable.
Your challenge is not only to find expense savings in the moment, but to manage the required investment optimally over the next several years. For competitive survival, you'll need:
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Electronic medical records, to mine for outcomes reporting, manage risk, and drive proactive care that results in lower readmissions.
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Health Information Exchanges, to connect with fellow providers charged with managing episodes to drive up quality, eliminate duplicate data entry, and lower readmissions.
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Business Intelligence to understand your competitive position with respect to outcomes, and where you have opportunities to specialize and win more referral traffic.
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Clinical analytics, to drive proactive care and reduce adverse events.
Now more than ever efficiency gains you'll see with technology are key to dealing with the overwhelming pressure on the industry to control costs. Providers across the country turn to VCPI to build robust technology roadmaps, scrutinize every penny of IT spend, free up working capital, and reduce IT labor that is desperately needed for clinical care right now. Ours is a labor-intensive industry. In order to survive cuts, you'll need to channel every headcount you can into clinical care. Why spend more on IT staff? Reserve precious dollars for the care on which your revenues and reputation depend.