Aviacode - Medical Coding News

CPU Partners with Aviacode

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 07:00:00 GMT

CPU Medical Management Systems, Inc., a leader in healthcare information software to medical billing services and physician organizations has chosen to partner with Aviacode, a leading provider in medical coding solutions.

ICD-10 Maps May Prevent Coders From Being Lost in Translation

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 07:00:00 GMT

For those well versed in ICD-9, learning ICD-10 may be akin to learning a second language. Many coders say their biggest fear about the new system that will take effect October 1, 2013 is that it requires a different coding logic (particularly ICD-10-PCS), but that it's also so much more specific than ICD-9.

Aviacode and Career Step Partner

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 07:00:00 GMT

Aviacode, a national provider of coding services, has partnered with Career Step, a leader in online medical coding training, to meet recruiting demands and improve training for individuals seeking careers in medical coding.

HHS Issues Final ICD-10 Code Sets

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 07:00:00 GMT

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released two final rules that will facilitate the United States’ ongoing transition to an electronic health care environment through adoption of a new generation of diagnosis and procedure codes and updated standards for electronic health care and pharmacy transactions.

PricewaterhouseCoopers Identifies the Top Nine Issues for Health Industries in 2009

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 07:00:00 GMT

In its annual review of the top concerns for health executives and policy makers, PwC says the health industry will face a plethora of challenges in the year ahead, including how to deal with more underinsured, adapt to new coding and payment methods, and fund new cures in a capital-starved market.

New Medical Coding System More Precise, More Complex

Sun, 16 Nov 2008 07:00:00 GMT

Government regulators are expected soon to overhaul the aging coding system that doctors and hospitals use to bill insurers - a switch that many in health care say is necessary, but that could initially cause headaches for consumers and their doctors.

New AMA Survey Highlights Need to Improve Medicare's PQRI

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 07:00:00 GMT

Key elements of Medicare's Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) must be improved so that physicians can successfully participate and use the information to increase the quality of patient care. This is the main take-away from the American Medical Association's (AMA) new survey of physicians who participated in the PQRI during its first year of implementation.

HHS Proposes Adoption of ICD-10 Code Sets

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 07:00:00 GMT

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced a long-awaited proposed regulation that would replace the ICD-9-CM code sets now used to report health care diagnoses and procedures with greatly expanded ICD-10 code sets, effective Oct. 1, 2011.

RAC Update – CMS Saves $700MM

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 07:00:00 GMT

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today released a new report offering fresh evidence that the recovery audit contractors (RACs) pilot program is successfully identifying improper payments. The findings will also help the agency improve the program as it is expanded nationwide within two years, officials say.

PQRI Changes Offer Physicians More Options

Fri, 23 May 2008 07:00:00 GMT

CMS recently announced tweaks to its 2008 PQRI, that should make it easier for family physicians and other eligible health care professionals to participate in -- and benefit from -- the program this year.

CMS Audits will Affect You, Are you Prepared?

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 07:00:00 GMT

National implementation of the recovery audit contractors (RAC) program could save Medicare as much as $10 billion over five years. Discover the impact this program will have on providers everywhere, there will be no hiding. Also, how to prepare for an RAC review.

Improving Documentation for Better Coding

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 07:00:00 GMT

It is not news to say that HIM managers and coders continue to struggle to get physicians and nonphysician practitioners to provide better clinical documentation. HIM staff members know that they need comprehensive and accurate documentation to be able to assign all of the appropriate codes so that the appropriate payment can be received.

Physicians Urged to Use Electronic Records

Sat, 23 Feb 2008 07:00:00 GMT

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt today called on community leaders nationwide to apply for a new demonstration project that provides Medicare incentive payments to physicians for the use of certified electronic health records to improve patient care.

Leavitt's Letter to Congress

Tue, 04 Dec 2007 07:00:00 GMT

If the Dec. 4 letter to Congress from Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt that calls for greater Medicare incentives for electronic health records (EHRs) seems like it came out of nowhere, that’s because it practically did.

Erlanger Sees Income Increase

Tue, 21 Aug 2007 07:00:00 GMT

Erlanger hospital brought in $15.7 MM from operations in fiscal year 2007, one of the best performances ever.

Web Solutions, Cut Costs & Improve Revenues

Sun, 01 Jan 2006 07:00:00 GMT

Website (web) services and service-oriented architectures are the hottest business trends, according to leading business forecasters. Web services are rolling out everywhere, from banking to shopping and college registrations to healthcare. Web services are expected to become a significant area of business groups who track web service trends. Web services in healthcare represent one of the single largest opportunities of its kind.

A Framework for Outsourcing Coding

Mon, 28 Mar 2005 07:00:00 GMT

Until recently, outsourcing of hospital medical coding had primarily referred to the use of contract coders - coders provided by a staffing company on a temporary or semi-permanent basis to meet a short-term labor requirement. But, following the trend begun almost 10 years ago in the medical transcription sector, hospitals are now beginning to engage specialist providers of remote, outsourced services to meet their coding needs.

Paperless System Would Cut Costs, Improve Care

Fri, 28 Jan 2005 07:00:00 GMT

President Bush called on doctors and hospitals Thursday to move their medical records from paper to electronic files, a change that he said would improve medical care while shaving significant sums from the nation's spiraling health care bill.

CMS's Focuses on E&M as Source of Mistakes

Mon, 10 Jan 2005 07:00:00 GMT

If physicians are able to gain a better understanding of one of Medicare's most frustrating administrative requirements, there may be hundreds of millions of dollars in it for them.