Archive for the ‘White Papers’ Category

In reviewing the criteria required for Certification Commission for Health Information Technology (CCHIT) credentialing, the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) uncovered multiple areas for concern. Many of the CCHIT requirements conflict with federal mandates for correct coding or with what AAPC promotes as appropriate coding principals.  Read more »

On Dec. 9, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) held a public listening session to discuss the development of a plan to transition to a Medicare value-based purchasing (VBP) program for physician and other professional services. CMS’s internal PVBP Workgroup released an issues paper outlining the agenda prior to the event.

Design issues discussed during the event and up for public comment until Dec. 16 included overarching questions, measures, incentive structure, data strategy and infrastructure, and public reporting — everything the PVBP Workgroup is charged with as they develop the VBP Plan. Read more »

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus published his plan for health care reform on Nov. 12, and it bears striking resemblance to President-elect Barack Obama’s plan. The message is the same: universal coverage, hopefully reduce health care costs, and potentially  improve quality care. Read more »