Hospital Access Management – June 1, 2008
June 1, 2008
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Top revenue cycle position is a realistic goal for access directors
Raising the value of patient access professionals throughout the health care industry continues to be a major focus of the National Association for Healthcare Access Management (NAHAM), says new President Julie Johnson, CHAM, director of health information management for Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center in Safford, AZ. -
CHAA, CHAM credentials revised, updated
The National Association of Healthcare Access Management (NAHAM) credentialing programs for patient access services managers and front-line staff are being completely revised and updated, with new certification examinations to be offered beginning in October 2008. -
Ambulatory business center to meld outpatient functions
Planning is under way for a new ambulatory business center that will consolidate a wide range of outpatient functions at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) in Little Rock. -
Internet, 'VoiCentral' registration options
Some outpatients at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) are being preregistered on their own timetable by choosing to provide their information via the Internet or an automated telephone process called VoiCentral, says Mica Dunn, CHAM, CHAA, manager of the outpatient registration department. -
Pay disparity, staffing still hot access topics
After 12 years on the provider side of the revenue cycle, and another 12 in outsourcing or consulting, James F. Heinking, CHFP, FHFMA, finds that the health care professionals he meets and works with "keep talking about the same issues we had 24 years ago." -
Is it chess or checkers? Management styles eyed
As a manager, are you playing chess or checkers? That's the question posed by Tony Coletta, MS, PHR, an organizational development consultant for Chicago-based Advocate Health Care. -
Initial claim accuracy crucial for SSA programs
Make sure you get everything right the first time. That's certainly not new advice for patient access staff, but in this case it specifically refers to applications made for coverage of patients by the federal disability program. -
HDHP-related deductibles too costly for many families
Many uninsured households can't afford the out-of-pocket costs associated with health savings account-qualified high-deductible health plans, according to a recent study by the Kaiser Family Foundation. -
News Brief: OIG makes changes to self-disclosure protocol
The Department of Health and Human Services' Office of the Inspector General (OIG) has announced changes to the provider self-disclosure protocol (SDP), which health care providers use to voluntarily disclose self-discovered evidence of potential fraud, and to its process for resolving those cases. -
HIPAA Regulatory Alert: Computer hackers step up attacks on health care records
An 85% increase in the number of Internet hacker attacks on its health care clients has been reported by SecureWorks, a security-as-a-service provider. -
HIPAA Regulatory Alert: Tennessee sets up medical info exchange
The State of Tennessee has expanded an existing contract with AT&T to provide the country's first statewide system to electronically exchange patient medical information. -
HIPAA Regulatory Alert: NCVHS: Individuals should have control over disclosure
The National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics (NCVHS) says the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) should adopt a policy for the Nationwide Health Information Network (NHIN) to allow individuals to have limited control, in a uniform manner, over disclosure of certain sensitive health information for purposes of treatment. -
HIPAA Regulatory Alert: Health IT national strategy still missing
The Government Accountability Office says that even though the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is undertaking a number of activities to pursue President Bush's goal for nationwide implementation of health information technology, it still has not developed a national strategy that defines plans, milestones, and performance measures for reaching the goal of interoperable electronic health records by 2014.