The Change Healthcare Data Breach. Episode 2: Ask The Experts
Months after the largest healthcare cyber attack in history, we take a closer look at the current situation. This video examines the ongoing recovery efforts, the impact on the industry, and how organizations are adapting to increased cybersecurity challenges.
My ClinicMind App New Features: Local Calendar Sync, PDF Signing, Enhanced Messaging, and More!
Version 4.0 is here and we’re excited to announce several new features to make your experience smoother and more efficient. Here’s what’s new: Local Calendar Sync Our new auto-sync feature makes it easier than ever for you to keep track of their appointments. Enabling auto-sync will automatically update all their future appointments in their chosen local calendar.. Prompted Setup: You’ll be prompted to enable auto-sync. If you prefer a later time, a helpful pop-up will guide you. Automatic Updates: Choose a calendar, and all future appointments will sync automatically. Flexible Options: Change your calendar or disable auto-sync anytime. Mobile Only: This feature is available exclusively on mobile devices. Signing Imported PDF Documents You can now sign imported PDF documents directly within the appl.By clicking “Sign the Document,” you can easily add your signature to the last page of the file. Benefits: Convenient Signing: Quickly sign important documents and return them without hassle. Streamlined Process: Enhances your experience by simplifying the document signing process. Enhanced Messaging Our messaging interface has been upgraded for better usability. Now, you can send messages and attachments instantly and with greater ease. New Features: Instant Messaging: Send messages and attachments quickly. Attachment Sources: Attach photos, videos, files from your gallery or camera. Download Management: Track download progress and preview image attachments. File Icons: Easily identify attachment types with new file icons. Bug Fixes and Optimizations: We’ve also resolved the following issues and implemented optimizations to improve your overall experience: Direct Schedule: Fixed the display issue for lead times under one hour, now showing “30 minutes” instead of “0.5 hours.” Minor Tweaks: Resolved scrollbar overlaps on the insurance upload page and My Care Team section. Appointment Cancellation Request: Fixed the immediate display issue of the ‘Cancellation Requested’ marker. Appointment Reschedule Request: Patients cannot request reschedules on weekends if the practice has this option disabled. Schedule Prompt: Added a prompt to contact the office if no schedules are configured. Dialogs: Fixed clickability issues in the web version dialogs. App Security: A blurred preview now appears when the app goes to the background to prevent content disclosure, and the lock screen appears immediately when the app resumes. We hope these updates enhance your experience and make managing your appointments, documents, and messages easier than ever. Stay tuned for more improvements!
ClinicMind Mobile EHR Update: Improved Patient Creation Form, Duplication Checks, Enhanced Messaging, and More!
We’re thrilled to give you a range of new features and enhancements for our ClinicMind mobile EHR app version 4.0. These updates are designed to streamline patient management, improve communication, and enhance overall usability. Here’s a breakdown of what’s new: Improved Patient Creation Form Creating a new patient profile is now more organized and user-friendly. The patient creation form has been revamped to include four distinct tabs: Patient Info Primary Insurance Secondary Insurance Guarantor Details This structured approach ensures that the app efficiently captures all essential information for the billing process. Duplication Checks To prevent redundant entries and ensure data integrity, we’ve implemented duplication checks for both patients and appointments. New Patient: If a similar account is found during account creation, you’ll be prompted to either select the existing account or proceed with creating a new one. New Appointment: When scheduling a new appointment, you’ll be alerted if an appointment with the same patient already exists. Improved Messaging Interface Our messaging interface has been upgraded to enhance usability and functionality. Instant Messaging: Patients can now send messages and attachments instantly. Attachment Options: Attachments can include camera photos, videos, gallery images, and files. Download and Preview: Patients can download attachments, monitor download progress, and preview image attachments. File icons will now indicate the type of attachment. Enhancement and Bug Fixes To improve the overall performance and reliability of the app, here are the improvements we’ve addressed for this update: Create Appointment: The appointment recurrence is now a generic dropdown and does not conflict with patient search. Appointment Blocks: Fixed issue with updating similar blocks not refreshing the scheduler correctly. Theme Setup: Fixed theme loading issue on some Android devices where default colors were shown. Tasks Management: Fixed the typeahead field in the “Re-Assign” bottom sheet to show current results. App Security: Added a blurred foreground when the app is in the background to prevent content disclosure. These updates reflect our ongoing commitment to improving your mobile EHR experience with ClinicMind. We’re excited for you to try these new features and stay tuned for more updates. an ever. Stay tuned for more improvements!
Credentialing in Medical Billing Systems
Credentialing in medical billing is crucial for ensuring patient safety and maintaining the quality of care provided by healthcare providers. This process involves verifying providers’ qualifications, competence, and eligibility, playing a vital role in effective revenue cycle management. In 2021, the Credential Management Solutions Market had a valuation of USD 833.45 Million. Projections indicate that it is expected to reach USD 2526.34 Million by 2030, experiencing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.7% from 2022 to 2030. The rising cyber threat risk has spurred demand for skilled experts, credential management solutions, and IT security compliance software in businesses and organizations. (Credential Management Solutions Market Size, Share, Trends & Forecast, 2023) Figure 1. Global Credentialing Management Solutions Market https://www.verifiedmarketresearch.com/product/global-credential-management-solutions-market-size-and-forecast-to-2025/ Medical Billing Systems in Credentialing Medical billing systems are critical components of healthcare operations. They are used to submit and follow up on claims with health insurance companies to receive payment for services rendered by a healthcare provider. The role of medical billing systems in credentialing is quite significant. Provider Information: Medical billing systems hold essential information about providers, including their credentials. This information is necessary for filing claims and verifying a provider’s ability to provide certain services. Claims Processing: One of the key steps in processing medical claims involves verifying the provider’s credentials. If a provider is not properly credentialed with a particular payer, claims for services rendered can be denied, resulting in lost revenue. Regulatory Compliance: Medical billing systems help maintain compliance with healthcare regulations, including credentialing-related ones. By ensuring providers are credentialed properly, the systems help prevent fraudulent claims and avoid potential legal issues. Integrating credentialing into medical billing systems can streamline workflows, improve accuracy, and increase efficiency. The integration can occur in various ways: Data Sharing: Medical billing systems can be configured to share data with credentialing systems, allowing for real-time updates of provider information. Automated Verifications: With the integration, systems can automatically verify a provider’s credentials during claim processing, flagging any issues for immediate attention. Credentialing Updates: Updates to a provider’s credentials can be automatically reflected in the billing system, reducing the chance of claim denials due to outdated credential information. Scheduling and Alerts: Medical billing systems can help manage credentialing timelines, offering reminders when it’s time for providers to renew their credentials, thus maintaining their eligibility with payers. Key Facts about Credentialing Applications Credentialing applications in the US healthcare system involve a significant volume of submissions. However, the success rate varies, with some applications failing to meet the requirements. The timeline for the credentialing process typically spans around 90-120 days, including the verification and contracting phases; per provider, there are 18 payers. For every 5 payer applications, 25 working hours of the hospital staff and physicians are consumed. Also, approximately 85% of the applications still need to be completed. (Shah, 2023) Figure 2. Basic Credentialing Facts Challenges in the Credentialing Process Incomplete or Inaccurate Documentation Incomplete or inaccurate documentation is a common challenge in the credentialing process. Thoroughly reviewing the application materials and seeking assistance, if needed, can help mitigate this challenge. Maintain clear records of all documentation submitted and maintain copies for reference and future updates. Insufficient Qualifications Meeting specific qualifications, such as experience, licenses, certifications, or exam scores, is crucial for successful credentialing. Regularly reviewing and updating qualifications, participating in continuing education, and seeking professional development opportunities help providers stay current and fulfill credentialing requirements. Lack of Adherence to Credentialing Standards Adhering to credentialing standards is essential for a smooth credentialing process. Familiarize themselves with the specific standards and ensure they comply with professional conduct, ethical behavior, and patient safety requirements. Regularly reviewing the credentialing standards and seeking ongoing education on changes or updates to these standards promote ongoing compliance and avoid potential challenges. Inadequate Professional References Successful credentialing requires credible professional references highlighting the provider’s skills, knowledge, and abilities. Establish professional relationships and seek references from respected individuals who can vouch for their qualifications and competence. Engage in professional networks to facilitate the collection of robust references. Disciplinary Actions or Malpractice History Providers with a history of disciplinary actions or malpractice may face challenges during credentialing. Credentialing organizations are concerned about the provider’s competence and safety. Prepare to address any disciplinary or malpractice history concerns and provide explanations or evidence of corrective actions. Seeking legal counsel or assistance from credentialing experts can help providers navigate these challenges effectively. (Shah, 2023b) Common Documents and Information Required for Credentialing Applications Typically, credentialing applications include: Educational Background and Training Documentation: Healthcare providers must submit comprehensive documentation that validates their educational background and training. This includes transcripts, diplomas, degrees, and records of specialized training, fellowships, and continuing education courses. Accuracy in these documents is crucial as they reflect the provider’s expertise in their specific field of practice. Licensure and Certification Details: Credentialing applications typically seek information about the provider’s current and past licensure status. This encompasses their medical license, board certifications, and any history of disciplinary actions or license restrictions. Malpractice History and Insurance Coverage: Disclosure of malpractice history, including any claims, settlements, or judgments, is standard procedure in credentialing applications. This information helps assess the provider’s risk profile and ability to deliver safe, high-quality care. Providers must also furnish proof of malpractice insurance coverage or alternative means of financial responsibility. Professional References and Recommendations: Credentialing applications often require professional references from colleagues, supervisors, or others familiar with the provider’s clinical practice. These references offer insights into the provider’s professional conduct, clinical skills, and teamwork abilities. Recommendations from respected professionals carry significant weight in the credentialing process and positively impact the provider’s application. Practitioner Data Bank and National Provider Identifier (NPI) Registration: Providers are obliged to disclose any adverse actions or reportable events as required by the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB). This includes malpractice settlements, disciplinary actions, or exclusions from federal healthcare programs. Additionally, providers must obtain a National Provider Identifier (NPI) and include it in their credentialing application. The NPI standardizes provider identification across healthcare systems and ensures accurate tracking