2019

Majority of parents say socioeconomic factors negatively impact their families’ health

Jeff Lagasse for Healthcare Finance Nearly two-thirds of American parents of children under 18 (65%) report at least one economic, environmental, or lifestyle factor that limits their family’s ability to live a healthy life, according to a new nationwide survey conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of Nemours Children’s Health System. Eighty percent of…

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AI not likely to replace physicians, experts say

By Mackenzie Garrity for Becker’s Hospital Review Although technology and artificial intelligence is helping physicians, the tools will ultimately not replace clinicians, according to a panel of physicians and health executives interviewed by CNBC. “I don’t think at this stage, we are 100 percent, or even close to 100 percent, sure that AI can replace…

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How to code for lung injuries associated with vaping

From the AAP Division of Health Care Finance New guidance on coding for health care encounters related to e-cigarette, or vaping, product use associated lung injury (EVALI) has been released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics. The guidance details the use of International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision,…

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Words of appreciation: Thank-you notes from 15 health system CEOs

By Kelly Gooch for Becker’s Hospital Review The week before Thanksgiving provides an especially appropriate time to express gratitude. In honor of this season, Becker’s asked hospital and health system CEOs to share notes to their staff, team members and families. Michael Apkon, MD, PhD President and CEO of Tufts Medical Center and Floating Hospital for Children…

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Final physician payment rule keeps E/M code changes

By Ron Shinkman for Healthcare Dive Dive Brief: CMS on Friday issued its 2020 final rules for the Physician Fee Schedule, including a streamlining of evaluation and management services (E/M) reporting that was rolled back from an earlier proposal in a change providers applauded. The final rule, which is mostly unchanged from the proposed rule…

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5 states with the highest, lowest percentage of active female physicians in 2018

By Kelly Gooch for Becker’s Hospital Review Massachusetts had the highest number of active female physicians in 2018, according to the 2019 State Physician Workforce Data Report. The report — published by the Association of American Medical Colleges — showed 35.8 percent of the nation’s active physicians in 2018 were female. Among states, Massachusetts had…

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4 reasons for medical coders to query a provider about documentation

By Kelly Gooch for Becker’s Hospital Review With documentation queries to providers, it is important for coding professionals, clinical documentation improvement professionals and other healthcare professionals to know the most appropriate times to query, according to a post on the American Association of Professional Coders website. The post — written by Vicky Schack, compliance program…

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Millennials face health challenges earlier than other generations

By Amy Baxter for Health Exec Older millennials are facing health challenges sooner than other generations, with higher prevalence rates for some conditions, according to a new Blue Cross Blue Shield Health Index. The index looked at the health of millennials, or the generation of 73 million individuals born in the U.S. between 1981 and…

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CMS will pay $1.9 billion to hospitals in value-based payments for inpatient care

Susan Morse for Healthcare Finance Hospitals will receive $1.9 billion in value-based incentive payments for inpatient care, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced yesterday. More hospitals will receive positive payment adjustments in 2020 than negative, CMS said. More than 1,500 hospitals (over 55%) will receive higher Medicare payments under the Hospital Value-Based Purchasing…

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