Healthcare IT executives are monitoring interoperability decisions.
EDITOR’S NOTE: At press time, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced it is extending the public comment period by 30 days for two proposed regulations aimed at promoting the interoperability of health information technology (health IT).
The government is counting its pennies after Tax Day and Congress has begun a two-week holiday recess. It should be quiet, right? Guess again.
The health IT world remains in comment mode as the May 3 deadlines to comment on both the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) “Information Blocking” Rule and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) “Interoperability and Patient Access” rule is closing in.
These rules are certain to overhaul how healthcare information is shared across the ecosystem and we are paying close attention. With requests for information (RFI) imbedded covering topics like patient matching, long-term care and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) I’d expect to see organizations like mine produce lengthy comments. The industry remains hopeful after many public pleas that the comment deadline may be extended an additional 30 days.
In the last few weeks, we have also seen CMS unveil a million plus dollar Artificial Intelligence challenge and detail an expansion of telehealth under Medicare Advantage Programs.
We are expecting a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) addressing the sharing of substance use disorder records from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) any day. This is accompanied by renewed efforts in Congress to align 42 CFR Part 2 with HIPAA for the purposes of payment, treatment, and operations.
Also, it’s also almost payment rule time. Stay tuned for the Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) rule that is imminent, it will give us a picture of how the Administration plans to structure payment for hospitals next year and could include changes to the Promoting Interoperability program once again.
On Capitol Hill, there has been no rest for the weary. Congressional committees are hard at work picking apart the President’s fiscal year 2020 budget justification that included cuts for just about everyone. We expect to see the House Labor-Health and Human Services Appropriations bill soon, likely after the current recess. That will give us some perspective on how lawmakers believe HHS should be prioritizing their initiatives.
The Senate HELP Committee under the leadership of Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN), who will be retiring at the end of this term, continues to track the latest in electronic health records and interoperability, hearing from industry witnesses last month, with a second hearing expected with government representatives in the near future. They also remain interested in ways to cut health spending.
The bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Telehealth Caucus just wrapped-up their comment period on ways to extend access and use of telehealth and remote patient monitoring services.
The privacy debate continues. Proposals are expected to emerge out of both the House and Senate governing consumer privacy. Uncertainty remains about where health data will fall into the conversation. Speaker Pelosi reminded folks that she will not support proposals that preempt state laws like the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) in her home state.
Interestingly, last week Senator Bernie Sanders (D-VT), long-time Senator from Vermont and Presidential hopeful, introduced his Medicare for All bill. Members of the College of Healthcare Information Management Executive (CHIME) are taking note because among many other things, this legislation would alter physician payment. Federal pay-for-performance programs would end, as would value-based purchasing, the current meaningful use Electronic Health Record rules, and other payment systems for Medicare such as the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS.)
It’s a beautiful time of year here in Washington, unfortunately, we policy folks just haven’t had a lot of time to enjoy it!
This month, the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) – Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. – testified at seven congressional committee
I am having a disagreement with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that is worth discussing. As I have been teaching for the
Please log in to your account to comment on this article.
Breast biopsy procedures may be clinically straightforward but accurately translating them into compliant billing can be anything but. In this focused webcast, Shawn Blackburn, CPC, CPMA, CIC, CRC, CCS-P breaks down how imaging guidance, lesion count, laterality, and payer expectations all impact how these procedures should be reported. Through clear explanations and real-world scenarios, you’ll gain practical insight into aligning clinical workflows with billing requirements, avoiding common pitfalls, and ensuring your documentation supports accurate reimbursement and compliance.
Gain clarity and confidence in OB‑GYN coding with this expert‑led webcast featuring Sherri L. Clayton, RHIT, CSS. You’ll learn how to apply global maternity package rules accurately, select the right CPT codes for procedures and visits, and identify documentation gaps that lead to denials. With practical guidance and real examples, this session helps you strengthen compliance, reduce audit risk, and ensure accurate reimbursement for women’s health services.
Uncover essential coding insights with nationally recognized coding authority Kay Piper, RHIA, CDIP, CCS. Through ICD10monitor’s interactive, on‑demand webcast series, Kay walks you through the AHA’s 2026 ICD‑10‑CM/PCS Quarterly Coding Clinics, translating each update into practical, easy‑to‑apply guidance designed to sharpen precision, ensure compliance, and strengthen day‑to‑day decision‑making. Available shortly after each official release.
Uncover critical guidance on the ICD-10-CM/PCS code updates. Kay Piper reviews and explains ICD-10-CM/PCS coding guidelines in the AHA’s fourth quarter 2026 ICD-10-CM/PCS Coding Clinic in an easy to access on-demand webcast.
Traditional utilization management models can no longer keep pace with regulatory shifts, payer scrutiny, and operational pressures. In this webcast, Tiffany Ferguson, LMSW, CMAC, ACM, ACPA-C, introduces an Adaptive Model strategy that modernizes UM through role specialization, technology-driven workflows, and proactive, team-based processes. Attendees will learn how to restructure programs to improve efficiency, strengthen clinical collaboration, and enhance financial performance in a rapidly changing healthcare environment.
Federal auditors are intensifying their focus on inpatient psychiatric facilities, using advanced data analytics to spotlight outliers and pursue high‑dollar repayments. In this high‑impact webcast, Michael Calahan, PA, MBA, Compliance Officer and V.P., Hospital & Physician Compliance, breaks down what regulators are really targeting in IPF-PPS admissions, documentation, treatment and discharge planning. Attendees will learn practical steps to tighten processes, avoid common audit triggers and protect reimbursement and reduce the risk of multimillion-dollar repayment demands.
In this timely session, Stacey Shillito, CDIP, CPMA, CCS, CCS-P, CPEDC, COPC, breaks down the complexities of Medical Decision Making (MDM) documentation so providers can confidently capture the true complexity of their care. Attendees will learn practical, efficient strategies to ensure documentation aligns with current E/M guidelines, supports accurate coding, and reduces audit risk, all without adding to charting time.
Join Ronald Hirsch, MD, FACP, CHCQM for The PEPPER Returns – Risk and Opportunity at Your Fingertips, a practical webcast that demystifies the PEPPER and shows you how to turn complex claims data into actionable insights. Dr. Hirsch will explain how to interpret key measures, identify compliance risks, uncover missed revenue opportunities, and understand new updates in the PEPPER, all to help your organization stay ahead of audits and use this powerful data proactively.
Happy HIP Week! Sign up to win free access to our 2026 Coding Clinic Update Webcast Series! Click here to learn more →
Prepare for the 2025 CMS IPPS Final Rule with ICD10monitor’s IPPSPalooza! Click HERE to learn more
Get 15% OFF on all educational webcasts at ICD10monitor with code JULYFOURTH24 until July 4, 2024—start learning today!
CYBER WEEK IS HERE! Don’t miss your chance to get 20% off now until Dec. 1 with code CYBER25
CYBER WEEK IS HERE! Don’t miss your chance to get 20% off now until Dec. 2 with code CYBER24
