Revalidating and Importance of Credentialing
Medicare Revalidation – Medicare requires that ALL enrolled providers and Suppliers to revalidate enrollment information every 5 years. The revalidation initiative is currently in process and will continue through March 2015. You have 60 days from the date of the revalidation notice to submit your application(s).nnProviders are required by regulation to submit updates and changes to enrollment information in accordance with specified time frames. Reportable changes include: 1) Change in legal business name, 2) Practice location, 3)Ownership, 4) Authorized/delegated official, 5) Changes in payment information such as changes in EFT information and, 6) final adverse legal actions.nnFailure to comply with any of these requirements in a timely manner may result in Medicare billing privileges being deactivated.nn nn
nnIn order to power this increased resolution, the new iPad has an A5X processor which is quad-core meaning apps will run quicker. Initial reports suggest that this iPad will ship with 1GB of RAM which means the overall ease of use, multitasking and switching between apps will be improved. Furthermore, the faster processor could help with screen sharing and remote control apps (e.g. Citrix) and remote virtual apps (e.g.OnLive) which could open up more tablet EHR options. The improved graphics processing capability will help improve 3-dimensional modelling such as that seen in the Visible Body or the NOVA anatomy apps.nnThe next major feature which will impact physicians is the introduction of voice dictation. Whilst Siri is noticeably absent from the new iPad, there is now a button which allows the user to dictate. This obviously has numerous medical applications from recording patient notes and entering data into EMRs to dictating letters. It will be interesting to see if the voice dictation feature can cope with medical terminology although regardless, data entry speed is sure to be enhanced. This introduction of voice recognition also paves the way for Siri integration in a future update.nnThere is an enhanced five MegaPixel camera in the new iPad which is similar to the one found in the iPhone 4S. The enhanced resolution of this camera combined with the improved graphics processing in the A5X chip means that the iPad has the potential for improved integration and usage in telehealth care. The new iPad has the ability to record video in 1080p HD resolution which would offer increased resolution in a telehealth care setting.nnAnother major feature announcement is that the new iPad will have high speed 4G LTE internet available on both major carriers, Verizon and AT&T, although you will have to purchase a specific iPad depending on your carrier. High speed internet combined with the increased graphics capability and camera resolution is sure to have numerous applications in telemedicine and mHealth in general.nnIn adnnThe iPad model allows healthcare providers to connect to Bluetooth-enabled medical home monitoring devices that collect patient data. Specifically, Bluetooth-enabled medical devices such as stethoscopes, blood pressure monitors and pulse oximeters can measure a patient’s diagnostics and securely transfer the data to the iPad.nnData from these medical devices can also be quickly added to a patient’s electronic health record or to a personal cloud-based health record such as Microsoft’s HealthVault, either or which can now be monitored remotely by a physician with an iPad.nnSource: www.imedicalapps.com; Tom Lewis; March 7, 2012; www.beckersasc.com
PAHCOM Shares Knowledge!nFounded in 1988, PAHCOM is a national organization dedicated to promoting professionalism in physician office practice management by providing professional development opportunities including continuing education, networking, online tools & resources, and nationally recognized certification (CMM) for health care office managers.nnOctober 16, 17, 18, 2012 Susan and Todd speak at PAHCOM’s national meeting in Clearwater Beach FloridannPAHCOM 
Did you know?: Welter Healthcare Partners has several long term training affiliations with local, regional and national residency training programs. We routinely meet with the residents (1st year, 2nd year and 3rd year’s) to teach and discuss coding, contracting and business principals of healthcare. Does your residency program need industry experts to come speak to the residents?
Colorado’s Primary Care Fund provides grants to healthcare providers who care for underserved populations and meet specific qualifications. The funds are generated from the collection of tobacco taxes in accordance with Section 21 of Article X (Tobacco Taxes for Health Related Purposes) of the State Constitution.nnThe Primary Care Fund application process requires that providers must use a formula to submit the percent of unduplicated users/patients served by the applicant agency who are enrolled in Medicaid and CHP+ or medically indigent. This data must be certified (or verified) by an outside entity prior to the submission of the application.nn Welter Healthcare Partners is qualified as an outside entity to complete the certification of the numbers of unduplicated user/patient counts for the Primary Care Fund application. If you need assistance with your Primary Care Fund application, contact Welter Healthcare Partners immediately at 303-534-0388.nnFor more information, visit 
Did you know that Medicare is having ALL providers re-validate over the next 2 years? This has to be done right, on-time, even with the proper color ink! Don’t leave this to chance or to someone who does not have experience. Failure to do it right and on-time will cause your payments to stop. You will drop out of Medicare if this is not done properly!