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2 Min Read

Lawmakers say SGR repeal closer than ever

Congress is closer than ever to passing broadly supported legislative policy that would eliminate Medicare’s flawed sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula—and a permanent solution would come not a moment too soon.

Medicare & Medicaid
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2 Min Read

Time running out to apply for a meaningful use exemption

Physicians have less than a month to apply for a hardship exception for the federal electronic health record (EHR) meaningful use program. Apply by Nov. 30 to avoid next year’s payment adjustments for not demonstrating meaningful use.

Medicare & Medicaid
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3 Min Read

Data doesn't lie-meaningful use needs to change now

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the latest data detailing how many physicians and hospitals have successfully attested to the electronic health record (EHR) meaningful use program this year.

Medicare & Medicaid
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3 Min Read

Improve quality, avoid penalties using clinical data registries

Physicians providing care to Medicare patients this year will face a 2 percent payment penalty in 2016. As the AMA works to lessen this burden, you can take advantage of a new reporting option to improve patient outcomes while simultaneously lessening your chances of incurring penalties.

Payment & Delivery Models
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2 Min Read

Halloween ICD-10 codes help prep for scary season

Be prepared for the spookiest season of the year. With ICD-10 implementation coming Oct. 1 of next year, here are the ICD-10 diagnosis codes you may need for Halloween.

Claims Processing
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1 Min Read

Get the how-to guide for ICD-10 documentation

Learn how to navigate the new documentation complexities for diagnosis codes in the ICD-10-CM code set. An updated publication from the AMA Store provides guidance just in time to prepare for the Oct. 1, 2015, ICD-10 implementation deadline.

Claims Processing
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4 Min Read

Regulatory penalties tsunami could cut doctors' pay by 13 percent

The AMA urged the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to streamline the competing laws and regulations that threaten access to care in a letter. Physicians providing care to Medicare patients could face a “tsunami” of regulatory penalties over the next 10 years, potentially seeing payments cut by more than 13 percent by the end of the decade.

Sustainability
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3 Min Read

Better blood pressure, no added burden: One practice's story

A Chicago-area physician has achieved a 90 percent control rate for his hypertension patients in the past year by working with his medical assistant, nurse and other staff members to execute standardized blood pressure protocols in the practice.

Prevention & Wellness
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4 Min Read

4 key changes needed for EHR meaningful use program

Challenges with electronic health record (EHR) systems are widespread, and the meaningful use program has only compounded those problems. Physicians this week called on the government to make four essential changes to meaningful use so EHR technology can become a tool for practice efficiency and enhanced patient care.

Medicare & Medicaid