Medical Coding Infographic

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Medical Coding
Source: TopMedicalCodingSchools.com

Supreme Court Rescues Obamacare, Again

Obamacare. For the past several years, you haven’t been able to go anywhere in our country without hearing about it, and it just got a whole lot more attention. Yesterday, the Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision, ruled in favor of President Obama’s health care reform. Obamacare, also known as the Affordable Care Act, was designed to increase the quality and affordability of public healthcare in the United States. It established new minimum standards for insurance companies to uphold in order to cover all of their applicants and provide equal rates, regardless of pre-existing conditions of sex. The law has been one of the most controversial legislations in recent memory, as is threatened to further wedge the philosophical gap between Republicans and Democrats.

The Supreme Court ruling came after a discrepancy among the interpretation of particular clauses within the law, which was hastily crafted by Congress and had not been granted the opportunity to make adjustments in the messy language. The case was meant to determine if states that do not have their own insurance exchange and rely on the federal insurance exchange would be eligible for federal subsidies. If the law had not been upheld, it would have left approximately 6.4 million Americans without government subsidies to afford their healthcare. American citizens must learn to adapt to these healthcare reforms, as they are here to stay. The Supreme Court’s ruling means that it will take an Act of Congress and a future President’s signature to overrule Obamacare.

Republican officials had no fear of voicing their disapproval with the ruling. Florida Senator Marco Rubio denounced the law in its entirety, “I disagree with the Court’s ruling and believe they have once again erred in trying to correct the mistakes made by President Obama and Congress in forcing Obamacare on the American people.” He even alluded to his own proposed health care system, “I remain committed to repealing this bad law and replacing it with my consumer-centered plan that puts patients and families back in control of their health care decisions.” Several Republican states have neglected to create their own insurance exchanges simply because they do not wish to support President Obama’s reforms in any way.

Renewed Push to Establish Paid Maternity & Family Leave

The United States has, for a long time, been the subject of criticism for not offering paid maternity or family leave to the average worker.

Most of America’s advanced, democratic counterparts in Western Europe and North America offer paid maternity/family leave as a part of their national healthcare system. Yet, in the United States, only 13 percent of the workforce has access to such a benefit, according to the Department of Labor.

Recently, though, there has been a push to nationalize a paid-leave policy for such reasons. President Obama, who has always been in favor of a nationalized maternity-leave compensation program, has repeatedly expressed his support for setting aside $2.2 billion in 2016’s budget to help a number of states set up paid-leave systems, according to Kaiser Health News.

Moreover, the Democratic party has proposed a revised Family and Medical Insurance Leave Act (originally passed twenty years ago) that would create national paid-leave programs that cover up to two-thirds of a worker’s wages for up to 60 days.

The current legislation makes any type of maternity or family-related leave difficult in the United States. As it stands, mothers and those who need to take care of invalid family members are granted unpaid leave under national law, however its legal purview does not extend to companies with fewer than fifty workers or to many employees who have not notched 1,250 hours of labor at their current jobs, according to Kaiser.

Three states that do have paid maternity leave (California, New Jersey, and Rhode Island) are home to some of the leading advocates for a national paid maternity leave policy. According to the Legal Aid Society Employment Law Center, California state law grants six weeks of leave per year at 55% of their weekly pay.

California is somewhat of a pioneer in the fight for paid-leave in the United States. However, many small business across the country oppose the implementation of policies akin to the one in the Golden State. And, with the Republican Party in control over Congress, it does not seem as though any significant changes will be made to national government’s paid-leave policies in the next couple of years. However, staffing agencies and small business owners should certainly pay attention to this issue.

Hospitals Struggle to Boost Patient Satisfaction Ratings

More and more, the level of satisfaction that patients get from their experience of a visit or stay at a hospital directly affects how successful the institution can be.

As the world of healthcare continues to go through a metamorphosis, patient feedback continues to take a bigger and bigger role in shaping the reputation of hospitals. A bad reputation will cost the hospital future patients, and even more severely, will determine how much money it is allotted from the government and from private insurers.

There are now a multitude of venues for critique and criticism that carry a great deal of weight with the public—Facebook has even been proven to be a surprisingly accurate indicator of a hospital’s approval rating, according to Health IT Outcomes. Positive Facebook reviews have a remarkably tight correlation with hospitals’ low-readmission levels, meaning that the hospitals that do not make mistakes (and thus do not require the patient to return), and are hence getting their credit on the world’s largest social media database.

In short, accurate reviews of healthcare institutions are everywhere, and are accessible to anybody. It is no wonder, then, that hospitals and clinics across the country have begun adamantly making reforms to their policies, hoping to add some compassion to their care.

Hundreds of hospitals, though, are finding it quite challenging to reel-in positive patient reviews. Kaiser Health News reported the story of Rowan Medical Center of North Carolina, which is among the lowest rated healthcare institutions in the country.

Hospitals that have a history of malpractice or poor bedside manner, such as Rowan, often find it difficult to escape their previous reputations, despite any improvements that they may have made since their previous errors. Additionally, the Medicare method of assessing hospitals from the patient’s perspective (a survey that has the patient rank the hospital on a scale of 1-10, among other examinations) is very tough, as they only reward hospitals if patients give them a 9 or a 10 on their scale. Thus, it is hard for poorly-rated hospitals to receive the funding that is necessary to training their staff or improving infrastructure.

In April, though, the government intends to kick-off a new system for ranking hospitals, which will entail a five-star scale. Officials hope that this will be easier for the consumer to understand, and will hopefully help improving hospitals avoid the stigmas of the past.

There are many ways that a hospital can improve their quality of care. According to a survey conducted by the Schwartz Center, the most successful and highly-rated hospitals in the country:

  • Place a high priority on their staff, so as to avoid physician and nurse burnout
  • Involve and interact closely with the families of patients.
  • Emphasize quality care and compassion when training their staff.
  • Have a set-in-stone schedule for their staff, so no patients are left unattended.
  • Keep procedures as simple as possible for their patients.

Patients clearly crave a strong interpersonal relationship with their healthcare providers. Bedside manner is everything.

With luck, hospitals with poor satisfaction ratings will take advantage of the new government-implemented scale come April, and will continue to employ the aforementioned tactics in order to boost their overall patient-friendliness.

Many Americans Forgo Health Insurance, Despite Large Subsidies

There has been much ado about the stiff penalties that come with remaining uninsured under the Affordable Care Act. Those who spent 2014 without a coverage plan are about to be slammed with either a $95 penalty or be subjected to confiscation of 1% of their income, whichever sum is higher. While Obamacare in itself is a remarkably famous piece of legislation, and nearly every American has heard of it, many speculate that the bulk of those who are still uninsured (and consequently facing penalties) are so due to simple ignorance of the mandate portion of the law.

A study by Avalere Health reveals that there is a major demographic of low-income Americans that, while being eligible for hefty government subsidies on the federal exchange, still have not purchased a healthcare plan.

An analysis by Kaiser Health News (KHN) interpreted the data, and concluded that while 76% of people with incomes between 100 and 150 percent of the official poverty level (between $11,670 and $17,505 for an individual) had enrolled for coverage last year, only 41% from the next demographic (between 151 and 200 percent of the federal poverty line) had 2014 coverage. Those individuals earn between $17,622 and $23,340, and are eligible for significant government subsidies through the federal exchange. Moreover, only 30% who rake in between $23,457 and $29,175 utilized the federal health insurance program.

Now, it is logical that those from the higher income levels do not use the federal exchange, as they can afford their own coverage or are provided some by their employers. And, while the government has done well to advertise their available subsidies and packages to the group right at the poverty line, the fact that only around 40% of those from the next-highest income levels have taken the government up on their financial aid is rather alarming, as they most likely do not have an alternative mode of attaining coverage, and will hence be hit with increasingly stiffer penalties in 2015 and 2016.

So, that begs the question—why is it that those who could benefit from the subsidies simply are not?

Caroline Pearson, senior vice president at Avalere Health, opines that it is because they still do not know about the mandate or the benefits for which they qualify. Her sentiments are felt by many who work in the world of health insurance.

Clearly, the Affordable Care act has done well to insure the poorest sector of the American populous. However, it evidently has room to grow when it comes to assisting those who, while keeping afloat above the federal poverty line, still need significant financial aid in order to practically afford coverage.

Reforms in the Nursing Code of Ethics Aim to Modernize Care

In January 2015, the American Nurses Association revised their Code of Ethics for the first time since 2001, Nurse.com reports.

The recent revisions are the result of an 18-month process that drew from the insight of some of the United States’ most experienced nurses. The new Code of Ethics touches upon nearly all conceivable aspects of the nursing profession, from providing appropriate end-of-life care to how to handle oneself on social media.

The Code of Ethics has a long history, dating back to 1896, according to Nurse.com. Since then, the Code has evolved into a document of nine provisions and several subsequent interpretive statements that assist nurses in understanding and applying its guidelines. The new revisions process is the first in over 25 years that features revisions in both the nine provisions and the interpretive statements.

The new Code of Ethics touches upon several delicate and difficult issues that nurses face every day on the job. One of the more controversial inclusions in the new Code is a subject that deals with the issue of medically-assisted suicide and euthanasia, a topic that is hotly contested in politics and between ideological groups. Nurse.com reports that the new Code formally prevents any nurse from administering any medicine or treatment that will end the life of a patient, even if that situation comes up in the execution of death-row inmates. The guidelines make it clear that no nurse, anywhere, under any circumstance, should administer a lethal injection.

The American Nursing Association also had to tweak their documents in light of recent technological and social advances, specifically concerning social media. The new mandates that nurses pay extra close attention to not violating patient confidentiality with their personal social media accounts. Nurses who post about the condition of some of their patients on social media sites such as Twitter or Facebook violate the secrecy and privacy of patients, which the new Code of Ethics deems unacceptable.

The Code of Ethics is just one of the reasons why nursing is consistently rated at the top of the list for honest and ethical professions, Nurse.com reports. Surely, the newly revised Code will uphold the industry’s impressive reputation.

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VA Hospitals Face Scrutiny Nationwide

In recent years, VA hospitals have been the subject of a great deal of controversy and scrutiny. In 2014, the Veterans’ Affairs healthcare facilities made headlines because of their inability to provide services for a large number patients, and many had to wait months before they could see doctors in what became known as the “waiting-list scandal.”

In 2015, VA hospitals have done well to cope with the influx of veterans that need appointments with doctors and surgeons. However, reports have shown that the increased quantity of patients seen has caused the average quality of care to decrease.

In a Seattle Times article, Tim Kuncl, former member of the US Coast Guard, shared his misadventures with the Puget Sound VA Health Care System.

Kuncl suffered from a rare pilon fracture in 2011 as he was putting Christmas decorations up on his home in Washington State. Three weeks later, he went to his local VA hospital and received surgery in which doctors inserted several pins, screws, and plates in order to fix his shattered bones. His pain persisted well past his expected recovery time, though, and he ended up having to get two additional surgeries done on the same leg, each one resulting in increased pain and discomfort.

Eventually, Kuncl decided to forego the VA system and get treatment from a private organization, who found that the previous surgeries had irreversibly damaged his leg, and concluded that amputation was the only path left to take. He has since become an advocate for the improvement of the VA healthcare systems.

The unfortunate case of Tim Kuncl is following a trend of increased malpractice. According to the Seattle Times, wrongful-death claims against the VA healthcare systems throughout much of 2014 climbed 43%. The Government Accountability Office has placed Vetrans Health Administration on the “high risk agency” list by virtue of its issues in oversight and training of new employees, according to the Seattle Times. The VA hospitals are treating more patients, but the number of erroneous cases has gone up rather alarmingly.

In other news, the VA healthcare system in Tomah, Wisconsin has become the subject of investigation as whistleblowers revealed that facilities have been overprescribing narcotic drugs, the StarTribune reports. In response, the VA has implemented new computer software that helps to monitor the allocation of prescription medicines. The program is called the “opioid therapy risk report,” and currently over 2,000 VA doctors nationwide now have access to the software.

With luck, the complaints against the VA healthcare systems that are piling up will reduce very soon, as the government has decided to increase its funding. The Puget Sound VA’s budget is $7.4 million larger in 2015 than it was in 2014, and will be $14.9 million larger in 2016, the Seattle Times reports. The additional funding should result in faster treatment and higher quality of care for our nation’s veterans.

Anthem Insurance Hack Impacts over 78 Million People

It is estimated that 78.8 million people have had their Social Security numbers, names, addresses, and dates of birth accessed by internet hackers who broke into health insurance giant Anthem’s databases, according to Bloomberg Business.

Anthem is the second-largest health insurer in the United States, and is part of the greater network of independently operated Blue Cross Blue Shield plans that provide service in parts of the country where BCBS is not easily accessible, Reuters reports.

The Indiana-based insurance company stated that preliminary investigations do not leave them to believe that costumers’ credit card or medical information was compromised.

The Anthem hack has quickly gone down as one of the largest corporate cyber breaches in history, as not only were Anthem costumers’ personal records stolen, but so too were those of nearly 8 million non-costumers who were on the Anthem databases for being affiliates of Blue Cross Blue Shield, according to CNN.

The FBI was alerted of the security infraction shortly after it was discovered, and has since been collaborating with Anthem very closely, hoping to pin-point the transgressors. While it is too early to tell who committed the cyber-attack, CNN states that a few rumors have pointed fingers at the Chinese government.

Large companies being robbed of costumers’ valuable information has become a trend of late. The Anthem hacking is somewhat reminiscent of the cyber-theft of the credit card data of over 40 million Target shoppers last year. Sony, JPMorgam Chase, Ebay, and Home Depot have also had issues with technological security in the past couple of years, says CNN.

The personal information of the administrative hierarchy of Anthem was stolen as well. In a letter notifying customers of the violation, CEO Joseph Swedish said, “Anthem’s own associates’ personal information – including my own – was accessed during this security breach. We join you in your concern and frustration, and I assure you that we are working around the clock to do everything we can to further secure your data.”

As collateral for the lost information, Anthem has vowed to individually contact victimized customers and provide them with complimentary credit monitoring and identity protection services, according to CNN. With luck, authorities will trace the source of the cyber-attack and prevent credit fraud.

Nursing Ranks Among the Most Dangerous Careers

If somebody were to ask you which occupation saw more back and musculoskeletal injuries per year, construction laborers or nursing assistants and orderlies, which would be your guess? Believe it or not, the answer is nursing assistants, orderlies, and healthcare staff- and the margin of victory is not even close. An article by NPR declares that the laborers of this category are prone to suffering approximately three times the amount of back/musculoskeletal injuries as construction workers.

According to surveys by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are over 35,000 various on-the-job injuries (predominantly in the back and spine) that require a leave from work among nursing and healthcare employees per year.

What is it in a nurse’s workday that causes so many staffing injuries? The culprit is the lifting and transporting of patients. Many orderlies and nurses assistants are tasked with hoisting patients and invalids that weigh in at 300 pounds or more. Doing this day after day takes a veritable toll on the back and spine, and each year thousands of workers feel the consequences.

What’s more, it appears that there is no way to sidestep the mishaps that accompany lifting and moving patients. NPR reveals that hospitals and nursing schools are teaching nurses lifting methods that put them in great risk of inadvertent, career-ending back injuries. William Marras of the Spine Research Institute of Ohio State University tells NPR, “The bottom line is, there’s no safe way to lift a patient manually. The magnitude of these forces that are on your spine are so large that the best body mechanics in the world are not going to keep you from getting a back problem.”

So, the age-old “bend your knees, keep your back straight, and lift with your legs” technique is facing increased scrutiny. Clearly, the new consensus is that hospitals need to find alternate methods of raising and hauling patients. NPR reports that some hospitals, such as Florida’s Baptist Health System and the Department of Veterans Affairs have reduced staffing injuries by nearly 80% by utilizing mechanized processes for patient-lifting.

While there are several progressive medical systems that are implementing machines to perform these task, the majority of hospitals and healthcare facilities are not making a concerted effort to reduce staffing injuries. It appears that until there is a more serious, committed effort to change policy, nurses and orderlies will retain their high rank on the list of occupational injuries.

Thousands Set to Lose Obamacare Coverage

Up to 200,000 people are expected to lose their Obamacare coverage after failing to produce documented proof of their citizenship or legal residence in the United States, The Fiscal Times reports.

In August of last year, the American government mailed letters to over 310,000 people demanding proof of their status as a legal U.S. resident. Of those original 310,000, nearly 112,000 never responded, and were officially taken off of the coverage policy in September 2014, according to The Fiscal Times.

Currently, those at risk of losing their healthcare coverage are the population of potentially ineligibles who responded to the August letter from the federal government, but never produced sufficient proof of their status as a legal resident of the United States. If officially deemed unqualified for insurance, their coverage will be officially cut off on February 28th.

The push to eliminate all ineligible applicants from the Obamacare roster comes as the federal government is trying to finalize the official list of coverage recipients before the healthcare application deadline ends this Sunday, says The Fiscal Times. As of last week, there were over 9.9 million reported beneficiaries of the healthcare program through a combination of the state and federal systems. That number is expected to fall, of course, as the last-minute ineligible candidates are invalidated.

Aside from determining who ought to be terminated from their coverage policies, the government, and specifically the Internal Revenue Service, must determine whether or not they are going to reclaim the money that they gave to subsidize the majority of the aforementioned 200,000 unqualified persons, nearly all of whom received significant financial aid and healthcare benefits in 2014.

After they finalize the whittling-down of the unqualified enrollees due to residency status, the government must also shift their attention to sorting out discrepancies related to people who recorded erroneous information about their income. Having accurate income levels on the applications of enrollees is imperative to efficiently apportioning Obamacare’s funds, since the money granted via subsidies is directly proportional to a recipient’s income level.

After all is said and done, the Obamacare roster will be significantly smaller than its current 9.9 million that currently have policies on both the federal and state exchanges. As of now, the government has only been working on revising the list of federal beneficiaries. It still has yet to shift its focus to the recipients on the state exchange systems.