MEDDESKTOP: March 2009

Monday, March 23, 2009

Social Security To Build First Federal Electronic Health Record System

National Health Information Database
According to a post on Slashdot, Soscial Security Administrationwill launch a project to acquire citizen Health records electronically, rather than the process it goes through today, which is paper based and time consuming.
The SSA uses health records to verify and process disability claims and should the person agree, these documents from doctors, hospitals and care givers could be transmitted electronically and make the process much faster an efficient.
"To put the new system into production, the SSA partnered with IT vendors IBM, Harris Corp. and Sun Microsystems Inc., the MedVirginia regional health information organization (RHIO) and several health care providers, including Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.

The technology partnership represents a first step toward the creation of the Nationwide Health Information Network (NHIN), a federal initiative that began 14 months ago and is a key part of President Barack Obama's health IT agenda."

I think it will be as beneficial as National Provider Identifier (NPI) a database of helathcare providers that is open to public.

Computerworld via Slashdot

Sunday, March 22, 2009

AHIMA Presents ICD-10 Summit, April 16-17, Washington DC.

ICD-10
AHIMA in coporation with AHA, HIMSS, AAHAM, HBMA and NAHO is presenting ICD10 Summit to provide information, education, training, and resources for ICD-10 preparedness and implementation to people involved with Health Information Management Operations and Coding and Reimbursement, so that challenges and oppertunities of ICD-10 could be recognized early.
On April 16-17, the ICD-10 Annual Summit will be the primary source for information, education, training, and resources for ICD-10 preparedness and implementation. Opinion leaders will gather there to address the challenges and opportunities of ICD-10, and identify optimal ways to ensure successful implementation and potentially achieve a return on investment. Led by a “blue ribbon” planning committee, the two-day summit features a cast of respected speakers, experts, industry leaders, and practitioners from all healthcare settings.

General Sessions
A Perspective on ICD-10 and Its Significance
ICD-10 Strategic Planning and Collaboration
The Importance of ICD-10
Planning to Transition Historical Data
Solving Business Problems: 5010/D.0 and ICD-10 Rules
HIPAA X12 Modifications Timeline

ICD-10 Educational Tracks;
Track A: Project Management for Success
Track A: Project Management for Success
Track C: Contracting, Payment, and Reimbursement
Track D: Data Mapping and Trending
Track E: Training, Education, and Awareness
Track F: Impact Assessment

Continuing Education Units Available: 12
Learning Level: 4 - Advanced
Learning Category: Health Information Management Operations, Coding and Reimbursement

Registration;

Online Registration (credit card only)
Mail registration form and payment to:
AHIMA
Dept. 77-6331
Chicago, IL 60678-6331

Fax registration form to (312) 233-1500 (credit card and purchase order payments only)
Phone (800) 335-5535 (credit card payment only).

Thursday, March 19, 2009

ADA Provider Taxonomy Codes (NPI)

American Dental Association (ADA) has provided he National Provider Identifier (NPI) Provider Taxonomy Codes for Dentists, General Practitioners, and Dental Specialists. Any health care provider who uses standard electronic transactions, like electronic claims, eligibility verifications, claims status inquiries, and claim attachments, is required by federal law to start including NPIs on electronic transactions not later than May 23, 2007. In addition, those dentists who use only paper, voice and fax to transmit these communications may find NPIs useful or necessary for other reasons. Many dental plans will require dentists to include NPIs on paper claim submissions, so even paper based dentists may find it a necessity to have NPIs. The ADA encourages all dentists to apply for NPIs, particularly those using (or planning to use) electronic transactions.
Following are provided by ADA and the official PDF file describing the same could be found following the link provided at the end of the article.

Provider Taxonomy Codes
Category / Description ------------------ Code
Dentist -------------------------------122300000X
A dentist is a person qualified by a doctorate in dental surgery (D.D.S) or dental medicine (D.M.D.) licensed by the state to practice dentistry, and practicing within the scope of that license.

General Practice ---------------------1223G0001X
Many dentists are general practitioners who handle a wide variety of dental needs.

Dental Specialty ----------------------Various (see following list)
Other dentists practice in one of the nine specialty areas recognized by the American Dental Association.

Dental Public Health -------------------1223D0001X
Endodontics ---------------------------1223E0200X
Orthodontics --------------------------1223X0400X
Pediatric Dentistry --------------------1223P0221X
Periodontics ---------------------------1223P0300X
Prosthodontics ------------------------1223P0700X
Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology ---------1223P0106X
Oral & Maxillofacial Radiology ---------1223D0008X
Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery -----------1223S0112X

Link to Provider Taxonomy Codes | PDF file/38k

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

National Provider Identifier (NPI) What Is It?

NPI Meddesktop
As administrative simplification provisions of HIPPA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996) mandated the adoption of standard unique identifiers for health care providers and health plans. Purpose of these were to aid to improve the efficiency and the effectiveness of the exchange of the health information, electronically.
This means your Doctors, hospitals and health plans. These data is processed by CMS, The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the system is known as NPPES, the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System.
Health care providers are required to contact the NPI Enumerator and apply for an NPI. Any changes to the NPI is also handled by the NPI Enumerator. Also under the HIPPA Act, covered providers must also share their NPI with other providers, health plans, clearinghouses, and any entity that may need it for billing purposes. Getting a NPI is free for Providers.
The NPI Registry (The NPI Database) could be searched by anyone and the data is public and could be downloaded if needed. The registry is kept updated daily.
The registry could be querried for NPI ot the legal business name. The NPI if free to access and use.
So Go and search for your health care provider at NPI Registry. See what you find.
Additional NPI Information;
CMS NPI Page

NPI Application / Update Form -

[PDF File]

Application Help

Privacy Information

Frequently Asked Questions

NPI Final Rule -

[PDF File]

Contact Information

Friday, March 06, 2009

Google Health Getting Smarter To Make You Healthy

Since Google health was launched, there have been many a discussions, arguments both for and against the movement.
I have worked with healthcare field, yep, in the EMR, medical records field. I still work in the field but now with insurance related information.
I have seen healthcare records getting to healthcare professionals blocked or delayed by bureaucratic red tapes. At the same time, I have seen how easy it is to obtain health records by say lawyers for evidence etc. I even saw a TV show saying "Oh it is so bad any one with your social security number can get your health information" yes, anyone with with ones SSN can do much more.
But EMR, electronic medical records or health records, can save lives and that precede everything else in my mind. If you are dead, I think it is little value keeping your records to yourself.
EMR does not mean you are sharing your records with everyone in the planet. You can select whom you share your information. Media will always look for something to make headlines and they like to play games in margins.
So I think educating yourself on EMR might help you to make that decision and the link below and learn how the sharing your health records could help you and your loved ones.

Official Google Blog: Google Health: helping you better coordinate your care

Stem Cells In Beauty Parlor!

Stem Cells In Beauty Parlor! yes indeed but only in Chinese one so far. When we vote debate and fight about stem cells, using a treatment developed by Korean company RNL Bio, the same company that clones dogs for rich clients (say USD$150,000), the Puhua Center lists stem cell beauty treatment alongside liposuction, face peels and eye tucks.
Perhaps now we will get somewhere with stem cells, once celebrities find out they too can fill the wrinkles with their stomach fat!
www.stemcellspuhua.com also does some good stuff with stem cells.
You can read more at city weekend china.

Tuesday, March 03, 2009

The Designer Baby Doctor of PREDICTIVE GENOMICS Backs Away And Web Page Changes

If you were planing to have a pink haired green eyed baby boy / girl, you will have to wait a while as now the frankenmaker says he will limit his creations. Well now you got the publicity you want now may the price might go high?
According to New York Daily News where he revealed his planned procedures, he will only use this for "We're going to limit it to people with genetic diseases because we just cannot keep up with what's going on,"
His institute also yanked a Web site announcement on the controversial service: "PREDICTIVE GENOMICS TO BE AVAILABLE: Eye color, hair color, cancer tendency and more." But as you can see from above, you can still see it thanks to Google
Read more at NYDN.
But I would doubt if he tells me that he will fix my hair!