Mental health disorders are common in the United States, with an estimated 19% of Americans 18 or older suffering from a diagnosable mental disorder, according to a 2012 survey from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).
The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced December 8, 2014, that it fined an Alaska behavioral health service $150,000 for potential HIPAA violations. OCR entered into a resolution agreement with Anchorage Community Mental Health Services (ACMHS), a nonprofit behavioral healthcare service, per the announcement (see www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/enforcement/examples/acmhs/amchs-capsettle...).
Coding tells a patient's story, based on the narrative the physician provides in his or her documentation. Accurately painting a picture of the patient's severity of illness (SOI) and risk of mortality (ROM) is essential for good patient care, and it is becoming increasingly important for quality measures and payment.
This week’s updates include OIG inspector testimonies and H.R. 2 Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015. Click the link above to read more about this week’s updates.
Teaser: This week’s updates include OIG’s March 2015 Compendium of Unimplemented Recommendations and NCDs proposed for removal. Click the link above to read more about this week’s updates.
