Health Care Billing Software

Bradford-Scott is located in the Indiana in the heart of the Midwest. We are known as one of the largest Medical Software Vendor in the area. Currently Bradford-Scott Data Corp is launching a campaign to bring EMR to you.  We would love to come to your office and give an EHR Demo to display our systems capabilities as your new EHR System.

Our EHR and Medical Billing software is a high tech integrated system that is easy to understand and use. We are able to help you customize the system to fit your Medical office. This will not only improve the efficiency in your office, but will also qualify you for the available EHR Stimulus package.

The government is forcing the industry to all move towards an EHR system. They are offering an EHR Stimulus credit to those practices that have implemented an EHR system by 2012-2015. After that they are still requiring the medical practice to move to EHR, but with no stimulus offered.

So do not be left in the cold, get your EHR demo scheduled today and let us show you our product and services available!

• What happened to the information
• The nature of the information
• Steps that could mitigate the potential harm
• The number of individual identifiers present in the information

The guiding principle in selecting the right Electronic Health Record (EHR) for your practice is simple.  In order for an EHR to work, physicians and clinicians should be able to use the technology in a way that enhances their workflow rather than impedes it.

Sage Intergy EHR enables you to leverage clinical information by providing you with a customizable system that adapts to existing workflows rather than forcing you to change how you work. Plus, special enhancements for primary care, as well as both surgical and non-surgical specialties, mean Sage Intergy EHR easily adapts to the needs of any size or type of practice.

With over 50 years of combined experience in the healthcare market, Sage and its Channel Partner Bradford-Scott Data Corporation understand that the needs of a Gastroenterology practice can vary greatly from those required by an OB/GYN group. When it comes to choosing an electronic health records (EHR) system, it's important to consider how that technology will work for your practice, whatever the specialty.  Sage Intergy EHR was built to accommodate those unique needs, so you can be sure the system works, thinks and moves the way you do.

Sage Intergy EHR has built-in features for the following types of specialty practices:

• Cardiology
• Gastroenterology
• Nephrology
• Neurology
• Obstetrics/Gynecology
• Orthopedics
• Pediatrics
• Primary Care
• Radiology
• Urology

Contact a member of Bradford-Scott sales team to see how we can support your specialty practice.

• It makes insurance more affordable by providing the largest middle class tax cut for health care in history, reducing premium costs for tens of millions of families and small business owners who are priced out of coverage today.  This helps over 31 million Americans afford health care who do not get it today – and makes coverage more affordable for many more. 
• It sets up a new competitive health insurance market giving tens of millions of Americans the exact same insurance choices that members of Congress will have.  
• It brings greater accountability to health care by laying out commonsense rules of the road to keep premiums down and prevent insurance industry abuses and denial of care.  
• It will end discrimination against Americans with pre-existing conditions.
• It puts our budget and economy on a more stable path by reducing the deficit by $100 billion over the next ten years – and about $1 trillion over the second decade – by cutting government overspending and reining in waste, fraud and abuse.

In February 2009, Congress passed landmark legislation to encouage the adoption of electronic health records (EHRs).  Later President Obama signed it into law.  Part of the multi-billion dollar package, known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health allocates $19 billion to encourage the health care industry to adopt information technology using an EHR System.

On the other hand, if providers choose not to participate, they will receive lowered Medicare reimbursement rates.

Medicare Physician EHR Incentives

If you would like more information about the EHR Stimulus package, contact Bradford Scott Data Corporation at www.bradfordscott.com. 

What is the biggest complaint about going to the doctor's office? The amount of time we spend in the waiting room! Everybody is busy and tries to save time. If my doctor was always late, I would find a new Doctor. But how do you as a doctor know if your patients are waiting for hours in the waiting room?

This is a feature that our Medical Software Systems offer. The system has a tracking system that will track the time the patient spends at your office. The medical software not only displays the whole time the patient is there, but where they spend the most of their time at.

The system starts with your schedule in the Medical Office Billing Software. Then as the patient works their way into a room and is actual seen by a provider that time is tracked by the Electronic Health System. Bradford-Scott's Medical Software systems are integrated allowing an overall report to be created on your patent's time.

This will not only allow you to better server your patients, it will also prove the amount of time you spend with your patent's for Medical Billing coding. If you were ever under an audit you could prove the level of office visit that you are coding at.

This is a great benefit not only for patient satisfaction, but also for you as a doctor being able to code visits at the level you deserve.

• What kind of training do you offer? Is it classroom training, web-based training, or self training?
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• What is your implementation plan?
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• How can you offer me better service then your competitors?
• What Medical Software support is available to me on the product?
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• What kind of Back up support do you offer is something were to happen to my EMR system?

Meaningful What? Stimulus What? Who's on first?  Can somebody explain this in 500 word or less?

Let me break down Meaningful Use as simply as I can.

• $19 billion have been allocated by the federal government to encourage the health care industry to adopt information technology (more specifically an Electronic Health Records System).
• To be eligible to get some of the $19 billion you must do 3 things

1. Be an eligible professional or hospital
2. Implement a certified EHR product between 2011 and 2014
3. Use it in a Meaningful Way

Okay, are you still with me?  Then let's go one level deeper. Let's make some assumptions:

• You are an eligible professional (doctors of medicine, etc.)
• You have or will have a certified EHR system.  (All vendors in the medical software industry will have to get their software certified (including CCHIT) or go out of business.  We are going to assume your system is or will be certified)

There are two types of incentive programs (The Medicare way or the Medicaid way).  You can pick either but you can't choose both at the same time!
 

• Medicare:  Physicians that treat Medicare patients can receive up to $44,000 payable over 5 years.

• Medicaid:  Physicians that treat Medicaid patients are eligible for up to $63,750 payable over 6 years

Are there strings attached?  Of course.  And the biggest string is called 'Meaningful Use'.  The Government isn't going to just give you some cash for buying or even implementing an EHR system.  You have to prove to them that you can use it in a meaningful way that improves patient health care.  And they plan to accomplish this string by outlining 25 objectives and ways to measure those objectives.  Most of the measurements are percentage based.  (For Example:   At least 50% of all clinical lab tests whose results are in a positive/negative or numerical format need to be recorded in the EHR as structured data.)

For a complete list of these objectives, I recommend that you check out CMS or contact Bradford-Scott.  One important note:  The Meaningful Use definition is still under a proposed state and can be commented on until March.

That's it.  That's the nutshell.  Oh, and there is one more catch.  Starting in 2015, those physicians who choose to not participate will receive a 1% reduction in their Medicare allowed charges.  This reduction will increase by 1% each year up to a maximum of 5%.

So the moral of the story is that if you have plans on implementing an EHR/EMR system don't wait.  If you begin using it in a meaningful way in 2011 you are going to get more incentive payments than implementing in 2014.  And if you don't implement by 2015 you  are going to lose Medicare reimbursements.

Do you need help on what to do next?  Whether you are cardiology, orthopedics, or family practice, contact Bradford-Scott and ask about our Sage Intergy EHR system and how it can help you prove your meaningful use and improve patient care.

(and I kept it under 500 words!)
 

There has been a lot of belly aching about the recent snow storms that have hit the Midwest. Yes, snow storms do get old, but I remember what it was like growing up in the 70's and 80's with blizzards here in Indiana. In the more recent years our winters here in Indiana have been very mild compared with those of my childhood. And although I am in the Federal protected age group, I am not that old. I guess one thing that you can count on in Indiana is that there will be some snow storms each and every winter season.

• A call back within 29 minutes from when you have logged your call
• trained software and hardware support teams
• Our dedication to client satisfaction, every year we send our clients our customer satisfaction surveys and this year you rated us as a 9.52 on a 10 point scale.

• Electronic Eligibility (important in the high deductible world we now live in)
• Pre-collection of copays
• Advanced collection modules
• Clearinghouse integrations
• eStatments, eCollcetion Letters, etc.
• Claim Scrubbing
• Patient Portals via the web
• Image scanning
• and many more...

Purdue University will receive $12 million to help health-care providers adopt
and use health information technology, such as electronic medical records and e-prescribing.

Purdue is one of 32 non-profit organizations receiving funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to develop regional extension centers that will assist health professionals in selecting and implementing new information technology software.

"Electronic health records (EHR) technology has heretofore only been affordable by large practices and health-care systems, but through the federal initiative new options are being developed to enable adoption by practices of all sizes," said Dave McKinnis, director of Purdue's Technical Assistance Program.
"Purdue's expertise in health information technology puts us in a great position to help health-care providers engage and utilize these new resources and ultimately boost the health of patients throughout Indiana."

Purdue's center would help physicians and nurse practitioners at small practices across Indiana - with 10 or fewer doctors - and those aiding underserved populations and those that don't have access to the resources of the larger health-care systems and haven't yet adopted the electronic technology. 

Modern health information technology, such as electronic medical records and e-prescribing, helps physicians increase the efficiency of practices and reduce the risk of errors, thus significantly improving patient care, which should be the ultimate goal of the healthcare industry.

As the largest provider of Medical Billing Software and EMR in Indiana and the five-state region,  Bradford-Scott Data Corporation offers select products such as Intergy by Sage combined with support and training in order to implement the technology and use it to its fullest potential.

 

(gathered from IndyStar.com and InsideINdianaBusiness.com)

• It automates access to patient information
• Enables providers to make better decisions & provide better care
• Improves the accuracy of medical records
• Reduces the incidence of medical errors
• Reduces duplication of tests
• Reduces delays in treatments
• Health information is readily available
• Electronic prescriptions sent to pharmacy of your choice
• Prescriptions printed making them easier to read by you and the pharmacist
• Reduces the amount of paper in the office & in patient records
• It is an electronic version of a patients medical history, including medications, vital signs, past medical history immunizations, lab data, etc.
•  Electronic prescriptions and incentives for using it. Intergy EHR is part of Stimulus package. 
  For more information about our EHR please follow this link http://www.bradfordscott.com/med_prod_ehr.php

The “red flags” rule is now scheduled to take effect on June 1, 2010, after another delay announced earlier by the Federal Trade Commission as it considers new legislation that would exempt small businesses, including medical practices, from compliance. The rule mandates the creation of identity theft prevention programs, and will apply to any organization that can be considered a creditor with “covered” accounts (i.e.-commercial accounts that involve multiple transactions). Most providers, many physician medical billing companies and some health plans are expected to comply.

The American Medical Association, American Academy of Family Physicians and other industry groups have weighed in against the rule, on the basis that physicians do not meet the definition of creditors. A completely sensible argument. But medical practices need to proactively engage in some agreed set of identity theft prevention practices.  Incidences of medical identity theft are increasing. Smaller medical practices (which account for nearly 80% of all U.S. practices) may be more vulnerable, as thieves could perceive them to be lower risk targets based on the assumption that they lack the sophisticated security procedures of hospitals or larger health care organizations.

Despite the widespread outcry from industry groups, the actual impact on a practice for complying with the red flag rule may be minimal. The new rule would simply buttress state privacy laws that already require health care organizations to respond to breaches of certain patient information. In addition, there is a great deal of overlap between the proposed FTC regulations and HIPAA, which applies to medical practices or other entities that are conducting electronic transactions. But you should still be vary aware of these red flags. You must be able to protect your patient medical records.

Here are some Red Flag identifiers:

• Suspicious documents. Has a new patient given you identification documents that look altered or forged? Is the photograph or physical description on the ID inconsistent with what the patient looks like? Did the patient give you other documentation inconsistent with what he or she has told you — for example, an inconsistent date of birth or a chronic medical condition not mentioned elsewhere? Under the Red Flags Rule, you may need to ask for additional information from that patient.
• Suspicious personally identifying information. If a patient gives you information that does not match what you have learned from other sources, it may be a red flag of identity theft. For example, if the patient gives you a home address, birth date, or Social Security number that does not match information on file or from the insurer then fraud could be afoot.
• Suspicious activities. Is mail returned repeatedly as undeliverable, even though the patient still shows up for appointments? Does a patient complain about receiving a bill for a service that he or she didn't  get? Is there an inconsistency between a physical examination or medical history reported by the patient and the treatment records? These questionable activities may be red flags of identity theft.
• Notices from victims of identity theft, law enforcement authorities, insurers, or others suggesting possible identity theft. Have you received word about identity theft from another source? Cooperation is key. Heed warnings from others that identity theft may be ongoing.
  
  
  If you’re covered by the Rule, your red flag program must:

1. Identify the kinds of red flags that are relevant to your practice
2. Explain your process for detecting them
3. Describe how you’ll respond to red flags to prevent and mitigate identity theft
4. Spell out how you’ll keep your program current.

At Bradford Scott Data Corporation our EMR systems and our medical practice billing software has several built in features that can help you protect your patients from identity theft. Please contact our sales team at : www.bradfordscott.com/medical.php

Medical practices concerned about compliance can learn more at:
http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/no-index/physician-resources/red-flags-rule.shtml
 

With public attention on the ARRA stimulus funds in recent months, physicians have been feeling the pressure to adopt electronic health records. The vision is that in the next couple of years, the technology will be advanced enough to exchange health data freely between systems. Yet there is some skepticism from many in the health care industry that the lack of infrastructure and data sharing standards means that the day of sharing patient records between providers, labs and hospitals is a lot further off than the current administration is hoping.

 If practices know that payers and government agencies are invested in coordinating these efforts, it will reassure physicians that they won’t be left alone to arrange dozens of interfaces with a myriad of other systems. In fact, the inability of some smaller practices to afford EHRs at all has been another issue that has troubled advocates of health care technology. The Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) voiced concern back in July that those practices without the purchasing power of larger medical groups would in effect be penalized for their inability to show meaningful use. This stumbling block to widespread EHR adoption may soon be removed if a  new proposed legislation to make smaller practices eligible for business loans to buy electronic health records is passed.

Let Bradford Scott Data Corporation tell you all about our EMR and practice management systems that even the small practices can afford.

There is still a long way to go, but perhaps these and other measures will give physicians  confidence that the current path of health care enhances the chance that they will spend more time treating patients and less time tracking down information.

You can contact bradfordscott.com/index.php for all your health care software solutions.
 

**Last week marked the opening of the 60-day window for public comment about the HHS’ meaningful use” rules.  Input from practitioners and other stakeholders will help to refine the final version, which is expected to be completed in Spring of 2010.

**Since the Health Information Technology Policy Committee’s July 2009 meeting, many practitioners have been feeling uneasy about moving forward with what could potentially be a large financial and human resource investment without more definite and final criteria defining meaningful use. The December 2009 updates do not significantly change the committee’s earlier direction. Variations are minor, and include the ability to implement drug-drug/drug-allergy checks, e-prescribe and check insurance availability electronically.

**While the clarifications are much welcomed, many providers (and some in the health information technology community) see a long road ahead in achieving meaningful use. The first step will be adoption, and providers are reticent to adopt unless they see the potential for a better work flow and improved outcomes for their patients.

**Providers,  now’s the time to weigh in. You can accept the government’s initial effort and be subservient to the criteria, whether they are realistic or within reach. Or, make sure that the seeds are planted now for you to eventually cultivate technologies that remove complexity, are user friendly and have the greatest impact on patient care.

Is Your Practice Ready for the Red Flags Rule?

Like many of our customers, we strive to stay on the pulse of industry changes.  For me, reading up on health care trends is about more than staying in-the-know and being able to speak intelligently about the vast changes going on around us.  I try to stay current because our customers depend on it.   Today, I want to share with you my knowledge about an important industry game-changer, and explain what is included in your medical software system to  facilitate a smooth adoption of this new policy for every one of your customers. We know how important your patient medical records are to your practice.

What are some of the types of companies that must be Red Flags Compliant?

Starting June 1, 2010, the FTC will begin enforcing the Red Flags Rule. This law will require health care providers that are considered "creditors" to develop a written program to identify, detect, and respond to indicators or "red flags" of identity theft. If your organization allows deferred patient payments until services are rendered and insurance is collected, you are considered a "creditor" by the FTC, and the Red Flags Rule applies to you. In order to assist health care providers, the AMA has prepared a guidance document along with sample policies. 

Our EMR systems and practice management system has several built-in tools that facilitate adoption of your Red Flags Rule policy. These include:

• Patient "Dup Check" - Detect duplicate SSN or Last-First-DOB entries in your system.
• Patient Merge - Detect information similarities across all your patient accounts.
• Insurance Eligibility - Detect PHI that conflicts with insurance provider records.
• USPS statements Verification - Detect addresses that conflict with USPS database.
• Scanned images programs - Capture images of your patients driver's license and     insurance card.
• Patient Notes & account alerts - Flag an account in question and keep track of the investigation process.

As your medical office software provider, here at Bradford Scott data Corporation, we are dedicated to your success and we are committed to delivering quality solutions that keep you on the cutting edge of compliance.  Does your medical office billing software and EMR system cover all your needs to help you get ready for the Red Flag rule? Contact us for all of your Physician medical billing needs  bradfordscott.com/index.php