Reimbursement

A majority of medical groups have not completed critical software upgrades for transition to HIPAA Version 5010 electronics standard, nor have they scheduled testing with health plans, according to follow-up research by the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA).

Aetna has agreed to buy the Medicare supplement and related blocks of in-force business of Genworth Financial for $290 million.

The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) Foundation has announced it is initiating the Health Information Relief Operation (pronounced "Hero") Fund as an ongoing recovery source to assist health information management (HIM) professionals whose lives have been shattered by natural or man-made disaster.

Fallon Clinic has announced that 96 percent of its doctors have achieved meaningful use. The clinic has been selected by HIMSS as a finalist for a 2011 Ambulatory Care Davies Award of Excellence.

When AHIP Institute convenes on June 15, the conference and exhibition will in reality be four events rolled into one.

Health plans that focus their energy on the four areas of health reform compliance, increasing administrative efficiency, improving quality of care and finding a successful method of competing in health insurance exchanges are those that will prosper over the long-haul.

A growing number of medical professionals are signing up to accept TRICARE, the healthcare plan for members of the uniformed services, retirees and their families, according to the Department of Defense.

While many states are dragging their feet on setting up their state health insurance exchanges and their specific structures remain unknown, health plans can nonetheless start work now to address operational and strategic changes they will need to make in order to participate in this new distribution channel.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced on Wednesday it will extend the deadline for accountable care organizations that want to apply to be Pioneer ACO models. CMS officials said they are looking for advanced ACO programs to lead the way for ACO development nationwide.