911: Getting the 411 on EHR
By: BRIAR A. ANDRESEN
February 3, 2010
The world of medical records is changing fast — there are new regulations, changing requirements, and bottom line incentives available to physicians and hospitals that can implement and use an electronic health record (EHR) system.
Fredrikson & Byron’s attorneys along with Fredrikson Healthcare Consultants (FHC) can help you work through this new world of electronic records to ensure you’re in compliance with the laws and regulations. In addition, we can help you get the best product you can for your practice or facility, the best deal from your vendors, and the most incentive compensation that you are eligible for. We can also assist you with the most basic issues of selecting and working with a vendor, to negotiating your agreements, to compliance with regulations, to billing and coding assistance.
Here are the specific areas that you should consider (and where Fredrikson and FHC can assist you) when thinking about whether and how to acquire and EHR, how best to work with that EHR, or how to work with a system you already have in place:
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Finding a vendor: What type of system should you consider? What are the benefits of different systems and different vendors? Is your vendor able to comply with “meaningful use” requirements? Is your vendor certified?
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The RFP process: What should you include? What vendors do you consider?
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Negotiating your vendor contract: What should you look for? What contract language is open for negotiation and what will vendors not budge on? What will be Stark-compliant?
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Template and policy development and/or assessment: Are your templates designed for optimal capture and compliance with coding guidelines (CPT, HCPCS, ICD-9 clinical documentation)? Do your policies include new HIPAA requirements?
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Auditing: Is your EHR documentation designed to ensure proper coding and billing?
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Training: Have providers and staff been trained on clinical documentation in EHR? On using an EHR appropriately to comply with HIPAA and state law privacy obligations? On breach notification obligations?
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Webinars/education: Is your organization in need of web-based and/or on-site education on use of the EHR?
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Compliance plan development: Do you have a compliance plan? Does it include EHR and new HIPAA documentation requirements?