Association News 8-14-19
Healthcare IT has a wide net of careers and employers. As the industry has evolved so have the supporting membership associations and organizations. From tech support to CIOs, from practice administrators to hospital administrators, from product developers to EHR vendors there is an association for you. Whether you are looking to broaden or renew your specialty certified skills or looking for your next career, an industry association is always a good place to start. Here is the latest news from our industry associations.
AMA
The American Medical Association (AMA), founded in 1847 and incorporated in 1897, is the largest association of physicians—both MDs and DOs—and medical students in the United States. The AMA’s mission is “to promote the art and science of medicine and the betterment of public health.” Follow them @AmerMedicalAssn
AMA Condemns Effort to Remove Nondiscrimination Protections for Patients – In formal comments, the American Medical Association (AMA) spoke out against the Trump administration’s misguided proposal to remove anti-discrimination protections related to sexual orientation, gender identity, and the termination of pregnancy across a wide variety of health care programs and insurance plans. The AMA noted that the proposal perverts the nondiscrimination provisions included in the Affordable Care Act by drastically limiting coverage protections despite decades of case law recognizing these protections.
Surprise Billing Legislation Will Hold Patients Harmless
The American Medical Association says that insurers are intentionally muddying the waters about the impact of surprise billing legislation – a bipartisan compromise designed to protect patients – approved recently by the House Energy & Commerce Committee.
HIMSS
The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) is an American not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving health care in quality, safety, cost-effectiveness, and access through the best use of information technology and management systems. Follow them @HIMSS
How Data-Driven Insights Can Empower Community Health
As U.S. health systems transition from fee-for-service to value-based care models, maintaining focus on resources aimed at improving community health is key to achieving better outcomes. Children’s Hospital Colorado (@ChildrensColo) a nonprofit pediatric hospital driven by a mission to improve the health of children worldwide—recognized this when they discovered that their surrounding communities were utilizing high cost-of-care services for low-complexity healthcare needs.
CHIME
The College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) is a professional organization for chief information officers and other senior healthcare IT leaders.
Boot Camp Will Give CISOS Skills and Tools to be Effective Leaders
This fall, CHIME and AEHIS will offer a boot camp dedicated to chief information security officers who aspire to be at the pinnacle of their profession. The Healthcare CISO Boot Camp will be Nov. 6-9 in Phoenix, immediately following the AEHIS Fall Summit and the CHIME Fall CIO Forum.
AHIMA
The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) is a professional association for health professionals involved in the health information management needed to deliver quality health care to the public. Follow them @AHIMAResources
AHIMA19: Health Data and Information Conference
The AHIMA19: Health Data and Information Conference (formerly AHIMA Convention and Exhibit) is the premier health data and information event for education and networking. Witness successes and hear how challenges were overcome through interactive sessions, roundtables, panels, town halls, and site visits. Meet with established leaders empowered for change, foster lasting connections, and discuss strategy around the industry’s newest innovations. September 14-18, Chicago.
SHIEC
The Strategic Health Information Exchange Collaborative (SHIEC) is the national collaborative representing health information exchanges (HIEs). SHIEC allows HIEs to work together across the country to elevate the conversation about HIEs’ common needs and their collective successes. It provides a forum for HIEs to work together, share best practices and together identify joint solutions to address their needs. Follow them @SHIECLive
2019 SHIEC 5th Annual Conference
On August 18-21, 2019, the HIE community will convene at the Gaylord National Resort & Conference Center in National Harbor, MD to celebrate HIE growth and success across the country. Our 5th annual conference is hosted by: SHIEC HIE members, Chesapeake Regional Information System for our Patients (CRISP), Maryland and CRISP, DC.
HFMA
With more than 38,000 members, the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) is the nation’s premier membership organization for healthcare finance leaders. HFMA builds and supports coalitions with other healthcare associations and industry groups to achieve consensus on solutions for the challenges the U.S. healthcare system faces today. Follow them @hfmaorg
Small Medicare Payment Increases in Store for Post-Acute Care
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently issued final rules with FY20 rates for skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs) and hospices. For SNFs, CMS finalized a net payment increase of 2.4%, or $851 million more than in FY19.
HBMA
The Healthcare Business Management Association (HBMA), a non-profit professional trade association, is a major voice in the revenue cycle management industry in the United States. HBMA members collectively submit a significant percentage of all initial medical claims to the country’s governmental and commercial payers. Those claims not submitted by HBMA member companies are usually submitted directly by the provider. Follow them @HBMABusiness
HBMA 2019: The Healthcare Revenue Cycle Conference
September 12-14, 2019, Las Vegas, NV
Have you seen who’s speaking at HBMA 2019? See the full list! https://t.co/T4LrHBpmP8 #HBMA #WeAreHBMA pic.twitter.com/C7NSxOVa78
— HBMA (@HBMABusiness) July 31, 2019
ATA
The American Telemedicine Association (ATA), established in 1993, is a non-profit organization whose goal is to promote access to medical care for consumers and health professionals via telecommunications technology. Follow them @AmericanTelemed
Message from the CEO: ATA Board of Directors Slate
Joe Kvedar, MD was unanimously approved as President-elect of the ATA. He has agreed to serve another term (he was President of the ATA in 2004-2005) and will succeed John Glaser at ATA20 (May 3 – 5, 2020 in Phoenix.)
AAFP
The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) works to solidify family medicine as the cornerstone of a functioning health care system. They lobby government, negotiate with payers, partner with employers, educate patients, and champion family medicine on the national stage. Follow them on Twitter @aafp.
AAFP, Medical and Public Health Organizations Call for Fast-tracking Policies To Prevent Firearm-related Injury and Death
The American Academy of Family Physicians and six other public health and medical associations today called for policies that begin to address firearm-related injuries and deaths. The call, “Firearm-Related Injury and Death in the United States: A Call to Action From the Nation’s Leading Physician and Public Health Professional Organizations(annals.org),” was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine (@AnnalsofIM.)
AAPC
The American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) is the nation’s largest medical coding training and certification association for medical coders and medical coding jobs. Follow them on Twitter @aapcstaff.
Why Patient Safety Indicators Matter to Medical Coders
In this climate of quality care, the ability to measure and track clinical performance and outcomes within a facility is essential. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) developed Quality Indicators for that purpose. There are four categories of AHRQ Quality Indicators: Patient Safety, Prevention Quality, Inpatient Quality, and Pediatric Quality.
MGMA
Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) is a key element in perpetuating success throughout the healthcare industry. MGMA empowers healthcare practices and providers to create meaningful change in healthcare. Follow them on Twitter @mgma.
MGMA Announces MGMA19 | The Annual Conference Keynote Speakers
MGMA will host its annual conference, MGMA | 19 The Annual Conference (#MGMA19AC), will take place October 13-16, 2019 in New Orleans. Keynote speakers will include Billy Beane, Bill Cassidy, Daymond John and Jay Shetty.
AHA
The American Hospital Association (AHA) is the national organization that represents and serves all types of hospitals, health care networks, and their patients and communities. Nearly 5,000 hospitals, health care systems, networks, other providers of care and 43,000 individual members come together to form the AHA. Follow them on Twitter @AHAhospitals
AHA Proposes Additional CMS Actions to Reduce Regulatory Burden
The AHA proposed additional actions that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services could take immediately “to reduce the regulatory burden on hospitals, health systems and the patients that we serve.” The actions range from suspending and improving the hospital star ratings, to broadening and improving opportunities to participate in alternative payment models, to permanently prohibiting the enforcement of the 96-hour rule.
AHIP
The America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) serves as a strong, unified voice for an industry that is leading the way in transforming health care. Tens of thousands of industry professionals rely on AHIP to provide first-class advocacy, education, and information on our changing health care system, covering topics such as delivery and payment reform, high-cost drugs, Medicare Advantage (MA), Medicaid, and provider networks. Follow them on Twitter @AHIPcoverage
AHIP Issues Statement on Proposed Rule Requiring Disclosure of Negotiated Prices
Matt Eyles, president and CEO of AHIP, issues a statement following the release of a proposed rule that would require the disclosure of negotiated rates between health insurance providers and hospitals.
