RadNews
July 2015

IN THIS ISSUE:
ICD-10 Grace Period Announced
Meaningful Use Imaging Results
ABMRS MRI Safety Exams
MRI Safety Zone Signs
Power of ComfortTalk®

1-Year Grace Period for ICD-10 Mistakes: CMS Announcement

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) have announced a 1-year grace period for ICD-10 claims that use a valid code from the right family, but may miss the mark on specificity required by the new ICD-10. According to MEDSCAPE MEDICAL NEWS, "Claims won't be rejected for payment simply because the ICD-10 code submitted isn't specific enough." An article from HEALTHCARE IT NEWS goes on to state that the concessions will address not only cliams denials, but also quality reporting and other penalties, payment disruptions and navigating transition problems.

While the CMS will work with providers who provide the correct family of codes for a period of one year and this 1-year grace period is expected to help smooth the transition to ICD-10, it will come to an end sooner than later. At that time, providers will be required to provide the specific ICD-10 diagnosis code to receive reimbursement. Learning the system over the course of the grace period and making continuous improvements will be critical to ensuring a complete and successful transition to ICD-10 by October 1, 2016.

To read articles covering the CMS's ICD-10 grace period in more detail, click the following links:

• CMS ANNOUNCES GRACE PERIOD FOR ICD-10 MISTAKES, MEDSCAPE MEDICAL NEWS
• ICD-10: CMS WON'T DENY CLAIMS FOR FIRST YEAR, HEALTHCARE IT NEWS
• CMS TO MAKE ICD-10 TRANSITION LESS DISRUPTIVE FOR PHYSICIANS, AMA WIRE

Help with Meaningful Use Menu Set Measure 3: Imaging Results

Don't forget. We're here to help you with your Meaningful Use requirements!

STAGE 2 ELIGIBLE PROFESSIONAL (EP) MEANINGFUL USE MENU SET MEASURE 3 OF 6: IMAGING RESULTS

• Objective: Imaging results consisting of the image itself and any explanation or other accompanying information are accessible through CEHRT.
• Measure: More than 10 percent of all tests whose result is one or more images ordered by the EP during the EHR reporting period are accessible through CEHRT.
• Exclusion: Any EP who orders less than 100 tests whose result is an image during the EHR reporting period; or any EP who has no access to electronic imaging results at the start of the EHR reporting period.
• Certification Criteria: Electronically indicate to a user the availability of a patient’s images and narrative interpretations (relating to the radiographic or other diagnostic test(s)) and enable electronic access to such images and narrative interpretations.

CLICK HERE to read about Menu Set Measure 3 of 6: Imaging Results.

To learn how NationalRad can help you with your Meaningful Use requirements, please contact our Director of Information Technology, Ben Gustman, at BGUSTMAN@NATIONALRAD.COM.

ABMRS Announces MRI Safety Credentialling Examination Schedule

The American Board of Magnetic Resonance Safety (ABMRS) has released their schedule for Magnetic Resonance Medical Director / Physician (MRMD) and Magnetic Resonance Safety Officer (MRSO) certification examinations. The remaining 2015 exam date is scheduled for October 21, in Orlando, FL. The ABMRS is accepting exam registrations through October 10, 2015.

If you would like to learn more about the examinations, including exam content, visit the ABMRS website, ABMRS.ORG. You can register on the site, as well as download the examination syllabus.

If you would like to discuss ABMRS certifications and MRI safety, please contact Caryn Nolen, at CNOLEN@NATIONALRAD.COM.

Show Us Your MRI Safety Signs!

Our focus on MRI safety continues, and we want to know, how are you using your MRI Safety Zone signs? Send us pictures of your MRI suite safety signs!

If you want to share your safety initiatives, please send your pictures to Caryn Nolen at CNOLEN@NATIONALRAD.COM.

Thanks to DFP Orthopaedic Surgery for sharing their MRI safety signs with us! Keep up the great work!

The Power of ComfortTalk®: Claustrophobic-Patient Story

We've shared a lot about COMFORTTALK TRAINING provided by NationalRad musculoskeletal radiologist LARRY BURK, MD over the past issues of RadNews. We thought it might be time for a patient story about the impact ComfortTalk can have in clinical settings.

Dr. Burk relates this story from Duke University Medical Center: "A claustrophobic patient took oral sedation for his MRI, but still wasn’t able to get through the study. The technologist, who had recently been trained in ComfortTalk, asked the patient, 'Where would you rather be?' He replied, 'The Caribbean.' The tech suggested that he let the rhythmic sound of the MRI take him there. After successfully completing the study, the patient gave everyone in the room a big hug of thanks."

Dr. Burk will be training the MRI techs at Ohio State University this summer. If you want to learn more about ComfortTalk and anodyne techniques for your center and patients, please contact us at INFO@NATIONALRAD.COM.

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