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Case Management Weekly

Case Management Weekly is a free e-mail newsletter that offers news, resources, and Q&As to help case managers from all settings find ways to enhance quality and reduce legal and compliance risks.

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Case Management Weekly

Issue 36, September 9, 2009

• CMW news: Three nurse groups join forces create super union

  Members of the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee, United American...

• CMW tip of the week: Six steps of discharge planning

  Discharge planning, which is integral to providing continuity of care, is a dynamic process in...

• CMW sneak peek: One facility redevelops an assessment tool to ensure documentation

  In January 2007, the University of North Carolina (UNC) Hospitals in Chapel Hill implemented a...

Issue 35, September 2, 2009

• CMW mentor moment: The FY 2010 IPPS changes impacting case managers

  CMS released the FY 2010 Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) Final Rule July 31. Hospital...

• CMW news: Region B RAC posts first set of approved audit issues

  CGI Federal, the RAC for Region B, has posted its first set of issues eligible for RAC audits in...

• CMW tip of the week: Billing for injections and infusions using condition code 44

  Q. My understanding of the condition code 44 process is that we technically don’t have...

• CMW sneak peek: One facility redevelops an assessment tool to ensure documentation

  In January 2007, the University of North Carolina (UNC) Hospitals in Chapel Hill implemented a...

Issue 34, August 26, 2009

• CMW Mentor moment: ER case managers must have special skills

  The following article by Loretta Sandy, PhD, RN, CCM, an ER case manager at Grand View Hospital in...

• CMW news: Patient deportation case highlights issues with illegal alien healthcare

  A medical ethicist says people who are angry at a South Florida hospital for repatriating a...

• CMW tip of the week: Free RAC tracking tool sample

  Have you developed a way to manage the complex task of tracking your RAC requests and appeals? If...

• CMW sneak peek: How CMS' 9th Scope of Work will affect readmissions

  There’s been a lot of buzz recently surrounding possible regulations restricting payments to...

Issue 33, August 19, 2009

• CMW Mentor moment: Surprise! Voluntary refunds don't protect against RACs

  The following article is adapted from HCPro’s newest resource for hospital case...

• CMW news: Report reveals how cancer patients are coping with recession

  The Kaiser Family Foundation along with the American Cancer Society released a report recently that...

• CMW tip of the week: Use these phrases to avoid conflict with patients, families, colleagues

  This week’s tip comes from Karen Zander, RN, MS, CMAC, FAAN, principal and co-owner of The...

• CMW sneak peek: Expediting discharges with a case manager/nurse practitioner model

  Organizing and executing discharges in a timely manner at a busy teaching hospital is quite an...

Issue 32, August 12, 2009

• CMW mentor moment: Keep an eye out for Medicaid Integrity Contractors

  The following article is adapted from HCPro’s newest resource for hospital case...

• CMW news: Prevention and health promotion could save Medicare $1.4 trillion over 10 years

  Government health promotion and prevention programs for pre-Medicare and Medicare populations could...

• CMW tip of the week: Work with patients who demand admission

  Occasionally, patients come to the ED expecting to be admitted. When their medical work-up is...

• CMW sneak peek: Clinical case management--an effective strategy for denials avoidance

  The three-year Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) demonstration project that concluded in March 2008...

Issue 31, August 5, 2009

• CMW Mentor moment: "Voluntary refunds" to MACs/FIs

  The following article is adapted from HCPro’s newest resource for hospital case...

• CMW news: Sicker patients seeking emergency care in California

  A July report from the California HealthCare Foundation finds that “California’s EDs...

• CMW Tip of the week: Enlist a physician advisor to assist with complex discharges

  Case managers wear many hats. They identify problems or gaps in community resources that affect...

• CMW Sneak peek: Recruit and retain staff for top-notch case management

  Carolinas Medical Center (CMC) in Charlotte, NC, didn’t have a big problem with turnover...

Issue 30, July 29, 2009

• CMW Survey: Tell us what's important to you

  Your opinion and feedback are the most important tools we have. Please take our survey on topics...

• CMW mentor moment: Promoting efficient use of resources and appropriate hospitalization length of stay to physicians, a different approach

  Change is on the horizon. CMS currently is considering provisions that will promote the efficient...

• CMW Mentor Moment: Query for noncompliance with medical treatment

  The following article, written by Brian Murphy, CPC, director of the Association for Clinical...

• CMW news: Providers report first RAC denials in Florida, South Carolina

  Healthcare providers are starting to share their interactions with recovery audit contractors...

• CMW News: How much charity care must hospitals give to remain tax-exempt?

  If Sen. Charles Grassley has his way, nonprofit hospitals will have to prove they spend at least 5...

• CMW tip of the week: Learn the physician advisor role

  Q: How can a good physician who is interested in being a physician advisor learn the role?

• CMW Sneak Peek: Determine an appropriate LOS for your facility

  Executives frequently use LOS as a measure to determine how well your case management staff members...

• CMW sneak peek: Pilot program identifies the cause of frequent ED visits; patients overcome barriers

  University Health Care Center (UHCC) in Syracuse, NY modeled its program for handling frequent ED...

Issue 29, July 22, 2009

• CMW Mentor moment: NGS statement on billing condition code 44

  The following article, written by Kimberly Hoy, regulatory specialist for HCPro, Inc., is adapted...

• CMW News: ED physicians request more resources

  A recent statement from U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius seems innocuous...

• CMW Tip of the Week: Consider other level-of-care options

  This week’s tip comes from Deborah Hale, CCS, author of Observation Status: A Guide to...

• CMW Sneak Peek: What is the difference between unit-based and specialty-based case management?

  The two major ways to assign hospital case managers are by a unit-based or a specialty-based model...

Issue 28, July 15, 2009

• CMW Mentor Moment: CMS now reports readmissions data

  The following article is adapted from HCPro’s newest resource for hospital case...

• CMW News: Hospitals could see fewer tax breaks

  Senators working on healthcare legislation or considering lessening the billions of dollars in tax...

• CMW Tip of the Week: Identify populations that will benefit from case management

  This week’s tip comes from Karen Zander, RN, MS, CMAC, FAAN.

• CMW Sneak Peek: Case managers intervene to aid admission process

  The presence of case managers during admissions helps identify patient needs, ensure appropriate...

Issue 27, July 8, 2009

• CMW Mentor Moment: The physician advisor--an invaluable resource

  The following article, written by Loretta Olsen, RN, is adapted from HCPro’s newest resource...

• CMW News: Number of uninsured increases by 700,000 in 2008

  Based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Health Interview...

• CMW Tip of the Week: Use a change-of-status form to ensure condition code 44 compliance

  A change-of-status form will help ensure that a hospital meets all of the criteria for reporting...

• CMW Sneak Peek: How case management influences organizational goals

  Which of the following has the greatest influence on how your case management staff is...

Issue 26, July 1, 2009

• CMW Mentor Moment: Medical necessity beyond screening criteria

  The following article, written by Glenn Krauss, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, CPUR, is adapted from...

• CMW News: Drug industry agrees to fund portion of Medicare doughnut hole

  The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, following negotiations with lawmakers...

• CMW Tip of the Week: MedicareFind.com launches

  HCPro, Inc. is pleased to announce the launch of MedicareFind.com, a new regulatory database...

• CMW Sneak Peek: Virtual patient advocate could reduce readmissions

  The spotlight’s shining on readmission rates. A Commonwealth Fund–supported study...

Issue 25, June 24, 2009

• CMW Mentor Moment: Avoidable days case study

  The following article is excerpted from HCPro’s newest resource for hospital case...

• CMW News: Obama administration calls for more hospital payment cuts

  In an effort to reform healthcare and reduce costs, President Obama has called for $313 billion in...

• CMW Tip of the Week: Analyze your registration process

  Patients typically arrive at the hospital as planned, urgent, or emergent admissions, and are...

• CMW Sneak Peek: Ten tips for better time management

  The following established practices can help your case management team stay on target with...

Issue 24, June 17, 2009

• CMW mentor moment: Manual changes related to condition code 44

  The following article, written by Kimberly Anderwood Hoy, is adapted from HCPro’s newest...

• CMW news: CMS answers providers' RAC questions

  CMS has been providing information on recovery audit contractors (RAC) to healthcare providers in...

• CMW tip of the week: Free ABN audit tool

  Help ensure your facility properly obtains advanced beneficiary notices of non-covered services...

• CMW Sneak Peek: Tips for correct level of care determination

  Hospitals large and small face a common struggle to ensure that their patients are admitted to the...

Issue 23, June 10, 2009

• CMW offer: Tell us about your readmissions cases and get a free book!

  We would like to find out about your experiences with transition of care challenges for a research...

• CMW mentor moment: What about those hospital discharges?

  The following article, written by Loretta Olsen, RN, is adapted from HCPro’s newest resource...

• CMW news: Fee-for-service payments under scrutiny

  As President Obama and Congress consider healthcare reform, they examine ways to reduce costs yet...

• CMW sneak peek: Partner with hospitalists to improve patient care

  Hospitalist programs are becoming increasingly popular because of their specialized knowledge of...

Issue 22, June 3, 2009

• CMW mentor moment: RACs and medical necessity criteria

  The following article is adapted from a Q&A featured in HCPro’s newest resource for...

• CMW news: Discuss patient financial information early in the hospital stay

  The Patient Friendly Billing Project, a collaborative effort  spearheaded by the Healthcare...

• CMW tip of the week: Case management documentation

  This week’s tip, an “Ask the Expert”, was submitted by Angie Rich, BSN, RN, CCM...

• CMW sneak peek: Managing long LOS patients

  There are several reasons that some patients end up staying in the hospital for long amounts of...

Issue 21, May 27, 2009

• CMW Mentor Moment: Update on case management protocol

  The following article is adapted from HCPro’s newest resource for hospital case...

• CMW News: California fines 13 hospitals for errors

  The California Department of Public Health has collected approximately $1.2 million in fines from...

• CMW Tip of the Week: Free physician advisor tools

  Take advantage of two free tools—courtesy of the Association of Clinical Documentation...

• CMW Sneak Peek: Case management's role in managing denials

  With the economy in a downturn, most people are focusing on cost-saving efforts, and that goes for...

Issue 20, May 20, 2009

• CMW Mentor Moment: HIPAA clarifications of interest to case managers

  The following article, written by Jackie Birmingham, RN, BSN, MS, CMA, is adapted from...

• CMW News: Hospital invests now to save money later

  Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in Boston is working hard to minimize costs and...

• CMW Tip of the Week: More Condition code 44 advice

  This week’s tip, an “Ask the Expert”, was submitted by a Case Management Weekly...

• CMW Sneak Peek: Determining accurate caseloads

  When case management caseloads become unmanageable, mistakes inevitably occur, which, in the age of...

Issue 19, May 13, 2009

• CMW Mentor Moment: What do hospital case managers do, anyway?

  The following article, written by Loretta Olsen, RN, is adapted from HCPro’s newest resource...

• CMW News: Housing and care coordination reduce hospitalizations

  Offering case management intervention and housing to homeless patients reduced hospitalizations by...

• CMW Tip of the Week: Determine whether a service is medically necessary

  Facilities must be able to screen for the medical necessity of a service before rendering it to...

• CMW Sneak Peek: The RAC is back! How can I prepare my facility?

  CMS’ Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) project has made it necessary for case managers to...

Issue 18, May 6, 2009

• CMW Mentor Moment: Determine your facility's goals for ED case management

  The following article, written by Peter Moran, MSN, RN, C, CCM, is an excerpt from HCPro’s...

• CMW News: Unnecessary hospital admissions cost Medicare $20 billion

  A recent study by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality says that hospitals spent over $30...

• CMW Tip of the Week: Know when to set up a care team meeting

  This week’s tip comes from Karen Zander, RN, MS, CMAC, FAAN.

• CMW Sneak Peek: Improve delivery of patient care with integrated case management

  For the past two years, independent hospital case manager Becky Perez, RN, CCM, CPUR, CPUM, and...

Issue 17, April 29, 2009

• Business associates: HIPAA survey

  We want to hear from business associates about their need for HIPAA training. Business associates...

• CMW Mentor Moment: How strong is your process for concurrent denials?

  The following article, written by Karen Ford, MSN, RN, the director of case management at...

• CMW News: ED visits and costs rise in Massachusetts

  Despite Massachusetts’ mandated health insurance law that became effective in 2006, ED visits...

• CMW Sneak Peek: Ten best practices for reducing LOS

  Although case managers’ duties and responsibilities continue to expand, an important measure...

Issue 16, April 22, 2009

• CMW Mentor Moment: Don't forget about present on admission (POA)

  The article below is an excerpt from HCPro’s newest resource for hospital case...

• CMW News: CMS announces Care Transitions Project

  The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced a new pilot...

• CMW Tip of the Week: Ask questions to ensure effective admission review

  Are you certain your admissions review program is as effective as it needs to be so you can avoid...

• CMW Sneak Peek: Addressing patient noncompliance in medication adherence

  It’s the fourth leading cause of death in the United States and it costs the healthcare...

Issue 15, April 15, 2009

• CMW Mentor Moment: Optimizing patient flow to protect against the RAC

  The article below is an excerpt from HCPro’s newest resource for hospital case...

• CMW News: Massachusetts hospitals report more than 300 errors

  The Department of Public Health released a report last week that says more than 300 patients in...

• CMW Tip of the Week: Using Condition Code 44

  This week’s tip, an ask the expert,  was submitted by Elaine Hall, LPN, a care...

• CMW Sneak Peek: Recession-proof your facility

  According to a February report by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the number of...

Issue 14, April 8, 2009

• CMW Mentor Moment: Discharging to an LTACH

  The article below was written by Jackie Birmingham, RN, BSN, MS, CMA, and is an excerpt from...

• CMW News: Medicare rehospitalizations cost $17.4 billion in 2004

  A study recently published in The New England Journal of Medicine examined Medicare claims data...

• CMW Tip of the Week: Discounts to uninsured or underinsured patients

  Hospitals may discount services to uninsured and underinsured patients who are unable to pay their...

• CMW Sneak Peek: Changing times call for weekend case management coverage

  Adding weekend case management at your facility may seem like a difficult task or an unnecessary...

Issue 13, April 1, 2009

• CMW Offer: Tell us about your readmissions cases and get a free book!

  We would like to find out about your experiences with transition of care challenges for a research...

• CMW Mentor Moment: What is the main role of the ED case manager?

  The article below is an excerpt from HCPro’s newest resource for hospital case...

• CMW News: One-third of patient bad debt should be classified as charity

  A study of 148 hospitals in 2008 has identified that nearly 31% of patient revenue written off as...

• CMW Sneak Peek: Avert fraud inquiry with proper documentation practices

  Documentation is not just a step in discharge planning; it is a vital component that must be...

Issue 12, March 25, 2009

• CMW Mentor Moment: Admitting patients to "inpatient status"

  The article below was written by Jackie Birmingham, RN, BSN, MS, CMA, and  is an excerpt from...

• CMW News: Communities cut care for undocumented immigrants

  Many healthcare providers believe it would be better practice to spend $100 providing primary care...

• CMW Offer: Tell us about your readmissions cases and get a free book!

  We would like to find out about your experiences with transition of care challenges for patients...

• CMW Sneak Peek: Is your facility RAC-ready?

  “Are you ready for the RAC?” is the looming question of the day. Unless you’ve...

Issue 11, March 18, 2009

• CMW Mentor Moment: Case managers doing more with less as the economy falters

  The article below is an excerpt from HCPro’s newest resource for hospital case...

• CMW News: Iowa hospitals struggle in hard economic times

  The Iowa Hospital Association (IHA) reports declines in service areas and increases in charity care...

• CMW Tip of the Week: Who should receive RAC correspondence?

  This week’s tip, an “Ask the Expert,” comes from Karen Feeley, director of...

• CMW Sneak Peak: An evidence-based approach to tackling readmissions

  Hospital readmissions are catching the eyes of private payers and CMS. Soon, they may become a way...

Issue 10, March 11, 2009

• CMW Mentor Moment: Challenges for case managers in discharge planning

  The article below is an excerpt from HCPro’s newest resource for hospital case...

• HHS launches new healthcare reform Web site

  The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently created a Web site focused completely on...

• Evaluate your facility's UR committee

  This week’s tip comes from Karen Zander, RN, MS, CMAC, FAAN.

• CMW Sneak Peek: Delegation in case management

  Case managers often have more tasks to accomplish than they have hours to do them. Wouldn’t...

Issue 9, March 4, 2009

• CMW Mentor Moment: Has human communication been forgotten in the hospital?

  The article below is an excerpt from HCPro’s newest resource for hospital case...

• MedPac recommends increase in 2010 hospital payments

  The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPac) recently provided Congress with its...

• Clear up confusion with HIPAA and whiteboards

  Q: May we use physicians’ names on whiteboards? Our emergency department wants to write...

• CMW Sneak Peek: What is the MAC and how will it affect case managers?

  As case management struggles to meet CMS compliance regulations—keeping a vigilant eye on...

Issue 8, February 25, 2009

• CMW Mentor Moment: Do you use case management protocol?

  The article below is an excerpt from HCPro’s newest resource for hospital case...

• University of Chicago's ED diversion plan scrutinized

  The American College of Emergency Physicians says the University of Chicago Medical Center’s...

• Guidelines for documenting screening treatment

  Use the following guidelines when documenting screening treatment to ensure you are compliant with...

• CMW Sneak Peek: How case management fits into the organization

  Case management is an invaluable part of a hospital, but how is it recognized by the...

Issue 7, February 18, 2009

• CMW News: Keeping aging patients out of the hospital is harder than it seems

  A recent study aimed at keeping elderly patients with chronic conditions out of the hospital...

• CMW Mentor Moment: Evaluate your facility's ED solutions

  On Monday, February 16, 2009, HCPro, Inc., launched a new, free online resource for hospital case...

• CMW Tip of the Week: Address one-day stays before the RAC permanent program begins

  It is no secret that RACs focused on one-day stays in the demonstration project. So what are you...

• CMW Sneak Peek: Improve patient satisfaction to enhance discharge planning

  A patient can come into your facility and get the best care possible, but if you don’t have a...

Issue 6, February 11, 2009

• CMW News: The RAC is back on track

  The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced on February 6 that the contract protests...

• CMW News: Insured cancer patients struggle to afford treatment

  Patients with cancer undergo many expensive treatments and tests and often find themselves bankrupt...

• CMW Tip of the Week: Case management deliverables

  This week’s tip, an “Ask the Expert,” comes from Karen Zander, RN, MS, CMAC, FAAN.

• CMW Sneak Peek: Harnessing technology to advance case management

  You know the drill: rally for improved documentation practices at your facility, train everyone on...

Issue 5, February 4, 2009

• Tell us what you think

  At HCPro, we are dedicated to providing quality information that meets the needs of our customers...

• CMW News: Patients unable to recognize physicians, study finds

  A new study conducted by the University of Chicago and published in the Annals of Internal Medicine...

• CMW Tip of the Week: Case management weekend coverage

  This week’s tip, an Ask the Expert, was submitted by a Case Management Weekly reader and...

• CMW Sneak Peek: Mastering Medicare’s Important Message

  Although many facilities struggle with delivering the Important Message (IM) from Medicare as part...

Issue 4, January 28, 2009

• CMW News: Survey shows more Americans unable to afford prescriptions in 2007

  A recent report by the Center for Studying Health System Change, a nonpartisan policy research...

• CMW News: Hospitals facing extreme funding problems

  Nine out of 10 hospitals reported that borrowing money has become harder due to the economic...

• CMW Tip of the Week: How to handle Advance Beneficiary Notices of Noncoverage

  This week’s tip comes from Jackie Birmingham, RN, BSN, MS, CMAC.

• CMW Sneak Peek: Bridging the communication gap

  Many facilities use an interdisciplinary team for discharge decisions, and this raises many...

Issue 3, January 21, 2009

• CMW News: Surgical checklist increases patient safety

  A new study concludes that a 19-item surgical safety checklist decreased post-surgical...

• CMW News: CMS issues final interim rule on durable medical equipment

  CMS announced a temporary delay in the implementation of a competitive bidding program for durable...

• CMW Tip of the Week: Investigate transportation options for patients from the ED

  This week’s tip comes from Kathleen Walsh, RN, MS.

• CMW Sneak Peek: Starting case managers out on the right foot

  Despite the effect the economic downturn is having on the national job market, hospitals still face...

Issue 2, January 14, 2009

• CMW News: CMS announces demonstration sites for bundled fee-for-service payments

  In an effort to better align the incentives for both hospitals and physicians, CMS has established...

• CMW News: California bans "balance billing"

  The California Supreme Court recently ruled that physicians can no longer bill patients for...

• CMW Tip of the Week: A second look at observation orders

  Last week’s tip on standardizing physician level of care orders inspired some readers to...

• CMW Sneak Peek: Eliminate ED Overcrowding

  ED overcrowding is a problem almost every hospital faces. Many patients inappropriately come to the...

Issue 1, January 7, 2009

• CMW News: Demand for Medicaid increases while funding decreases

  Since the economic recession began in December 2007, the unemployment rate has risen from 4.7 to...

• CMW News: Massachusetts seniors waitlisted for homecare

  Because of state budget cuts in Massachusetts, many seniors find themselves on a waiting list of...

• CMW Tip of the Week: Standardize physician level of care orders

  This week’s tip is provided by Deborah K. Hale, CCS.  

• CMW Sneak Peek: Improve patient advocacy by creating a managed care partnership

  Managed care companies are viewed as the Goliath to a case management program’s David...

Issue 45, November 11, 2009

• CMW Mentor moment: The ZPICs have begun in Zone 4

  Health Integrity LLC, the Zone Program Integrity Contractor (ZPIC) for Zone 4 (Colorado, New...

• CMW news: House approves healthcare reform bill

  The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed the healthcare reform bill (HR 3962) by a narrow...

• CMW tip of the week: Strengthen your ED case management program

  Consider implementing the following measures to strengthen your ED case management program

• CMW sneak peek: Clearing up condition code 44 confusion

  Case managers struggle with the condition code 44 requirements. Our experts address the most...

Issue 44, November 4, 2009

• CMW Mentor moment: Possible MIC audit issues that involve case management

  It’s no longer just RAC, MAC, CERT, and ZPIC audits that seek to ensure the accuracy of...

• CMW news: Nurse association complains about lack of H1N1 respirators

  The American Nurses Association (ANA) has written a letter to the Centers for Disease Control and...

• CMW tip of the week: Steps to operational discharge planning

  Discharge planning applies a process whereby a systematic approach facilitates the transition of...

• CMW sneak peek: HINNs help with difficult cases

  Patients sometimes refuse to participate in the discharge planning process as a clever way to delay...

Issue 43, October 28, 2009

• CMW Mentor moment: Is H1N1 hype clogging your ED?

  The nightly news is teeming with stories about seemingly healthy young individuals becoming...

• CMW news: NY Governor suspends H1N1 vaccine requirement for healthcare professionals

  On October 22, New York Governor David Paterson announced that the state no longer will require...

• CMW tip of the week: Early discharge program

  An early discharge program can compliment the discharge appointment at the end of the hospital stay.

• CMW sneak peek: The RAC effect: How RACs influence case management

  Given the potential effects of a RAC audit, healthcare professionals must understand why they...

Issue 42, October 21, 2009

• CMW Mentor moment: Are you paying attention to your case mix index?

  Hospitals use the CMI to determine the budget. If the actual CMI is lower than the budgeted CMI...

• CMW news: H1N1 self-assessment tool could prevent unnecessary emergency department visits

  Emory University and Microsoft have teamed up to create a H1N1 self-assessment tool that could help...

• CMW tip of the week: Informing immigration officers about an undocumented alien

  Are hospitals required to inform immigration officers when an undocumented alien seeks care?

• CMW sneak peek: What are some creative ways to reduce LOS?

  The strategic innovations for reducing length of stay (LOS) that have emerged in recent years...

Issue 41, October 14, 2009

• CMW mentor moment: Understanding the insurance company case manager's goals can help hospital case managers

  This insurance company case manager informed me that he receives regular reminders of the...

• CMW news: Another Medicaid reduction possible when stimulus funds are gone

  The decline in tax revenue and increase in Medicaid enrollment combined to put the squeeze on the...

• CMW tip of the week: Establish a relationship with patient financial services staff

  Establishing a relationship with PFS counselors can help case managers in their role as patient...

• CMW sneak peek: Weekly Top 10 meeting reduces LOS

  The Top 10 meeting is an interdisciplinary review of the 10 patients with the longest inpatient LOS...

Issue 40, October 7, 2009

• CMW mentor moment: Identifying emergency department 'regulars' can improve throughput

  It’s safe to say that every emergency department (ED) sees its fair share of “frequent...

• CMW news: OIG releases 2010 Work Plan

  Hospital readmissions and adverse events are among the topics addressed in the 2010 Office of...

• CMW tip of the week: Think of physician advisors as negotiators

  Physician advisors can support case managers who experience resistance to recommendations or when...

• CMW sneak peek: Customer service counts in case management

  Customer service is receiving a great deal of attention in healthcare organizations as we grapple...

Issue 39, September 30, 2009

• Editor's Note: HACs information

  Last week Case Management Weekly incorrectly stated that eight new HACs would become effective...

• CMW Mentor moment: Whiteboards help communicate across departments

  Placing whiteboards at the foot of the patient’s bed—an innovation of Planetree, a...

• CMW news: Study says uninsured patients are 40% more likely to die

  Individuals without private medical insurance are more likely to die, according to a new study...

• CMW tip of the week: Reevaluate emergency department case management

  Reevaluating an existing emergency department case management program is the first step toward...

• CMW sneak peek: Answers to your questions about undocumented patients

  Matt Boettcher, LCSW, director of case management at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center...

Issue 38, September 23, 2009

• CMW Mentor moment: HACs set for October 1; are you ready?

  When a hospital-acquired-condition (HAC) is not present on admission (POA), and it is the only...

• CMW news: Incomplete discharge summaries to blame for preventable errors

  A study released by the Indiana University School of Medicine finds that hospital discharge...

• CMW tip of the week: Find a physician advisor in your organization

  If your facility has identified the need for a physician advisor (PA), a great place to begin...

• CMW sneak peek: Facilitating transitions of care with the Care Express tool

  Patient safety and well-being, pending regulations, and smoother discharges are all reasons for...

Issue 37, September 16, 2009

• CMW Mentor moment: One bad run-in shouldn't define case management field

  In her op-ed “The ‘quicker and sicker’ exit strategy” dated July 30...

• CMW news: Older Americans concerned there are insufficient physicians, nurses to meet future needs

  More than half (55%) of individuals older than 50 do not think enough physicians or nurses will be...

• CMW tip of the week: Medications for uninsured patients

  Medications access for uninsured or indignant patients is an important issue case managers must...

• CMW sneak peek: What are the benefits of using whiteboards to track patient discharges?

  Imagine a communication tool in patient rooms that allows interaction between the patient, his or...

Issue 36, September 9, 2009

• CMW Mentor moment: Condition code 44 - The continuing saga

  On August 28, CMS issued Medicare Claims Processing Manual (MCPM) transmittal 1803, which is the...