While behavioral health providers have been reluctant to adopt behavioral health electronic health records (EHR), the reality they face reductions in Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements if their practice does not adopt EHR by 2015 has motivated behavioral health practitioners to consider their options in behavioral health EHR. With the introduction of cloud-based EHR software with enhanced security features, the entry cost of behavioral health EHR has significantly decreased and the protections for patient records has become more robust. Additionally, the introduction of specialty software designed specifically for behavioral health providers reduces the need for costly and time-consuming customizations. Key Features Needed in Behavioral Health EHR Software The practice of psychiatry and other behavioral health disciplines has always had unique needs in terms of record and documentation, which is the reason one-size fits all EHR software solutions do not meet the needs of most behavioral health providers. Specialty EHR software for behavioral health practitioners offers these key features to meet the needs of psychiatrists and other mental health professionals.

Many physicians that explored implementing electronic health records (EHR) a few years ago when the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced their incentive program for those that adopted healthcare information technology opted not to participate in the program. Some of the reason doctors cited for not adopted EHR included the high cost of entry and ownership, time-consuming user interfaces with required fields not relevant to their practices, and concerns about security. When EHR software developers heard these concerns, they started including physicians in the development process of new EHR software releases. Additionally, the new certification requirements for EHR software that go into effect in 2014 also address security concerns.

The new generation of Radiology Information Systems (RIS) offer radiology an array of features that allows imaging centers the cost saving benefit of going paperless. With customizable software designed to fit the workflow of the practice, the transition to a digital office can be seamless. The intuitive RIS user interface offered by the software means that clinicians and administrative staff require minimally training to take complete advantage of all the benefits provided by the latest generation of RIS software.

Adopting an electronic health record (EHR) system in your practice can be daunting. But with strategic staff training, you can avoid the pitfalls many medical practices encounter. Software Advice provides five training tips to get your practice up to speed on a new EHR effectively.

Here is a sneak peek into our whitepaper, "Six Must Have Features for Behavioral Health EHR. Inside you'll find information on what features you should be looking for in EHR Software and more importantly, why you need them. Download the Free whitepaper today and learn what EHR features your Behavioral Health practice needs!

While the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) gave HIPAA-covered entities a reprieve by extending the date for ICD-10 implementation from October 1, 2014 to October 1, 2015, healthcare organizations that use medical billing software need to start the process of becoming ICD-10 complaint if they have not already done so. This transition requires upgrading or replacing current medical billing software in order to accommodate the new ICD-10 codes and training the staff how use the new software, in addition to how to do ICD-10 coding. Moreover, CMS recommends 12 months of internal testing of the ICD-10 compliant systems and 11 months of external testing with business partners. Furthermore, healthcare providers need to make contingency plans in the event there are problems with third party payers during the switch to ICD-10 codes.

With all the upcoming changes to requirements for Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements, meeting Meaningful Use standards, and the possibility moving away from fee-for-service reimbursements, many healthcare providers have found themselves overwhelmed by the information related to the transformations in the healthcare industry. As a result, some healthcare professionals are confused by contradictory reports about what they need to do to meet the new procedures required of them. One of the changes that will have a significant impact is the change from ICD-9 to the ICD-10 coding, which will affect all professionals in the healthcare who are required to follow HIPAA regulations.

A recent study of 39 health insurers published in Information Week provides another reason that your practice needs EHR. Third party payers of all types plan to switch transition from a fee for service model to a value-based reimbursement system. This means provider payments will be based upon that quality, efficiency, and outcome of patient treatment as opposed to the services that health care professional provide.

While many of the larger urban area behavioral health centers have adopted electronic health records (EHR), smaller clinics and solo providers have lagged in their rate of adoption of behavioral health EHR. Now that the October 2014 deadline is getting closer for Medicare and Medicaid providers to start using EHR or face a 15 percent reduction in reimbursements, professionals have started taking a second look at behavioral health EHR. Additionally, with security improvements in cloud-based EHR, the cost of entry and ownership of EHR software has decreased significantly.

One of the most time consuming and tedious aspects of any medical practice is submitting claims to third party payers and then sending bills to patients for any remaining balance. Given the detail need to claims correctly, it is almost impossible for even a solo provider to complete the forms manually. Medical billing software ensures claims have the information required for seamlessly submitting and tracking claims so the provider receives reimbursement for services in a timely manner. Given the variety of medical billing software on the market, it is important to find the medical billing tools right for your practice or revenue cycle management (RCM) firm.