The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) invites the public’s input on proposed standards for a new program to evaluate ambulatory care clinics that provide patient-centered care and work to reduce fragmentation by forming virtual neighborhoods with medical homes. The public...
State medical boards across the country have drafted a model law that would make it much easier for physicians licensed in one state to treat patients in other states, whether in person, by videoconference, or online. The draft legislation—in the form of an interstate compact, a legally...
The AMA House of Delegates last week approved a set of principles to ensure appropriate coverage of and payment for telemedicine services. The principles set out a number of conditions for coverage and payment, including abiding by state licensure laws and following evidence-based practice...
H.R. 3402, the "doc fix" legislation that President Barack Obama signed on April 1 to provide additional temporary Medicare Sustained Growth Rate funding--and avert a 24% pay cut for physicians--included a provision to postpone the deadline for ICD-10 implementation to at least...
In quality improvement circles, Just Culture came to healthcare with strong recommendations from other high-risk professions. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)'s patient safety glossary, a Just Culture is defined as "a culture that recognizes...
Citing feedback that required further research, The Joint Commission last week announced it will postpone implementation of its revised diagnostic imaging requirements for hospitals, critical access hospitals, and ambulatory care organizations. The changes were intended to take effect July 1...
