AHIMA Comments on ICD-10-PCS Code Proposals

AHIMA submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on ICD-10-PCS code proposals discussed at the March ICD-10 Coordination and Maintenance Committee meeting. These code proposals are being considered for implementation on October 1, 2024.

Fact Sheet: FY 2025 Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) Proposed Rule

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the fiscal year (FY) 2025 Medicare Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) and Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System (LTCH PPS) proposed rule, which updates the Medicare fee-for-service payment rates and policies for inpatient hospitals and LTCHs for FY 2025. The proposed rule also includes provisions related to addressing social determinants of health (SDOH), strengthening emergency preparedness, and improving maternal health.

AHIMA Comments on USCDI v5

AHIMA submitted comments regarding the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) request for comment on the Draft United States Core Data for Interoperability (USCDI) Version 5. In its comments, AHIMA expressed support for ONC’s continued expansion and advancement of USCDI through the addition of data classes and elements.

Fact Sheet: Office of Management and Budget Notice – Statistical Policy Directive No. 15: Standards for Maintaining, Collecting, and Presenting Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity

The US Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released a notice of decision announcing revisions to the Statistical Policy Directive No. 15: Standards for Maintaining, Collecting, and Presenting Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity.

FAQ: CMS Updates to State Operations Manual Patient Informed Consent Requirements for Sensitive Examinations

AHIMA Joins More Than 170 Organizations in Advocating for AHRQ Funding

AHIMA joined more than 170 organizations in signing on to the Friends of AHRQ (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality) FY25 Appropriations Request letter, which asks for additional funding that would be used for research on our nation's health systems in order to improve healthcare quality, reduce costs, advance patient safety, decrease medical errors, and broaden access to essential services.

FAQ: HHS OCR/SAMHSA Confidentiality of Substance Use Disorder Patient Records Final Rule

The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) published their joint Confidentiality of Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Records final rule aligning 42 CFR Part 2 with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). AHIMA previously provided comment on the proposed rule in 2023 supporting many proposals and urging modification to others. AHIMA published a one-page FAQ describing key provisions of the final rule.

AHIMA Encourages HHS to Designate ICD-11 Office

AHIMA sent a letter to the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) encouraging HHS to designate an office within HHS to serve as a central coordinating entity for evaluation, planning, and potential adoption of ICD-11.

FAQ: Advancing Interoperability and Improving Prior Authorization Processes Final Rule

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the Advancing Interoperability and Prior Authorization Processes final rule. CMS stated the goal of this final rule is to “improve the electronic exchange of health care data, as well as to streamline prior authorization processes” for both payers and providers.

FAQ: Health Data, Technology, and Interoperability: Certification Program Updates, Algorithm Transparency, and Information Sharing (HTI-1) Final Rule 

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) released the Health Data, Technology, and Interoperability: Certification Program Updates, Algorithm Transparency, and Information Sharing (HTI-1) final rule. The final rule implements provisions directed by the 21^st Century Cures Act and makes enhancements to the ONC Health IT Certification Program. AHIMA published a one-page FAQ describing key provisions of the final rule.

AHIMA Comments on Proposed Rule Implementing Disincentive Process for Health Care Providers Found Guilty of Information Blocking

AHIMA submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) on the 21^st Century Cures Act: Establishment of Disincentives for Health Care Providers That Have Committed Information Blocking proposed rule.

AHIMA Comments on C&M Code Proposals Under Consideration for October 2024 Implementation

AHIMA submitted comments to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/National Center for Health Statistics and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on ICD-10-CM/PCS code proposals discussed at the September ICD-10 Coordination and Maintenance Committee meeting that are being considered for implementation on October 1, 2024.

FAQ: Executive Order on Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence

The Biden-Harris Administration released the Executive Order on Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence, aiming to use the extent of the Executive Branch’s current authorities to regulate the use of artificial intelligence (AI) both within and outside of the US Federal Government. AHIMA published an FAQ document describing key provisions of this Executive Order.

FAQ: 21^st Century Cures Act: Establishment of Disincentives for Health Care Providers That Have Committed Information Blocking Proposed Rule

The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) released the 21^st Century Cures Act: Establishment of Disincentives for Health Care Providers That Have Committed Information Blocking proposed rule implementing the disincentive process for health care provider actors found guilty of information blocking. AHIMA published a one-page FAQ describing key provisions of the proposed rule.

Health Information Workforce Shortages Persist as AI Shows Promise: AHIMA Survey Reveals

The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) has unveiled findings from a recent survey shedding light on the ongoing workforce challenges in the health information (HI) profession.

AHIMA Comments on C&M Code Proposals Under Consideration for April 2024 Implementation

AHIMA submitted comments to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/National Center for Health Statistics and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on ICD-10-CM/PCS code proposals discussed at the September ICD-10 Coordination and Maintenance Committee meeting that are being considered for implementation on April 1, 2024.

AHIMA Comments on Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule

AHIMA submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on the Calendar Year (CY) 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule. In addition to commenting on proposed modifications to the Quality Payment Program, AHIMA commented on a proposal to separately identify a social determinants of health (SDOH) risk assessment.

AHIMA Comments on Proposed Changes to Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) Medicare Code Editor

AHIMA submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on the proposed changes to the IPPS Medicare Code Editor revision process that were included in the Calendar Year 2024 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) proposed rule.

AHIMA Comments on FTC Health Breach Notification Proposed Rule

AHIMA submitted comments to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on the Health Breach Notification Proposed Rule. The FTC seeks to better protect the privacy and security of personal health data amid the rise in health apps and other direct-to-consumer technologies, the increased collection of health data from consumers, and the risk of companies inappropriately using or disclosing sensitive data.

FAQ: OIG Information Blocking Enforcement Final Rule

The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) released its Grants, Contracts, and other Agreements: Fraud and Abuse; Information Blocking; Office of the Inspector General’s Civil Money Penalty Rules final rule implementing the information blocking investigation process for all actors and the penalty process for health information network (HIN), health information exchange (HIE), and developer of certified health IT product actors. AHIMA published a one-page FAQ describing key provisions of this final rule.