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Questions or comments? Emai=
l us at OrionNe=
t@coxinet.net or call 405.286.1674 To remove you=
r name from our mailing list, please click here. |
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Practice Management Insight |
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January 2010 |
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A report on events affecting Oklahoma p=
roviders |
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January 1 New Year’=
s Day January 6-7 Fundamentals of Tulsa Tech, Riverside Campus 801 E. 91st Street Tulsa, OK 74132 January 11-12 Fundamentals of ODMHSAS, Shepherd Mall 2401 NW 23rd, 2nd Floor Oklahoma City, OK 73107 January 14 OHCA Board Meeting January 14 Cognitive=
Behavioral Techniques Tulsa Tech, Lemley Campus 3420 S. Memorial Dr. Tulsa, OK 74145 Contact: 405-522-8300 January 18 Martin Luther K=
ing, Jr. Day January 19 OHCA Permanent Rulemaking Public Hearin=
g January 19-20 Case Management Training=
ODMHSAS, Shepherd Mall 2401 NW 23rd, Suite 1F Oklahoma City, OK 73107 January 27-28 Family Support ODMHSAS, Shepherd Mall 2401 NW 23rd, 2nd Floor Oklahoma City, OK 73107 January 27-29 3rd Annual Mental Health=
, Prevention and Substance Abuse Conference Embassy Suites Hotel & Conference Center 2501 Conference Drive Norman, OK 73069 Contact: HRD at 405-522-8300 or fax 405-522-8320 |
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New OHCA and DMH Rates |
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Already Built Into ThinkH=
ealth |
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Follow Thi=
nkHealth on Twitter! |
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WEBS=
ITE FOR ODMHSAS: www.ok.gov/odmhsas |
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NEW & IMPROVED |
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A Message from OHCA on Re=
cent Budget Cuts |
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“Because our programs se=
rve so many Oklahomans, we know our members are concerned about the effects=
of recent budget cuts mandated by the State Legislature. Please be assured=
that we are carefully and thoughtfully evaluating ways to meet our revised=
budget.” - OHCA &nbs=
p; =
; More Information<=
/span> |
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Dec 10 News Re=
lease “TULSA—Today [the] Oklahoma Health Care Authori=
ty board, which administers the SoonerCare (Medicaid) program, voted to cut=
$69.6 million from the program’s 2010 budget to meet a state-mandate=
d 5 percent funding reduction. The cut represented $16.8 million in state f=
unds while the balance is matching federal funds. The cuts involved reducing adm=
inistrative costs at the agency, changes to durable medical equipment (DME)=
and prescription benefits and changes in payments to providers. Changes most likely to be noti=
ced by SoonerCare members are higher co-pays for adults. Inpatient hospital=
co-pays will increase from $3 to $10 per day, with a cap of $90, and home =
health co-pays will increase from $1 to $3 per visit. Adult behavioral heal=
th and DME, which previously had no co-pays, will now costs members $3 per =
visit. (continued i=
n next column) |
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Also, while adult members will=
still get six prescriptions a month, only two can be brand-name medication=
s. Some of the more significant changes to providers include cost caps on s=
ome behavioral health treatments; pricing adjustments for oxygen, nebulizer=
s and other DME products; and reducing payment for some resin dental fillin=
gs. ‘The OHCA staff has work=
ed diligently with providers and advocates to determine precise cuts that w=
e hope will be the least painful. However, we know that any time you reduce=
benefits or services, people are affected,’ said Mike Fogarty, OHCA&=
#8217;s chief executive ‘It is important to not =
that any reduction in state dollars in Medicaid results in a reduction in f=
ederal dollars to operate the program; currently, $1 cut in state funds mea=
ns a loss of $3 in federal funds for a total program reduction of &=
nbsp; =
; See this artic=
le at OHCA |
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Dec 16 News Re=
lease “OKLAHOMA CITY—The Oklahoma Health Care Authori=
ty is evaluating the impact of the additional state revenue reductions. Onc=
e the extent of the revenue reduction is known, an action plan will be deve=
loped and recommended to the OHCA Board at its next meeting. Cuts will like=
ly include reductions in provider payment rates and additional benefit redu=
ctions. Hopefully, uncommitted federal Medicaid stimulus funds will be made=
available to replace lost state revenue. It is important to note that any =
reduction in state dollars in the SoonerCare (Medicaid) program results in =
a reduction in federal dollars to fund the program; currently, [a] $1 cut i=
n state funds means a loss of $3 in federal funds for a total program reduc=
tion of 4 dollars. - OHCA Spokesperson Jo Kilgore.” &=
nbsp; =
; See this artic=
le at OHCA |
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What people are saying ab=
out ThinkHealth |
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“Your team is wonderful!=
… [A]lways friendly and very good at teaching all the functions of T=
hinkHealth. … [T]he team always does their best to help with my quest=
ions and if one of them doesn’t know the answer they will go find it.=
I appreciate all of them and all of their hard work very much!” - Melanie &nbs=
p; “We, as always, are more=
than glad to serve as a reference for you guys. Daybreak was very fortunat=
e to make the decision before we opened to use ThinkHealth. Your product is=
seamless and high quality. We took the time to check out every other provi=
der and believe yours was the best hands down. Mostly we have been pleased =
by the response and helpfulness of your team. .. &nbs=
p; “I know all of the chang=
es from OHCA and DMH have been huge for you guys and it has been amazing to=
watch you keep up with it all with very few glitches. I bet you had no ide=
a there would be with many constant changes when you first did this! We kee=
p wondering, will they ever<=
span
style=3D'language:EN;mso-ansi-language:EN'> reach a time when things stay=
the same for a few months!” - David Pete=
rs, executive director. &nbs=
p; |
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C=
DCs now expire in 6 months. |
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D=
MH services have changed—either in billing code, or in amounts. |
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Who’s going to keep trac=
k of that? ThinkHealth can do it for you. ThinkHealth’s Patient, Asse=
ssment and Treatment Plan modules will use the information you enter to fil=
l out CDCs automatically. |
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Updating your paperwork every =
time rates or codes change can be a huge hassle. Or, you can get ThinkHealt=
h, and rest easy in the comfort of knowing they are already built in. |
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T=
reatment Plans can no longer begin before the date they are sent in.=
|
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ThinkHealth will alert you whe=
n you slip into old habits and attempt to write a treatment plan that will =
only be denied. Think about how much time you will save with a system that =
checks everything for you before you send it in. |
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A=
ll treatment plans are now required to have an attached CDC |
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Every treatment plan sent in m=
ust now have an attached CDC, or else it will be rejected. To make sure you=
don’t accidentally forget your CDC, ThinkHealth won’t let you =
send in a treatment plan without it. All you have to do is select your desi=
red existing CDC from a drop down list when you are inside the treatment pl=
an module, and you’re done. Then, ThinkHealth will automatically tran=
smit the CDC along with the treatment plan to APS, making sure the two stay=
linked, sending your treatment plan through without delay. |
|
With the upcoming February OHC=
A/DMH changes looming on the horizon, many centers still remain unaware of =
exactly how much of an upheaval to their center’s daily operations th=
ese changes will bring. ThinkHealth has the experience and the system to ma=
ke your life easier. Become familiar with a system that will stay updated w=
ith the State (for free) but won't change the way it looks and operates, ma=
king the transition much easier for your staff. ThinkHealth comes with a local support team, and free updates=
every time the State changes, keeping you compliant! Your process for how =
you operate your center from patient management to billing is going to dram=
atically change this February. Why not move these new procedures in-house, =
using a software system that will work with you and the coming changes? |
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Things to Look for in Feb=
ruary: |
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O=
rionNet Systems’ ThinkHealth software used by more O=
HCA and DMH centers than any other software statewide. |