ADL Releases Major Software Updates

ADL has recently released a major software update to its Accounting, Financial and EMR software. This long awaited update contains many significant software enhancements that help make ADL one of the leading software systems in the Long Term Care Industry. Our clinicians and financial staff work along side our clients and government agencies to ensure that our software is as robust as possible and meets all state and federal regulations, while fine tuning it to meet our clients’ individual needs.

 
 
 
 
 
 

EPCS Waivers Guidance

March 18, 2016
New York Electronic Prescribing Waivers Guidance for Specific Types of Prescriptions The New York Department of Health, pursuant to questions received from NCPDP members as well as other industry stakeholders, has released guidance as to how to handle specific types of prescriptions that currently are not well suited to electronic prescribing. Said guidance waives, until March 27, 2017, the requirement that these specific prescription types be electronically prescribed as required by New York’s  iSTOP law. The key portion of this guidance is reproduced below. The New York Commissioner of Health, in a letter, has waived the following circumstances from the requirements of electronic prescribing:

  1. Any practitioner prescribing a controlled or non-controlled substance, containing two (2) or more products, which is compounded by a pharmacist.
  2. Any practitioner prescribing a controlled or non-controlled substance to be compounded for the direct administration to a patient by parenteral, intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous or intraspinal infusion.
  3. Any practitioner prescribing a controlled or non-controlled substance that contains long or complicated directions.
  4. Any practitioner prescribing a controlled or non-controlled substance that requires a prescription to contain certain elements required by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that are not able to be accomplished with electronic prescribing.
  5. Any practitioner prescribing a controlled or non-controlled substance under approved protocols under expedited partner therapy, collaborative drug management or in response to a public health emergency that would allow a non-patient specific prescription.
  6. Any practitioner prescribing an opioid antagonist that would allow a non-patient specific prescription.
  7. Any practitioner prescribing a controlled or non-controlled substance under a research protocol.
  8. A practitioner prescribing a controlled or non-controlled substance either through an Official New York State Prescription form or an oral prescription communicated to a pharmacist serving as a vendor of pharmaceutical services, by an agent who is a health care practitioner, for patients in nursing homes and residential health care facilities as defined in section twenty-eight hundred one of the public health law.
  9. A pharmacist dispensing controlled and non-controlled substance compounded prescriptions, prescriptions containing long or complicated directions, and prescriptions containing certain elements required by the FDA or any other governmental agency that are not able to be accomplished with electronic prescribing.
  10. A pharmacist dispensing prescriptions issued under a research protocol, or under approved protocols for expedited partner therapy, or for collaborative drug management.
  11. A pharmacist dispensing non-patient specific prescriptions, including opioid antagonists, or prescriptions issued in response to a public health emergency issued.
  12. A pharmacist serving as a vendor of pharmaceutical services dispensing a controlled or non-controlled substance through an Official New York State Prescription form or an oral prescription communicated by an agent who is a health care practitioner, for patients in nursing homes and residential health care facilities as defined in section twenty-eight hundred one of the public health law.Practitioners issuing prescriptions in the above-listed exceptional circumstances may either use the Official New York State Prescription Form or issue an oral prescription. Pharmacists may dispense prescriptions issued on the Official New York State Prescription Form or oral prescriptions in the above-listed exceptional circumstances.

This waiver for the above-listed exceptional circumstances shall be effective until March 27, 2017.

New listing of Rehab CCI Edits

ADL has released a new listing of Rehab CCI Edits (version 22.1 effective 04/01/2016 thru 06/30/2016).
The list is used by Rehab Touch to prompt for -59 and -X{EPSU} modifiers.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Rethink the Drink

There are a lot of changes that happen with age, and some of them, like physical pain, loss of mobility, and loneliness can lead to alcohol misuse. As people age, they become more sensitive to the effects of alcohol. Over time, someone’s drinking habits may become a problem.

Older adults who drink may be at a higher risk for falls or other injuries. And alcohol can make some health problems worse, including diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart problems. It can also cause bad interactions when mixed with prescription or over-the-counter medications. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism recommends adults 65 and over who are healthy and don’t take medications have no more than 3 drinks on a given day or 7 drinks in a week.

If you think you or a loved one could be misusing alcohol, don’t be ashamed to ask for help. April is Alcohol Awareness Month, and it’s the perfect time to remember that Medicare covers alcohol misuse screening & counseling to provide counseling for people who misuse alcohol.

Filed under: Medicare coverage, Uncategorized
Source: US Govt Medicare

 
 
 

At risk for Diabetes? Take this quick test.

Diabetes affects 22 million people in the U.S.—are you one of them? Tuesday, March 22 is American Diabetes Association Alert Day, and it’s a great time to take the Diabetes Risk Test to find out if you’re at risk for developing type 2 diabetes, a disease where blood glucose levels are higher than normal. Type 2 diabetes develops most often in middle-aged and older adults.

Many people with diabetes don’t know that they have it, but Medicare covers screening tests so you can find out if you do.

If you have diabetes, Medicare covers many of your supplies, including insulintest stripsmonitors, lancets and control solutions. In some cases, Medicare also covers therapeutic shoes if you have diabetic foot problems. You pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for these supplies.

Medicare also covers diabetes self-management training to help you learn how to better manage your diabetes. You can learn how to monitor your blood sugar, control your diet, exercise, and manage your prescriptions. Talk to your doctor about how this training can help you stay healthy and avoid serious complications.

Take control of your health—talk to your doctor today about screening tests and what supplies and training may help you stay healthy.

Filed under: Medicare coverage, Uncategorized
Source: US Govt Medicare