Community Living Assistance Services And Support Act (CLASS Act)

The CLASS Act
14th of October, 2011. The U.S. media has reported that Obama Administration has stopped work on health reform’s Community Living Assistance Services and Support Act (CLASS Act) because of difficulties in implementing it. The CLASS Act which was aimed to provide insured long-term care coverage to a larger base of American people thus became a non-starter.

Background

The concept of CLASS Act took shape from the need for long term care. In an effort to reduce Medicaid costs over a certain period, legislators wanted to shift long term care from the publicly funded program to an insurance based program. This need was statistically supported by the National Clearinghouse for Long-Term Care Information too. The CLASS Act also aimed at creating an employment-based system by making payroll deductions to cover premiums. The expected benefit for the covered person was fixed at $ 50 per day after a waiting period of five years. The benefits which were to be tax free were expected to become payable based on individual’s level of need, even if formal services were not provided for.

What Went Wrong

The program was to begin after 2014. However, there has always been concern about the sustainability of CLASS because the long term insurance program depended on voluntary enrollment which was perceived as a threat to stability of the program. A major allegation was that the design of the program was not capable of covering the full cost of care. It created a significant gap in coverage which would be known to the employees only after they had paid premiums for years for drawing negligible benefits. Private long-term care plans already on the market pay significantly higher benefits. An actuarial review released by Health and Human Services recently has confirmed those fears. The Administration could not design a long-term care program that supported the health reform law which requires that CLASS beneficiaries receive a minimum of $50 in benefits per day. It was perceived as actuarially unsound. True, $50 per day benefit scantly covers the cost of nursing home care. In short, the promise of CLASS Act turned out to be inferior to what is available in the market today.

Implications

Numerous indications in the past have cast a shadow over the success of the program. In budget negotiations too, there was no proposal for funding towards implementation of the Act. With dropping of the Act, there is going to be major implications for the health reform law, particularly the reduction in projected budgetary savings by a minimum of $ 86 billion. The impact though marginal, is likely to be felt throughout including medical transcription services.

Although dropping of the CLASS Act was foreseen, there are going to be questions like why the provision was included in the health reform law particularly when there was a doubt about ability of the program to generate revenue. Media has reported Sherry Glied, HHS’ Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation saying that the Administration had noticed the thin actuarial basis only after the law was passed!

Medical transcription: Outsourcing improves turnaround time and report accuracy

Outsourcing medical transcription has numerous benefits like reduction in the cost per line of transcription, shortening the accounts receivables cycle, decreasing management expenses and improving utilization of resources that otherwise would have been utilized for medical transcription. But the main benefit of outsourcing of medical transcription is that of increasing the accuracy of medical reports and decreasing turnaround time.

 How does outsourcing medical transcription affect the accuracy of medical reports?

• Core business: Medical transcription is the core business of the medical transcription service provider. This helps improve the accuracy level of the finished transcripts because all the resources of the medical transcription service provider are focused towards medical transcription unlike healthcare facilities whose core business is that of providing quality healthcare and medical transcription is just a support service.

• Superior recruiting and training: The accuracy of the finished transcripts is totally dependent on the caliber of medical transcriptionists. A medical transcription service provider would have a process by which the best talent in the business would constantly be recruited and trained. The medical transcriptionists would not only be trained in the process of general medical transcription, they would also be given specialist training enabling them to become domain experts.  This ensures accuracy of the finished transcripts from the very beginning.

• Multi-level quality checks: A medical transcription service provider would have several levels of quality checks in place to ensure accuracy of the final transcripts. This would mean that the medical record would be subjected to quality checks by several sets of qualified “eyes and ears” to make sure that errors are minimized.

How does outsourcing medical transcription affect the turnaround time of finished transcripts?

• Large pool of qualified medical transcriptionists: A medical transcription service provider would have a large pool of trained and qualified personnel who would be able to cope with the varying requirements of healthcare facilities. This would ensure that the turnaround time guaranteed is met with in spite of factors like shift changes, absenteeism, weekend & holiday transcription requirements.

• Use of technology: A professional medical transcription service provider would use advanced technology to meet both the turnaround time and security requirements. This would mean that the healthcare facility could benefit from this technology through improved turnaround time and security without having to make any additional investments.

 It can be seen that by outsourcing medical transcription to a professionally managed medical transcription service provider a healthcare facility can benefit not only in terms of cost saving but also through increased accuracy and reduced turnaround time.

TransDyne is a professional medical transcription service provider that guarantees an accuracy level of above 99%. TransDyne focuses on the recruitment of quality medical transcriptionists and provides them with specialty training enabling them to provide quality transcription from the very beginning. TransDyne ensures accuracy by adopting a four level quality check of medical transcriptionist, language proofreader, unit in charge and finally by our Quality Assurance (QA) team which tries to minimize errors before returning the finished reports

TransDyne assures a turnaround time of 24 hours from the time of receipt of the audio. STAT reports have a turnaround time of 4-12 hours.  TransDyne offers fast medical transcription and maintains their turnaround time by maintaining a large pool medical transcriptionists who are trained to their stringent standards. TransDyne has a technologically advanced system that has features like automatic uploads and downloads. These features enable the audio files to be uploaded automatically for transcription and also enable the finished transcripts to be made available automatically, improving turnaround time.

Medical transcription services: Family practice

Medical transcription is the process by which audio records of a patient-healthcare professional encounter are converted into text format. Medical transcription is a service closely associated with medicine. And medicine is a vast field having numerous branches and specialties. The needs of each specialty are entirely different. It is required that the medical transcriptionists providing this service are oriented with the terminology associated with the branch of medicine they are working on.

TransDyne understands that the needs of each specialty of medicine are unique. Therefore the transcription requirements of each specialty are different. Knowing this and the importance of creating accurate and timely records, TransDyne has created a unique training program for its medical transcriptionists. Under this program medical transcriptionists are trained to become expert transcriptionists in one or two specialties of medicine.

This means that specially hand picked medical transcriptionists are taught the terminologies, drugs and procedures associated with the specialty. The  transcriptionists  are also kept constantly updated on the latest developments in the field, as medicine is a dynamic field with new developments and discoveries. Work is allotted to the transcriptionists based on the specialty on which they are trained.

Family practice is a medical specialty devoted to comprehensive health care to people of all ages. It is a form of primary care that provides continuing comprehensive healthcare for the individual and family across all ages, sexes, diseases and parts of the body. It is based on the knowledge of the patient in the context of the family and community, emphasizing disease prevention and health promotion.

TransDyne has a team of specialist medical transcriptionists who are well trained for providing professional medical transcription services for healthcare professionals practicing Family medicine.

TransDyne provides Family practice medical transcription with:

Accuracy levels of above 99%: TransDyne ensures accuracy by providing specialist training to their medical transcriptionists and adopting a four level quality check of medical transcriptionist, language proofreader, unit in charge and finally by the Quality Assurance (QA) team which tries to minimize errors before returning the finished reports

Turnaround time of 24 hours: TransDyne maintains their turnaround time by maintaining a large pool of medical transcriptionists who are trained to their stringent standards. TransDyne has a technologically advanced system that has features like automatic uploads and downloads. These features enable the audio files to be uploaded automatically for transcription and also enable the finished transcripts to be made available automatically, improving turnaround time.

Fair and reasonable prices: TransDyne offers medical transcription at a fair and reasonable price using the “character line” billing method. TransDyne passes on the benefits of economies of scale that comes from being a professional medical transcription service provider to the healthcare facility.

Secure channels: TransDyne provides for security and confidentiality of patient data by use of the right process, the right technology and by training their team on the importance of maintaining security standards.

Technology that is advanced but easy to use: TransDyne believes in using the latest technology to provide maximum benefits to healthcare professionals. TransDyne also believes that technology should be easy to use, given the demands that are made on the limited time available to healthcare professionals.

Medical transcription services: Neurology

Neurology is a medical specialty dealing with disorders of the nervous system. Specifically, it deals with the diagnosis and treatment of all categories of disease involving the central, peripheral and autonomic nervous systems including their coverings, blood vessels and all effector tissue, such as muscle. The corresponding surgical specialty is known as neurosurgery. A neurologist is a physician who specializes in neurology and is trained to investigate or diagnose and treat neurological disorders. Neurologists may also be involved in clinical reasearch, clinical trials as well as basic research and translational research.

Neurology is a medical specialty that requires the healthcare professional practicing it to have the requisite training and qualifications. Similarly transcribing the audio records of neurologists requires that the medical transcriptionists working on it possesses the requisite training and knowledge to be able to provide transcription services with the required accuracy and turnaround time from the very beginning.

Recognizing the need for specialist medical transcriptionists to take care of a specialist’s needs, TransDyne has created a team of medical transcriptionists, proofreaders and editors specializing in neurology transcription.

How does specialist training in neurology transcription affect accuracy levels?
Medical transcriptionists, proofreaders and editors are familiar with all the requisite terminology, procedures and the drugs used in neurology due to the training program aimed at familiarizing the medical transcriptionists with this specialty. This ensures that the error rates in transcripts are drastically reduced and the accuracy levels are high. The team is able to produce high quality reports from the very beginning.

How does specialist training in neurology transcription affect turnaround time?
Due to the training methods used the medical transcriptionists are very familiar with the specific terminology used and are able to produce transcripts with requisite accuracy in optimum turnaround time.

How does specialist training in neurology transcription affect cost per line of transcription?
Due to the reduced error rate and reduced turnaround time the need for multi level quality checks is reduced and the productivity of the medical transcriptionist is enhanced this helps keep the cost of production under control and the benefits of this are passed on to the healthcare facility.

TransDyne provides Neurology medical transcription that is cost efficient, speedy and accurate. Moreover neurologists can benefit from the other features of medical transcription services by TransDyne like:

Data Security: TransDyne ensures data security of medical transcription by incorporating security measures like 128-bit data encryption, multi-tiered application architecture, design level security, safeguards, firewall protected networks, sterilized e-mail servers, denial of access procedure and multi modal alerts. TransDyne also ensures data security by ensuring that the data doesn’t leave their premises physically. To ensure secure medical transcription all the transcription is done in the company’s own premises and the premises are secured through appropriate security measures. TransDyne meets and exceeds all HIPAA regulations that apply to electronic exchange of information.

Technology: Considering that time is one of the most precious commodities for healthcare professionals, TransDyne believes in using technology that provides multiple features with ease of use. Some of the features of the software and tools used by TransDyne are as follows:

· Smart upload: TransDyne offers doctors the choice of using modes of dictation they are already comfortable with. Then these files can be uploaded to the servers to be made available for transcription. Smart upload enables transfer of dictation files from the healthcare facility’s server to TransDyne’s server by checking for new dictations at pre-fixed intervals.

· Web Delivery: TransDyne’s web delivery system tackles all issues related with tracking dictations, receiving documents and finding old files form the archives.

Medical transcription outsourcing: Strategic advantages

Due to the advent of Internet, services from all over the world have suddenly become more accessible. As the concept of global village advances, it makes sense for all businesses to outsource non-core activities to make the most of their limited resources. Communication facilities have improved, development of processes have reached maturity and there are well-integrated teams in place to provide specialized services at reasonable rates.

When it comes to healthcare, administrators of healthcare facilities have to deal with shrinking budgets, reduced reimbursements and increased demand for quality healthcare services. It makes sense to strategically outsource those functions that are not part of the core business. Medical transcription is one such function that demands a high level of commitment in terms of both time and resources. Outsourcing medical transcription to a professionally managed medical transcription service provider can provide the healthcare facility with numerous advantages:

1. It streamlines medical transcription: By outsourcing the medical transcription needs of the healthcare facility to a professional medical transcription service provider the process gets streamlined. The medical transcription service provider acts as a one-stop shop to provide varied services with different parameters from one source. Co-ordination for quality, turnaround time, security and pricing becomes simpler.

2. Reduces demand for medical transcription staff: It has been seen that getting the right people to work on transcription is important to meet all parameters like accuracy, turnaround time and security. By outsourcing medical transcription the onus of acquiring the right team is passed on to the service provider.

3. Provides access to additional resources in the form of skill sets and technology: By outsourcing medical transcription the healthcare facility can have the advantage of the technology used by the service provider along with the skill sets of the provider’s team.

4. Guarantees reduction in expenses: By outsourcing medical transcription to the right medical transcription service provider, the healthcare facility can expect to benefit from both the skills and the economies of scale of the service provider in terms of drastic reduction in the cost per line of transcription.

5. Special medical transcription needs/problems are attended to immediately: Due to the benefits of having a huge team of skilled medical transcriptionists available to the medical transcription service provider, they would be in a position to accommodate any special needs of the healthcare professionals, whether in terms of formats, or turnaround time or any other parameters required by them.

6. Services improve and become more reliable: Medical transcription is the process of consolidating information regarding the patients’ encounter with the healthcare professional. Timely medical transcription can have a positive impact on the quality of healthcare services by providing timely and accurate information.

To avail the strategic advantages of outsourced medical transcription, the healthcare facility has to undergo a process of identifying their needs and picking out the right service provider.

Medical transcription: Process for outsourcing

Having seen the strategic advantages of outsourcing medical transcription, a healthcare facility needs to adopt a strategy for outsourcing medical transcription that enables them to avail all the advantages.

The process for outsourcing should include the following:

· Selection of appropriate vendor for medical transcription, based on:

a) Long-term experience of the medical transcription service provider: While outsourcing services as vital as medical transcription it pays to be cautious while picking out the provider. History of the provider in providing similar services  is vital. This shows that the medical transcription service provider is prepared in every way to deliver the right solution.

b) Availability of skilled people with the service provider: The quality/ accuracy and the timeliness of the records transcribed are vital for providing quality healthcare and have other uses like the forming the basis of coding & billing and as evidence in case of litigation. The accuracy of the transcripts and the turnaround time are dependent on the skill level of the medical transcriptionists. Therefore it is important that the medical transcription service provider has a team of expert medical transcriptionists.

c) Technical infrastructure available with the service provider: The technological capabilities affects the turnaround time, security of data and the ease of use. Factors like flexible modes of dictation, automatic upload of audio files and download of transcribed records, archiving facilities and HL7 integration are important factors to be analyzed.

d) Pricing: Pricing in medical transcription can be as easy or as complex as the billing method used by the medical transcription service provider. Often prices are discussed without properly qualifying the billable units or the billing method. This leaves room for manipulation and ambiguities. The billing method needs to be verifiable, measurable, definable, consistent and fair& honest.

e) Integration capabilities: The systems/technology used by the service provider needs to easily integrate with the systems of the healthcare facilities. This ensures access to information in an easy and workable manner.

f) Security measures taken by the medical transcription service provider: Patient data is confidential and needs to be protected at every stage. Because the medical transcription process involves the transmission of data through electronic channels and is exposed to medical transcriptionists during the process of transcription, it is highly vulnerable to misuse. Security measures taken by the medical transcription service provider needs to cover technology, process and people to ensure total confidentiality.

g) Investment required for availing the services: One of the main reasons for outsourcing medical transcription is to curb capital investment towards non-healthcare related areas in a healthcare facility. While outsourcing medical transcription, the healthcare facility needs to ensure that no further capital investment is required.

h) Adaptability of service provider to varying demands: The demands of healthcare professionals may vary according to many factors like their specialty, influx of patients and other factors. While choosing a medical transcription service provider it is important to choose one that has experience servicing varied requirements.

i) Customer service channels: Transition from in-house medical transcription to outsourced medical transcription requires a certain period of handholding to make the process smooth. Even after the transition process is complete, there may be numerous instances where instant turnaround on queries is required. An open channel of communication is essential while outsourcing.

· Verifying testimonials: Success stories of clients who have availed of similar services need to be checked before finalizing the outsourced medical transcription service provider.

· Free trial period: Availing a free trial period will ensure that the service provider is capable of delivering services as per the promised criteria.

· The contact: The actual contract needs to be studied and all the requisite parameters required should be included, in a clear and unambiguous manner.

Medical transcription:Cardiology

Medical transcription is a back office function that assists healthcare professionals by creating accurate and speedy records of patient visits. Medicine is a vast and complex field having various specialties. The terminology, treatment procedures and the drugs used in each specialty are different. That is why healthcare professionals train for a particular specialty to become specialists in that field.

Cardiology is a medical specialty dealing with disorders of the heart and blood vessels. The field includes diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart defects, coronary heart disease and electrophysiology. Physicians specializing in this field are called Cardiologists. And physicians specializing in surgery related to cardiology are called Cardiac surgeons.

Medical transcription for cardiology services require medical transcriptionists to be well versed in the terminology and familiar with the treatment modes and drugs used. Recognizing the need for professional and skilled medical transcriptionists to transcribe records dictated by cardiology specialists, TransDyne has created a team of medical transcriptionists specializing in Cardiology.

Medical transcriptionists are hand picked during the training period and trained to learn in detail, the terminology, procedures and drugs associated with cardiology.

How does specialty training in Cardiology transcription affect accuracy?
Training a medical transcriptionist in cardiology transcription helps increase accuracy of the finished transcript, by familiarizing the medical transcriptionist with all the terminology and procedures associated with Cardiology. This ensures that the medical transcriptionist does not misspell or misunderstand any of the terms used by the healthcare professionals. The medical transcriptionist is able to produce accurate records from the very beginning without leaving room for guesswork.

How does specialty training in Cardiology transcription affect turnaround time?
Turnaround time refers to the time taken to revert the transcribed report to the healthcare facility. By familiarizing the medical transcriptionist with all the terminology used in cardiology, the turnaround time can be maintained due to the familiarity of the medical transcriptionist with the associated terms and cutting down time spent on research. Moreover the time spent on multi level quality checks would also reduce, reducing the turnaround time.

How does specialty training in Cardiology transcription affect pricing?
Specialty training in Cardiology transcription can help bring down cost per line of transcription, by increasing the productivity of the medical transcriptionist. Moreover due to the increased accuracy of the transcripts the cost of several level quality checks can be reduced.

Apart from offering accurate, timely and reasonably priced cardiology transcription, TransDyne also offers the following:

Data Security: TransDyne ensures data security by incorporating security measures like 128-bit data encryption, multi-tiered application architecture, design level security, safeguards, firewall protected networks, sterilized e-mail servers, denial of access procedure and multi modal alerts.

TransDyne further ensures data security by ensuring that data doesn’t leave it’s premises physically. To ensure secure nedical transcription all the transcription is done in TransDyne’s premises and the premises are secured through appropriate security measures. TransDyne meets and exceeds all the HIPAA and HITECH regulations.

Technology: TransDyne believes that the technology used for medical transcription like uploading dictation and downloading finished transcripts should be advanced to ensure reliability, but very easy to use requiring very less or no training. TransDyne also has a system with powerful archival features enabling the healthcare professional to easily trace old records. TransDyne also facilitates HL7 interface for interacting with other systems.