Resources
Consumer Empowerment
In 2001, the Institute of Medicine envisioned patient-centered healthcare for better care, improved health and to lower health care costs.
To learn more about the ways MNHIMA supports AHIMA in its involvement in the multiple initiatives supporting consumer engagement and public good, check out AHIMA’s Engagement Flyer.
MNHIMA supports the Blue Button Movement. To learn more, visit healthIT.gov
Tools to Help You Get Involved in Your Healthcare
As a component association of the American Health Information Management Association, we encourage consumers of health care to become engaged in your care. Accessing your health records or developing your own personal health record can help you become familiar with your care and next steps to better health.
Accessing Your Records
Healthcare organizations typically have authorization forms available on their websites. Access the Minnesota Hospitals and Healthcare Systems website to find your organizations site, where you can contact their health information department or download their Authorization form, or download and complete the Minnesota Authorization to Release Information Form.
Understanding Your Rights
Health Information Privacy: Guidance Materials for Consumers
Understanding Health Information Privacy
Keeping Track of Your Health
Below are some helpful resources to help you start a personal health record or help you take the next steps to a healthier you.
Electronic Health Records / Health Informatics
An electronic health record (EHR) is a digital version of a patient’s paper chart. EHRs are real-time, patient-centered records that make information available instantly and securely to authorized users. To learn about the adoption and use of electronic health records (EHRs) and other health information technology (HIT) and health information exchange in Minnesota, visit the Minnesota Department of Health.
Copy/Paste: AHIMA has released the Policy and Position Statement on Copy and Paste to stimulate stakeholders discussions and action about digital documentation practices in the absence of formal guidelines and practice standards.
Position Statement: Appropriate Use of the Copy and Paste Functionality in Electronic Health Records
Practice Brief: Managing Copy Functionality & Information Integrity In The EHR (AHIMA)
Interoperability: The 2007 Minnesota Legislature mandated in Minnesota Statute 62J.495 (Electronic Health Record Technology) “[b]y January 1, 2015, all hospitals and health care providers must have in place an interoperable electronic health records system within their hospital system or clinical practice setting.”
E-Signature: AHIMA updated its practice brief on electronic signature(s) in October 2013. This practice brief provides additional e-signature resources, tools, a glossary, and best practices to assist HIM professionals with EHR implementation and policy development.
Practice Brief: Electronic Signature, Attestation, and Authorship (Updated) (K. Downing)
Patient Identification: Click below to watch a video regarding the AHIMA Naming policy and pledge.
AHIMA Living the Pledge – Jane
Patient Matching: Matching records to the correct person becomes increasingly complicated as organizations share records electronically using different systems, and in a mobile society where patients seek care in many healthcare settings.
ONC Patient Matching Current State Report (February 2014)
Clinical & Business Intelligence: Clinical and healthcare business big data will allow organizations and the medical community to use IT to optimize patient care and facilitate business operations decision-making.
Clinical & Business Intelligence, HIMSS Resource Library
Additional Resources
American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) Body of Knowledge
American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) Topics & Trends: Electronic Health Records
ANSI Standards Learn
Healthcare Informatics
Health Data Management
HealthIT.gov
HL7
Coding and Data Quality
New Coding and Health Information Resource Added: The HITNOTS Web Site
HITNOTS, LLC, is an American based company doing business in America and throughout the world. HITNOTS is physically located in the Charlotte, North Carolina area.
HITNOTS can serve as a site to access review material critical to the health information technology professional. This is important in the ever-changing healthcare arena, which includes the HIM Reimagined initiative by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), the ICD-10-CM/PCS and CPT coding systems, and health IT, as well as many other emerging technologies. Also, these reviews can be helpful when studying for personal enrichment and certification exams.
Click here to access the web site.
2018 ICD-10-PCS Update Released
The 2018 ICD-10-PCS files have been posted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, including the updated code tables and index, addendum, version update summary, conversion table, and coding guidelines. These updates go into effect with discharges on or after October 1. The 2018 General Equivalence Mappings (GEMs) files were posted in August.
Click here to access the information.
2017 New ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS Codes Released
A list of new and revised ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS codes were released. They will be effective October 1, 2016 (FY 2017). There are 1,943 new ICD-10-CM codes and 3,651 new ICD-10-PCS codes. Other codes that are still under consideration are not included on these lists, the complete Addenda identifying all modifications will be posted in June.
Visit AHIMA.org for more information.
Don’t Forget About Your ICD-10 CEUs
AHIMA credential holders: if you earned your certification prior to the certification exam changing over to ICD-10, you are required to earn ICD-10 Continuing Education Units (CEUs). This is in order to satisfy the Commission on Certification for Health Informatics and Information Management’s (CCHIIM’s) ICD-10 policy. Time is running out to earn and record your ICD-10 CEUs; you may be required to have them entered as soon as December 31, 2015. Your AHIMA credential(s) will be changed to inactive if you do not meet the appropriate deadline.
Please visit http://www.ahima.org/certification/Recertification to review how many ICD-10 CEUs you are required to earn, see the deadline for when they must be reported, and/or record them in the ICD-10 CEU Reporting Tool, which is located under “Recertification Resources.”
AHIMA Resources
- Why ICD-10 Matters: Visit the AHIMA website for informaiton on why ICD-10 matters for healthcare stakeholders.
- Frequently Asked Questions about ICD-10: AHIMA answers some of the most common questions about ICD-10 in this great resource.
Physician Information & Resources
It is more important now than ever for physicians to be preparing for ICD-10. ICD-10 needs to matter to physicians because their documentation directly supports accurate code assignment in ICD-10. The greater specificity of ICD-10 will allow physicians to more accurately report the severity and complexity of their patients’ conditions. There are several main reasons that the transition to ICD-10-CM/PCS is necessary:
AHIMA’s Clinical Documentation for ICD-10 by Specialty: Principles & Practice. This online training platform was specifically designed with the needs of the physician and physician practices in mind. Written by physicians, CDI specialists, and medical coding experts, the program includes the following features (visit the AHIMA Website for further information on this program):
- Payers cannot pay claims fairly using ICD-9-CM since the classification system does not accurately reflect current technology and medical treatment. Significantly different procedures are assigned to a single ICD-9-CM procedure code. Limitations in the coding system translate directly into limitations in the diagnosis-related groups (DRG).
- The healthcare industry cannot accurately measure quality of care using ICD-9-CM. It is difficult to evaluate the outcome of new procedures and emerging health care conditions when there are not precise codes.
- Most importantly, we have a mission to improve our ability to measure health care services provided to our patients, enhance clinical decision-making, track public health issues, conduct medical research, identify fraud and abuse and design our payment systems to ensure services are appropriately paid.
Here are some additional training resources that can be used:
- Clinical Documentation: Supporting good patient care and proper coding in an ICD-10 environment.
Click here to watch this video by Joe Nichols, MD. - Navigating ICD-10, the Provider Perspective:
Click here to watch this video by CMS which describes the changes in the ICD code structure, the code definitions and the recurring patterns that help providers to understand the organization and content of codes. - Road to 10: The Small Physician Practice’s Route to ICD-10.
Click here to access CMS resources for transitioning to ICD-10.
Legislative Updates
Here you’ll find some of the latest updates on Health Information Management legislation.
The first ever “Under the Dome” article is now live on the Journal website! Check out this new online-only government relations column:
You can read the article here.
MHIMA LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
MHIMA supports the passage of House File (HF) 831 and Senate File (SF) 1575
“Health records released without patient consent circumstances modified”
For all Bills to become law, there must be two bills created and passed through the Legislature, one through the House of Representatives and another through the Senate. The two bills are then combined into one bill and sent to the Governor to be either signed into law or vetoed.
On February 20, 2019 a hearing was held at the Minnesota Legislative House by the Health and Human Services Committee regarding HF 831. HF 831 is a Bill that was introduced to bring the Minnesota Health Records Act in alignment with the Federal HIPAA law. HF 831 was introduced by Representative Laurie Halverson, District 51B. As Representative Halverson stated at the hearing, this revision will update and modernize the Minnesota Medical Records Act. This Bill has support, as well as opposition, throughout the House of Representatives and the State of Minnesota.
HF 831 was passed in the Committee and has been referred to the Judiciary Committee for review. Please see the link below for the actual language which is proposed. In addition, the hearing from Wednesday can also be accessed via the Internet and that link is attached below.
Secondly, on February 21, 2019, a companion Bill, SF 1575 was introduced to the Minnesota Senate. This Bill has the same language as HF 831. SF 1575 has been referred to the Senate Health and Human Services Finance and Policy Committee for review.
I am asking all MHIMA members to take action and contact their Minnesota House Representatives and Senators to show support for and encourage the passage of HF 831 and SF 1575.
If you do not know who your Minnesota House and Senate Representatives are, I have attached a link below, which will assist you with finding this information.
How to find your Legislators: here.
House File: HF 831 here.
Wednesday House video: here. (Start at 37 minutes)
Senate File: SF 1575 here.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Sue Nathe, MHIMA Advocacy Chair at sue.nathe@tchc.org.
Updated Maximum Charges for Patient Records The Minnesota Department of Health has published the Maximum Charges for Patient Records, confirming the annual determination of maximium charges for patient records.
According to section 144.292, the maximum charges for 2019 are $1.41 per page and $18.80 for retrieval fee.
Pursuant to statute, these limits do not apply to x-rays. The provider may charge a patient no more than the actual cost of reproducing x-rays, plus no more than $10 for the time spent retrieving and copying the x-rays.
You can obtain a copy of the document by clicking here.
If you become aware of pending legislation that will affect HIM, please contact the MHIMA Advocacy KFA: Sue Nathe, RHIT (email).
AHIMA's Advocacy Videos
Privacy and Security
Privacy security or safeguard diagram or flowchart written on a dry erase board as tips, advice or information on making your personal, sensitive data safe and secure[/caption]Since 1935, Minnesota HIM professionals have been taking care of personal health information, ensuring it is protected, private and available when you need it. Privacy and security remain a hallmark of what health information management is about and will continue to be more so in the digital future.
HIPAA Privacy, Security and Breach Notification Audits: The HITECH Act within ARRA (2009) required HHS to perform periodic audits of covered entity and business associate compliance with the HIPAA Privacy, Security, and Breach Notification Rules. The audit pilot period has passed and the audit program has been under evaluation. Once complete, HHS will begin a wave of audits for both covered entities and business associates. Privacy & Security experts recommend preparing for the audit in advance of the audit. Stay tuned for start dates!
HIPAA Privacy, Security and Breach Notification Audits
Minnesota Health Records Access Study: In February 2013, following a directive by the Minnesota legislature, a study was published to discuss specific questions pertaining to the current use of Representation of Consent, electronic health information security practices, and patient notification procedures when unauthorized access to an electronic health record occurs. In 2014, Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), in consultation with the Minnesota e-Health Advisory Committee, convened the Minnesota e-Health Privacy and Security Workgroup to provide expert analysis and opinions on materials and resources that may be used to enhance privacy and security programs throughout the state.
Minnesota Health Records Access Study
HITECH Omnibus Rule: Post the 2013 updates to HIPAA privacy, security and breach notification rules, AHIMA developed an analysis paper designed to be an aid in understanding the modifications to the HIPAA privacy, security and breach notification rules.
Additional Resources
AHIMA Privacy & Security Trends & Topics
An Introductory Resource Guide to Implementing the HIPAA Security Rule
Breach Notification Rule
Copier Data Security: A Guide for Business
HIPAA Frequently Asked Questions
Mobile Health Privacy & Security
Privacy Rule Guidance
Security Rule Guidance
For information on other AHIMA trends and topics visit their website.