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Acronyms of the Month
Decode the healthcare acronyms below... the answers are at the end of the newsletter
- COBRA - Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act: A law that gives individuals and their families the right to choose to continue group coverage for up to 18 months under certain circumstances (e.g., loss of job, reduction in number of hours worked). Individuals choosing this option are typically required to pay the full costs of coverage.
- DFRR - Disclosure of Financial Relationships Report: A report designed to collect information concerning the ownership and investment interests and compensation arrangements between hospitals and physicians. CMS proposed to send the DFRR to 500 hospitals to provide sufficient information to determine compliance and assist in any future rule making concerning the reporting requirements and other physician self-referral provisions. In 2010, CMS delayed implementation of the DFRR and instead focused on implementation of section 6001 of the Affordable Care Act, which includes disclosure requirements relevant to physician-owned hospitals for purposes of complying with the rural provider and whole-hospital ownership exceptions. The information submitted by hospitals on CMS' website is published yearly.
- EHR
a): Evidenced-based Hospital Referral: The practice of referring patients to hospitals that have a proven track record in producing high-quality outcomes in a give procedure or diagnosis. When outcomes data are missing (as often is the case), EHR involves referring patients to high-volume centers for those select procedures and diagnoses (e.g., CABH surgery) where there is a proven correlation between high volume and high quality.
b): Electronic Health Record:
An electronic version of a patient's medical history, that is maintained by the provider over time, and may include all of the key administrative clinical data relevant to that persons care under a particular provider, including demographics, progress notes, problems, medications, vital signs, past medical history, immunizations, laboratory data , and radiology reports. The EHR automates access to information and as the potential to streamline the clinician's workflow. the EHR also has the ability to support other care-related activities directly or indirectly through various interfaces, including evidence-based support, quality management, and outcomes reporting.
- HPG - Human Genome Project: DNR, A national effort sponsored by the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Energy to create an ordered set of DNA segments and to develop new computational methods for analyzing genetic map and DNA sequencing data. the project ended in 2003 with the completion of the human genetic sequence. An important feature of the project was the federal government's transfer of technology to the private sector through licensing technologies to private companies and awarding grants for innovative research. the project continues to catalyze the multibillion -dollar US biotechnology industry and foster the development of new medical applications.
- OPPS - Outpatient Prospective Payment System: A system developed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to pay for most outpatient services at hospitals or community health centers under Medicare Part B.
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