2013 predictions: Right about ICD-10, too early to tell about TCM

Why This Topic Matters

It provides context on how major administrative and reimbursement trends were evolving during 2013 and why practices were paying attention to coding readiness, reporting participation, payment pressure, and audit exposure.

Article Sections

1. Predictions

   Introduces the retrospective review of the year’s expectations and frames the major policy and practice-management topics discussed in the article.

2. Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) and e-prescribing (e-Rx) participation

   Reviews participation trends and related reporting expectations for physician quality reporting and electronic prescribing programs.

3. ICD-10 preparation

   Summarizes how physician practices were responding to the planned transition to ICD-10-CM and broader readiness efforts.

4. Transitional care management (TCM)

   Discusses early experience with transitional care management services and related expectations for future care-management coverage.

5. Medicare reimbursement uncertainty

   Covers ongoing uncertainty around physician payment updates and broader Medicare fee policy direction.

6. Hospital acquisition of physician practices

   Looks at changes in merger and acquisition activity involving physician practices and health care organizations.

7. Accountable care organizations (ACOs)

   Summarizes growth in accountable care organizations and enrollment trends in ACO-related programs.

8. Audits

   Discusses the expectation of increased audit activity and the role of data sharing among payers and contractors.