HAMDEN, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 28, 2004--HSS, Inc., the nationally recognized leader in solutions that streamline coding, regulatory and reimbursement processes, today announced the addition of several new features to APC Assistant(TM), its Web-based Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) reference tool. These new features make it easier than ever for hospitals to improve their revenue cycles by providing their staff with powerful tools for minimizing denials and enhancing compliance efforts.
APC Assistant, which is recommended as a tool worthy of consideration by the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA), makes sense of OPPS’ regulatory alphabet soup so that healthcare providers can bill completely and correctly the first time around. By providing access to all current and historical OPPS information via a searchable online interface, users are empowered to ensure compliance and prevent revenue loss by correcting claims errors before claims are submitted to the fiscal intermediary.
The new APC Assistant features include:
-- HCPCS & APC Payment Status Comparison: Users can view the HCPCS code(s) that are new or have changed in payment status or APC assignment for the most recent quarter.
-- Alternate Code Display: Provides acceptable codes which may be substituted for HCPCS codes that are unacceptable under OPPS.
-- Medical Necessity Information: A link to the CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) Web site has been added so that the Medicare Coverage Database may be searched for Medical Necessity (NCD/LCD/LMRP) information.
-- Interactive Bulletin Board: Users can communicate with HSS’ OPPS experts and other APC Assistant users regarding coding questions and any OPPS-related issues.
“Our research shows that improperly coded claims and billing omissions cost the average 250-bed hospital approximately $750,000 in Medicare outpatient revenue annually,” stated Julie Micheletti, director, clinical product strategies for HSS. “With OPPS rules and regulations changing as quickly as they do, Web-based resources like APC Assistant that are kept up-to-date with all the most recent information are invaluable to hospitals for minimizing revenue loss and enhancing compliance efforts.”
For more information about APC Assistant, call 800.999.3747 or visit www.apcassistant.com.
About HSS
HSS, Inc. (www.hssweb.com) delivers solutions that streamline the coding, regulatory and reimbursement processes at provider and payer organizations. HSS’ experience with providers and payers enables it to provide the tools and methodologies for organizations to evaluate financial and operational performance, target areas of performance improvement and balance risk-assumption with profit opportunities. These solutions combine technology with HSS’ nationally recognized healthcare expertise. HSS solutions are used by more than 900 hospitals and 160 managed-care organizations. They are also embedded in health information management applications offered by 27 of the industry’s major software vendors.
APC Assistant is a registered trademark of HSS, Inc. All other company and product names mentioned may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.
Contacts
HSS, Inc.
Lauren LaFronz, 800-999-3747 x103 llafr@hss-info.com or
Vivid Ideas for HSS, Inc. Damon Braly, 913-649-4621 x100 damon@vividideas.com