WEDI to Build ICD-10 Vendor Directory.
ATA to coordinate telemedicine assistance for Haiti.
Small progress noticed in movement toward telehealth reimbursement.
The Workgroup for Electronic Data Interchange (WEDI) announced this week that it will launch an online ICD-10 Vendor Resource Directory at wedi.org on on February 11. Companies offering related services are invited to submit descriptions that will be posted on the site at no charge.
The Reston, Virginia-based advocacy group will also offer free public access to the directory. “In an effort to make this resource as comprehensive as possible, WEDI is pleased to accept submissions from all companies offering ICD-10 services,” the organization announced. “WEDI will offer this directory as an industry resource only, and listings should be not implied as any type of endorsement.”
The deadline for inclusion in the directory at its launch is Feb. 5. The organization will continue to accept submissions and update the directory twice each month.
Information necessary for listing includes company name, URL, one contact person (name, title, address, phone & e-mail), and a description of services limited to 150 words. WEDI will not include in the directory incomplete entries or those exceeding the word limit. Submissions can be sent to Lisa Berretta at lberretta@wedi.org
The American Telemedicine Association has said it will work with a number of organizations providing assistance with the Haiti earthquake relief efforts. The Washington, DC-based association has included links on its web site (atmeda.org) to organizations that have established operations in the country. Some may be requesting financial or technical assistance.
In addition, ATA has developed a web form to collect offers of assistance for telemedicine services and related equipment. The information submitted will be shared with relief organizations but will not be made public.
The health fallout from the earthquake is sure to be felt for many years. The next phase will be to coordinate volunteer efforts for ongoing health services in Haiti, once the initial shock has subsided. Many ATA members have volunteered services, hardware, software and networks for ongoing health issues. ATA said it will work to match these donations to the organizations and programs that can best use them.
Small progress noticed in movement toward telehealth reimbursement
As of January 1, 2010, skilled nursing facilities using telemedicine software can take advantage of extended Medicare billing codes.
Telehealth codes C0406-G0408, previously used only for patients in inpatient hospitals, have been extended to include followup services for skilled nursing facilities. Detailed information is available in CMS document MM6705:
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/MM6705.pdf
