Home Forums Discussions General Discussion Practice Management question

This is last of my questions about the "forest", instead of the "trees", for AC. Sorry in advance for the long intro to the question.

Practice management software has got to be some of the most complicated programs to code, IMHO. And with ICD-10 on the horizon, the stakes are huge, and the need for the emr and pm components to work well together are critical. As a rheumatologist, and for any physician in the musculoskeletal organ system area, ICD-10 is going to be a double pain for any problem that is left or right sided.

AC has a PM you say, but it seems like a billing service, for around 5% of net collections.

In my case, going with that would be more than the price for eCW, each and every year. More importantly, I would have to lay off billing staff to compensate, and my least senior biller is engaged and just bought a house, so that can't happen.

I want to buy and have the software on my server for PM, as we have for 12 years with Medisoft.

I am not trying to change AC, but give feedback that paying a percentage of collections is a major obstacle for specialists and larger practices going forward that are not having a problem with collections.

In support of AC, I am impressed that the meaningful use hurdle has been cleared so well, even if it put a major dent in the fit and finish of the emr for a little while, since it shows that the company has the motivation and ability to overcome the increasing regulations on emrs.

My concern is whether I would be better served by a program that has an integrated PM, even if the EMR is frustrating.

In that context, and because almost everyone on the board is combining AC with another PM, what problems are you having by combining EMR and PM, and/or do you have any concerns about combining AC with another PM when ICD-10 comes?

Actually, AC has some affiliated billing services but does NOT have a PM. Version 7, which will include a PM (or at least the first portion of one) is due out as a beta in the next few months. The plan is to ultimately meet ICD-10 requirements. It sounds like you should stick with what you have at least until then. There are several fairly recent threads along the lines of "which PM do you use", and you can take a look at those (though the search function here is notoriously weak).

Thank you Jon,

Do you know if the V7 PM will be a software purchase or a percentage of collections?

Dan

Neither, it is included in your annual fee with no additional cost.

There will be a cost for a clearinghouse if you want it, but it is not required.

Question: I understand the PM will be launched shortly......and is expected to be part of the AC suite moving forward that as Donna notes is covered by the intial purchase and/or annual fee. We are looking to start using AC within the next 30 days.....before PM launch. Does anyone know how AC will handle the PM adder once available? Will it come in the form of an update?

Also since we have laregly decided on AC and hope the PM side will be robust and avaialable (if so our plan is to manage EHR for this year and set breakpoint after eval of AC PM of Dec 31. This allows us a clean break with Medisoft and will also allow us to eliminate double-tap of demo data as we assume AC PM will seemlessly integrate with AC EHR.
Should we trial for the 90 days asnd then pull the trigger? Interested on what others have done?

B/R

Roxanne

Thanks all,

Duh, I see that now in the status update

Dan