Home Forums Discussions General Discussion Status of AC update to version "7"

Does anyone know what that status of version 7 update? I am reading information regarding medicare going to "stage 2" as of January which is going to reguire more compliance from the providers.

Medicare Meaningful Use will still be using phase 1 criteria for 2013. This gives EHR companies until 2014 to comply with phase 2.

I would still like to know what the status is. We have been waiting about 3 years for the practice management program. When we first signed on with AC, we were told "in about 6 months". That has been the same answer every 6 months!!! I even signed up to be a beta tester so we can at least start to utalize the program and give feed-back. Our office is in needs as a program ASAP!! Our current one is becoming out dated and has not been support in over a year. We PRAY nothing happens.

To paraphrase Dr. Bertman, speaking on 12/6.... "practice management will not be available for several months." "I will be learning more details next week and will put out an update at that time".

Any word on version 7 of Amazing Charts? Or, will version 7 be an update with the practice management?

Dr. Bernard Staff,

My recommendation is that you go ahead and upgrade to version 6.3.3 of Amazing Charts which is the currently supported version. Further, if you require a PM system, go ahead and start looking at third party solutions now. And, if you have any IT concerns, go ahead and address those as well.

It is my professional opinion that waiting for version 7 just for the PM system is not a viable option.

JamesNT

FYI - We have already been running verison 6.3.3. I assumed that since they were going to hold the session in Washington DC (which I was signed up for but unfortunetly had to be cancelled) this was a sign that the new version and practice management were near completion!!!

From prior experience, I think that you can assume that version 7 and the practice management module will be rolled out as a "work in progress". It may be risky to your practice to bet on it initially meeting your needs. As James said above, start looking for another solution for PM, and watch the board for comments once version 7 rolls out. Just IMHO.

I would concur. After much Googling, we decided to keep track of our books using Quickbooks. I'm not a big fan of their business practices, but there is some peace of mind when going with a de facto standard: support and a huge knowledgebase. If you have a question or problem, there is a good chance that someone has answered it, or provided an add-on module to address it. If a great PM module comes down the pike, there is also a good chance that you can export the QB data in a format that the new PM can likely assimilate.

We did not want to introduce yet another proprietary moving part into the mix.

Just wondering. How many people here, were they to make the choice again, would choose AC? I talked to Dr. Bertman in June 2009, he told me PM will be ready by Christmas. My bad, I should have asked what year!

Funny. But unfortunately all too true. Our fully integrated V7 with practice management has experienced significant delays. The current status of V7 is here.

Since we aren't yet sure when we will be able to finally deliver V7, we have decided to provide a V6.5 release, which will contain not only many of the cool features of V7, but also the necessary items for clients working to achieve Meaningful Use, which is (relatively) painless using our Meaningful Use Wizard. (Disclosure: attempt at misdirection.)

Just to clarify, we already do much practice management in Amazing Charts, like scheduling and Dx searching, CPT and E&M coding, and the ability to share interoperably the billing data with dozens of other third-party billing programs. We also, as many here know, have a partnership with third-party billing companies who will do your billing for a rate lower than the national average. (Disclosure: rationalization.)

Okay, to answer your question - I see now the answer would have been 2013, and I am truly sorry not only for the delay, but also being so naive about the complexity of adding a complete revenue cycle management tool. (Disclosure: excuses.) Rest assured, we are working hard to ensure we get this all done soon, and right. (Disclosure: Attempt at placation - but, like everything above, is the truth.)

My question to you is, would you have still joined this community based on the status today?

Jon

Thanks, Jon, for the above, rationalizations included. I'm still here and just as whiney as always, if that answers your question. AC is what it is, and useful for what it is. Looking forward to its evolution, whenever.

But, John and Jon, don't lose sight of the goal:

Imported items must stay closed!!!!!

Please tell us that V6.5 does this!

Happy Holidays to all!

Donna,

I couldn't have said it better.

Happy Holidays & New Year!

if had to do over would choose hosted vitera. i think...
i like 6.3.3 but we did get it with the understanding v7 was coming. we need a PM. our PM will not integrate with AC.

I have 7 partners just writing charts and using Doctor First for MU 1. They want to look at AC for a final solution. Currently we schedule and use Medical Manager for billing....
I dont want to be hesitant to show them AC, but alas I am...so I wish someone would convince me to do so..I have used AC for many years and like it...

AC without robust PM will not survive (and should not) and we must start looking at other options. Period.

Yes, the delay in practice management is disappointing and frustrating. I suppose that if an integrated EMR and PM was a requirement for me, I might look at other options. It is not. I continue to firmly believe that AC is far better than any of the alternatives, especially when you consider price in the decision making process.

I did not get a real explanation for this failure. If it is such a good product how come it did not attract deep pocket investors at a time when it is almost the only industry that is booming. Incompetence? Lack of vision? In the words of Talleyrand - It is worse than a crime: it is a mistake. Stage 2 is coming and I am supposed to believe that AC is going to deliver? Convince me, too, please. "Show me the money!"

First, I would like to applaud Bertman for coming clean in his post and in doing so in a humorous way. Be it clear that I am a long time supporter of Amazing Charts and still am. Our clients that have AC love it and I have found it very easy to integrate with AC's database as opposed to other EMR's.

Disclosure: I am the software developer and IT support for a billing company.

At this point, I would like to address some of the comments made since Bertman's.

Doug,

Are you sure you would go with someone else so easily? AC is a great EMR. Is the other EMR as good? Are you robbing Peter to pay Paul in that the other EMR may integrate but you would lose much in features and useability? Or, perhaps you would be better of switching PM's to one that does interface with AC?

It may be that you could build an interface. I use SQL Server Integration Services to interface with Amazing Charts and many others. What PM are you using? I may be able to advise you.

todd,

Why are you hesitant? If you have used AC for many years and like it, it sounds like you already have your answer. Perhaps you could elaborate on what the big hold up is. . .

EasyRider,

Clearly, you have never been in a situation where outside investors are involved. I can assure you, that is not a smooth ride. When you take their money, you take their sheet as well. Outside investors want a quick return on their money and they start pulling all kinds of strings to get it. One of the first things I can see changing should outside investors get involved is the price of Amazing Charts. Think about it. You just gave Bertman $5 million. When you look at the average price of the EMR market and you see that AC is charging only a small fraction of what everyone else charges, you're going to ask why. You're going to walk up to Bertman and ask him why he is leaving that kind of money on the table. At this point, Bertman is going to give you his "kind capitalism" speech. And then you're going to ask why you shouldn't take your money back. Interestingly enough, in another thread you made the comment: "If a business deal involves the word "trust" - just walk away and feel good that you avoided a disaster." Yet, you expect someone to just trust Bertman with their money to solve your problems for you. How do you resolve that?

The reason version 7 isn't ready yet is simple: Bertman underestimated the complexity of writing a PM system and I applaud him for admitting to it. I've written an ANSI 837 generator for sending claims and an ANSI 835 parser for auto-posting remittance. It took me 6 months to get my 837 generator to be accepted by Zirmed. When we switched to RealMed, I then had to make several changes for them. It took me 4 months to get my 835 parser to work correctly and post payments as it should. And in the years since, I've had to make several changes because of all the little stunts BCBS and Medicare/Medicaid like to pull. Now you know why most PM's have a "preferred clearinghouse." It's very difficult to write a 837 generator and 835 parser that will be universally accepted.

And if a developer as good as I am spent a year just on those two things, what about the rest of it? How do you mesh user interfaces such that everything flows and makes sense? What database changes will be needed? How will you handle upgrades so that a practice'ss database will be upgraded with zero dataloss? All those partners you have that interface with you - how will their systems be broken when they realize version 7 has all these new tables and several existing tables will be changed?

Lastly, I fail to see why AC should fail just because they don't have a PM. Many practices already have a PM solution, such as my company, and just want an EMR. I think AC does a great job of filling in the best need with the best product.

Please think these things through. You may find that you have most of the answers already.

JamesNT

Merry Christmas!

I suppose the reason AC is teaming up with PriMed is exactly all of the above.

For me, I find AC very usable in a small family practice, and definitely all I can afford. I don't understand how people are saddling themselves with $40K+ systems that are no more functional, and often less so. And even at that, most of them don't come with PM --

A lot of offices just send their billing out. We use Medware, and have for close to 20 years. Also inexpensive (though increasingly expensive as it switches from new owner to new owner). Some duplication, of course, without full integration -- but it isn't the worst problem we face in the office.

think i was expressing a little disappointment or anxiety. if i had to do over would choose AC again. people have been super. look forward to v7 and try to be patient.

James:
I have partners sadly from the dark ages and they dont understand IT, EMR, etc. They got mad that Dr. First didnt send someone to the office for training (they dont offer that and never would for the price they charge). The only reason I have AC is that I got mad at my partners 8 years ago so I chose AC and ran with it. I guess I just cant sell AC to them at it's current level AND I have had sales training (worked in sales for 10 years).

I am still happy with Amazing Charts, it is still the best EMR for the money and I am not sure if I had unlimited funds what I would choose instead.

Yes the PM is delayed, likely because it is much more complicated than expected, but also because of all the extra work to integrate meaningful use into the program that took time and energy away from the PM.

It had to be done as no EMR will survive without it, but it did cause some teething problems and delays.

I am willing to wait to see if the PM works as well as the rest of the program and get by with EZ-Claims and Office Ally until then.

Greg

James,
I have to disagree with you to a large extent because of all the things I have discussed with others here, outside, folks who were looking at AC and asking for our experience and insight, THIS being one of the most Continuous on going repeating thread themes and conversations here at this board, Years Before You (no offense meant by this) and half the other people here now on either side of the issue existed on this board or were even using AC at all. It is also something that has been discussed at length with Dr Jon and Nancy & Myself, and MANY other user clients, again for years....

Just about a year or so ago, Jon Asked for my insight into what were the reasons folks did or did not eventually move, purchase, use AC and I told him what I had seen repeatedly both HERE on the Board as well as when discussing AC with other practices for over four years back when Nancy (my wife and doc) was still part of a fairly good sized regional IPO, IPA org which was looking to get involved with ONE vendor that would make it easy for the docs and Org to all interface together and with the two hospitals that the Org was formed around (docs with priviledges and or on staff at these two out of four hospitals in Syracuse) that without the PM module that was integrated so many people already had present "Medent" crap that only because of regional market penetration and super old fashioned IBM like sales and marketing to a closed loop almost has dominated our region for many years now. Ask a Syracuse Practice what PM they use and I can almost make it a lock that over 50-60% use Medent with a good amount of Medisoft followed by some of the also rans based on goodness only knows until you get to the small guys like us here who make choices based on actualy bang for the buck and semi-reasonable prices.

Jon was also VERY interested in IMP like members like ourselves and many other small, one or two docs, solo and what we call solo/solo (a solo doc with pretty much NO support or other clinical staff, MAYBE a part-time spouse or what have you, a doc and a room or two basically) who seemed like a good amount, dare I say even a majority forming of the newer ones making choices TODAY as of a year or two now, were going with Practice Fusion. And I told Jon what my observations were at the IMP board and talk with friends and members there and it was 1) HUGE Price incentive of FREE!!! Including only needing good high speed internet access and normal, run of the mill PC's to access and use the thing in full.... 2) INTEGRATED Practice Managment....

It was clear to me from numerous conversations with other practices and docs outside of the AC circle that the equation went like this basically:

Let's See here...
1) Intro Buy In Cost:
Pratice Fusion, $0; Amazing Charts $500, $995, now $1995. Answer Practice Fusion

2) Annual Updates and Suppport:
Practice Fusion, again $0; Amazing Charts, $500, now $995. Answer Practice Fusion

3) Fully Integrated Practice Management and Billing:
Pratice Fusion YES to ALL of the Above!!! Great!; Amazing Charts, Basically NO and this continued drawn out, delay after Delay, yes, maybe, its coming, well now this, that and the other thing side tracked us and got in the way.

4) COST of Practice Management and Billing....
Practice Fusion Included as Part of ZERO Dollars, Cost
Amazing Charts: Not really there, may not be there, final answer was almost certainly the same higher prices we already know for Amazing Charts in the Previous 3 Bullet Points....

Conclusion: If you are not a real Constitutional, Left (me) or Rigth (Nancy) wing Libertarian who views the over exchange of PHI, sort of and hopefully depersonalized enough or not as a BAD and Horribly, Nation Destroying thing on the same level as Warrentless Searches and Indefinate Holding of Suspects in Undisclosed Locations, were too wrapped up in day to day business and patients, and medical rules and laws, lesser concern for those who simply don't care to ask and demand better from docs or gov't... 95% of those Very Small and even Very Medically Super Ethical (why else be an ala IMP like practice in the first place right? Personal Choice and Freedom from the System and a personal inability to run the 5-10, 40 plus patients a day "Hamster Wheel" for yourself and your entire panel of patients, that's why.) Docs, not the usually don't care, blow things off, stay focused on the daily flow of bodies and cash docs.... the clear and repeated answer was and still is it seems to many....
Practice Fusion.

It seemed to me that Jon sort of felt and understood them as do I too for that matter, that Practice Fusion was AC's largest in the same League, Level of Competition, Competitor for this small practice market. And so he was very interested in having this conversations with many others to gain insight into these issues and or keep his finger on the pulse of the market in a larger context as both a business man, vendor as well as Journal Editor and the like as well.

As I said I believe that Practice Fusion AC's Main, right up their butt fighting for the same subset, slice of this larger market. AC was not orginally designed nor is it really today, designed to be a product to be marketed to larger places such as hospitals and Large ACO's and the like. It was always the Brain Child of a Man who wanted to put a thorn in the side of the larger guys who prayed upon the likes of us and I believe that Practice Fusion who came later and took advantage of modern early 21st century Larger and Cheaper Memory in both RAM, Servers, Drives for main and back-up storage, and the spread and constant improvements in High Speed access and internet providers nationwide, and the VALUE of DATA Mining in exchange for a Cheap or Free Product, went after this same slice of the market with a newer, more Virtual or Cloud based, Hosted model in their version for it. And they saw the constant issues and heard the questions too, and even probably good and bad feedback about AC from those that use it, used it or looked at it and decided NOT to go with AC too, and so PF made their choice to integrate Practice Management for those like ourselves to capture the sales for those that such a thing was a good part of their bullet points on their shopping list. It was MINE and many others here as well.

Answer Practice Fusion

I would like to believe that even in today's climate knowing both my own and Nancy's belief in ownership and Posession of DATA, and Control of Data, and our shared mutual belief in not playing a part in the creation of the Big Brother State with singular, one chart for an entire lifetime and all that comes with that, we would have still chosen Amazing Charts. But in all honesty as someone who just had ANOTHER long, unpleasant 20 minutue conversation with our outsourced Billing Company about the submit the printed Bills, Invoices out of AC and send them via fax or PDF to our billing company, where they go into the HOSE ME Layer of the Atmosphere, the HOSEZONE, or my favorite term for those of us who make use of a non-connected Billing Company, those claims then enter the "Black Box" where without a real decent program it is almost Impossible to keep track of what is out there, where they are in the entire flow and chain of it all, why any or many of them are going thru well, stuck or lost or anything else, no less be able to decern some sort of explaination, reason, no less a SOLUTION to the different CRAP reasons these Abusive Paid Off our Entire Gov't to remain alive and viable when they should all be Dead already Crooked Insurance Carriers.... I need Access to real time, visable, with reasons and codes, Red Flags Screaming at me, reports and all the rest and I need it NOW, I needed Many Yesterdays ago already... Ever since Nancy and I along with a few old timers around here like Leslie and others first started whispering and then speaking louder and gaining concensious around here back in 2006-'07 when we first joined on, signed on back in Feb of 2006.

Today has been a rude re-awakening for me on so many levels including that our billing company, perhaps almost ANY Billing company, will always STINK and not give a Rat's Behind about most clients, no less some of the smallest, solo primaries whose every claim practically rarely exceeds $100.00 or so... So do the MATH, and chew things out on a larger, Macro Level, don't spend too much time on any given claim, perhaps even put a time or dollar limit on any given Office Visit like and Sized claim and then simply bury it, write it off and give the client a HORSESHIT explaination about whatever rule that hung up the few that they are aware of and never own up to the real reasons behind their just not giving a $#!t.

But my other rude re-awakening and much more than it has been in many years now is that when combined with the first problem up above this AC does not have an integrated PM, so we can see things on a daily, patient by patient level, and either do most or all of this for ourselves or at least very Harshly Babysit the heck out of the Billing Vendor of our Choice with real time access to data, letting them perhaps make use of "Log Me In" to fly a spare computer on our network, to stop this billing enmass with little concern for the real individual or long term, modest group reasons for our claims...

I fear AC's lack of bring a PM to market and our lack of investing in another one because of the Continuous, Oh, here's the newest reason for this half a year or a year as to why there is not yet a Practice Management Module in place has lost us MANY Untold and Difficult to Accurately Quantify Thousands upon Thousands of Dollars. And it is this lack of tracking, over the shoulder watching, constant butt riding that both the Billing Companies as well as the Insurance Carriers, CMS TOO count upon as means of saving and or Profitting again Untold Millions of lost dollars we Doctors and their Offices, Practices honestly earned and deserve. Perhaps enough in our case to make or break the difference between the teetering on the brink of collapse that we have been facing for way too long vs starting to dig out and perhaps actually have our first year solidly in the Black in a good number of years now....

Software Vendors in industries such as ours are supposed to creating and assisting in "Problem Solving & Elimination", Control of the Out of Control, Tidying up the out of Control Messes, and creating Order out of what without their help would almost certainly be tons of continuous Kaos (Get Smart, "Sorry about that Chief..."). And an Integrated Practice Management Solution is HUGH an MOST Logical solution to such problems in our industry. And it is the same kind of problems and solutions across the nation, not just regionally in our area or yours... BUT everywhere for sure.

I would not be so upset if at some point a few years ago AC's accurate and honest answer was, "Hey ya know what? This is a very large undertaking and with all the other crap on the Horizon, we don't really want to promise anything and we know that we shouldn't be either.... And so like in other places we want to be very square with all of you loyal long term users and clients who have been asking and waiting, that you need to start looking at other solutions for the foreseeable future, as we don't really know if and when we are going to finally get this done to a level that is satisfying to ourselves as well as you our loyal customers... SO please go out and get yourself something good or at the very least decent because the more we research this the more we realize that this is not a small or easy to crack nut and we don't want you, our customers to suffer monetary losses and otherwise because of goodness only knows how long delays."

This is Not the first time we have heard and seen the goalposts being moved another notch or two further down the field, so we don't ever acheive any real, visable and meaningful progress towards the all too needed End Goal, End Zone. This is one of a good number of such repeated set backs and disappointments over a good number of years now. I would hope that after the first year or so of looking at basic requirments and codes, and what most offices use a PM for and do with it, that at some point, the basic concept and internal needs and designs would have been understood well enough to at least offer all of us a good solid answer, even if that answer was, the above this is very large, its not going to be easy and it probably will even Hurt now and again for both our side and yours too. So please do the right thing, take good care of your needs today and for the foreseeable future and if and when we get truly close enough to be ready to really release something we'll get back to you then...

That's the kind of good solid answer we all needed a good long time ago. But for many reasons not know to us we were never let in on the Enormity of the task at hand and the real life potential sidetracks and delays. Instead we got those repeated, 6 months, one more Business Quarter, 3rd quarter or 4th quarter of whatever year, many years back now. That's not cool or appropriate and it sort of hurts and destroys trust and faith. Just help me and provide the solutions you can honestly provide and deliver. And equally just as important, let me know when you can't or are not sure and don't really have a solid understanding of the parameters and timelines and so simply let me know to look elsewhere for those solutions you can't or can't yet provide or assist with for an undertermined and almost certainly long period of time... Just let me know so I can take care of MYSELF instead of sitting on my hands waiting for what one would hope was at least understoond well enough to let me know and I'll start to look elsewhere instead.

And I Guess it is in that repeated pattern of promises or predictions made, and repeatedly repealed and modified, set back again and again that really upsets not just us, but many others who have been waiting and those that even bought in based upon a promise that it was just around the corner only to start to be part of this long chain of disappointed and left hanging docs and practices.

There are many good points in the entirety of this thread. Was the cost of admission a big factor? Of course it was.

We also knew that the conversion to EMR wasn't going to be smooth sailing - adoption of new workflows seldom is. AC was our cautious foray into EMR. The lack of PM is a sore point, but by and large, it's been a worthwhile endeavor. I can't say enough about this board - w/o it, we might have pulled the cord a while back.

To put the cost into perspective: would we have paid 5K or even 10K for a system that was *clearly* better, and was integrated with PM? Yes, we would have. But the thing is, paying 40K doesn't necessarily guarantee that you're going to get a better experience in the niche software market.

Basically, if this doesn't work out:

1. We haven't tossed 30K+ out the door.
2. Maybe most importantly, the data is in a format that is easily assimilated by other programs.

Paul, have you and Nancy switched to Practice Fusion? Do you like all the ads, or are you paying money to have them deleted. Glad you have no issues with them selling your data.

I truly did not know that PF has a robust PM system (this is not cynical, I did not know this.) On review of their website, you can export to your current biller (AC can do this) sign on to one of their billing partners (AC can do this) or sign up for their "affordable" billing software (AC's not there yet, but the software will be included.

I have achieved meaningful use. The costs of using AC for 10 years have been recouped. I will hopefully go on to the next stages and actually have a surplus, but if not, I still have the best EMR out there and I am satisfied. My understanding is that PF will NOT achieve MU2, and I am comfortable that AC will, thus, AC is more cost effective.

I do think that AC should have considered joining with an existing billing software such as either Office Ally's software or EZclaims.

It might have been cheaper for them to buy a version of EZClaims for everyone than spend the time they have on coding and then they could CLAIM they have an integrated PM system. EZClaims is not great but it would have filled the nitch.

Office Ally has their own agenda and has their own EMR, but perhaps that could have worked. I do not know enough about their Practice Mate product to have a comment about it's pro's and con's.

But AC felt it would be better to build it from the ground up. They have done a marvelous job. V7 is very good but there are still some glitches. You can't have glitches when you are dealing with peoples money, so it has not been released in general circulation. As James said, it's a tall task and easy to get bogged down on little details. I accept their way and continue to do my billing outside at the present, but I am ready to change as soon as practical.

Many software products are delayed from expected release, AC is no exception, but they let you know what is in the pipeline and often let you beta it easier than many companies.

No we have not because we are the Libertarians I spoke of who don't want to give our patients' as well as Her Professional charting style and habits of Data over to goodness knows who to do goodness knows what with it. We are going to take a good sized "hit" for not connecting to the Health Exchanges in protection of both doc and patients.

I was just reporting to Jon my observations as a member of IMP who was very involved with their member board and friends still with some good member docs, family staff and the like. Without the PM component no less the cost differential for those who do NOT believe as well do, that the outside access to doctor data and patient info to ANYBODY practically is Unethical and should be illegal, not mandated, are moving mostly to Practice Fusion. Also the lack of concern about upkeep and back-ups for so many folks is a real plus, as opposed to us who accept the hassle and costs of such things as part of our larger job and responsibility to protect our patients PHI and data.

The idea of double entry to have a FREE PM has started to cross my mind though. I'm just tired of the repeated delays and retreats, all with the Offering of Dates, Created Expectations, which then we make use of as info to make personal business choices, to wait one more 3 to 6 month period. At some point one has to go with the old adage I think though: "that the best predictor of future behavior is previous behavior". These constant and repeated dates set followed by let downs, and the lost time, lost money and Locus of Control of it all, both the PM finally coming to life as well as finally having better control over this present "Black Box" like outsourced situations... Is very hurtful, disappointing and depressing, and yes "Frustrating" too.

Make statements you can hold to and if not don't make them, and instead be open and square that you really have no idea where and when the final end game is at and let people know, let people GO (and is that the real problem here? Who know and it would be rude to assume, but with the AC black box one's mind does tend to wander around attempting to answer the questions, figure out the puzzle, make sense of what one is experiencing) to fill their needs elsewhere. Yes this would be potentially hurtful or harmful to AC in lost intro, new client sales as well as potential old customers make choice which could be purchase of interface as well, so not complete loss there....

But in the final analysis this constant set backs and re-setting of the goalposts for such a long time and so many times really does feel like perhaps we're the ones making the mistake for believing the previous ones as well as "Here We Go Again...."

In all honesty, I am very baffled as to why AC, Jon and whoever else might be part of the inner circle brain trust there these days, have not chosen to put some serious resources, to bite the bullet, put money aside as they did for Meaningless Use, and make it a strong Priority to Save some Face and Good Will with new and old clients and make sure this gets done already, and that it gets done pretty darn well to boot.

I have not a single idea of what this takes to do or get done and from what little I do understand of database programs I believe it to be a real time and resource consuming PIA and therefore I do not envy Jon and Staffs rough days previous or ahead for sure. But as the client who has needed a solution to this ever changing and growing problem of Screw the Doctor who already provided the services We, both personal and general WE need a clean and well functioning solution before we literally have the last piece of furniture and network cable taken out of here.

So if you can be that solution GREAT, I would Really like that, and clearly after all this waiting Obviously AC was our First Choice By a mile or more. But if you can't deliver and or delivery is going to get here when it gets here, and that is not a quantifiable, predictable thing then simply let us know so we could have started to solve this huge problem a few years ago now already. Its frustation combined with the all too real poverty from not having any sense or actual control over this Black Box situation. We need that to change Very Fast, as we have waited long enough on to be given temporary, one or two more Quarters as I stated above.

We need to save our lost claims and cash that nobody in the billing business side seems to give a rat's behind about besides the doc, their PM who are getting slaughtered over. So the question is super Clear, Can you Help or Not and if so When? And if you can't give pretty firm answer to those questions then please be kind and considerate enough, understand enough, concerned about all of us enough to simply say, Don't Know, Not Sure... Please my good friends and customers, go find other fairly long, or mid length solutions to hold you over and keep your businesses afloat, your families fed, your debt paid if and until I get back to you with Firmer, confident answers.

That's my stance here...
Paul

Paul,

I agree with a lot of what you said, though I must admit, your posts are so long, there is not enough time in the day to read every word. After your comments about Practice Fusion, I went to their website forum and just glanced through some people's comments and questions about various features. Based on the answers I see there, I suspect we have a much better EMR. Despite the delays with the PM system, I still trust Jon more than most CEOs out there. That is worth a lot to me. I am one of those who is holding onto an outdated PM system by a thread in the hopes AC will save me before having to purchase something else, so I do not make this comment lightly. Any company who makes their money by advertising and data mining is in a whole different ball park than I am. I'm waiting this one out. Please, Jon, don't make me look foolish.

Here's a thought. Let's get AC to actually use the data we put into it.

We use version 6.3.3. Did you know you can't use modifier Q5? It has to be entered as a comment. Did you know that you can set up Hospitals, nursing homes, etc.. through the admin section, but the software won't put them on your claims? You can populate the rolodex with names, addresses, NPI numbers, but you can't use the data on claims (for referring physician, etc..). If you do a CLIA test in-house, there's no way to place the practice as the facility and have AC populate your CLIA number on the claim.

If we could even bill out appropriately, it would be a great help while we wait for the PM.

All we know is that 6.5 will have some of the "cool" features of 7. What would those features be? How about just fixing basic claims processing?

Interesting that the request to be a beta tester for version 7 is no longer an option, and instead was replaced by a link to request to be a beta tester for version 6.5, the description of which mentions nothing about any type of practice management features. Noticed that change after the announcement of the "affiliation" with Pri-Med....maybe they don't see the practice management module as all that important. Kinda would go along with what JamesNT was talking about above with outside investors...

From the Pri-Med conference, the understanding I got is that 6.5 is the planned immediate release to get the non-PM upgrades to us first while they continue to tweak the PM stuff for the planned 7.0 release. So with 6.5, the interface hub should come out with the letter writer and the other smaller fixes that they have worked on. Hopefully that sheds a little light from what I recall from the info dispensed at the last gathering.


Shankar
Family Med
Lawrenceville, NJ

Version 6.5 is the planned immediate release.

It will get some of the "cool" features planned for 7, without the PM portion.

Exactly which "cool" features, I have no idea.

I just wish they could at least fix the billing section; that is, send out claims appropriately.

And what does "immediate release" for V6.5 translate to in real time? AC is killing us with PQRS and Meaningful Use. Is AC planning to get ONC certified under the new 2014 criteria? Why didn't they self-nominate as a PQRS certified vendor when they already had Medicare calculations built into the MU Wizard? We need those things and an AC practice management EHR. Like others who have posted, I'm starting to feel that AC's lack of communication with me as a customer, is forcing us into considering another EHR. (We love AC and I never thought I'd be saying this.) AC, please start letting us no what's going on!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think they are going to fold.

From what Claire has told me, "immediate release" is getting 6.5 to beta by the end of the month. Then they would go to general release in February.

I have been using GatewayEDI as a vendor for years before I got into AC. I was hoping to continue using them. Problem is, AC does not even output claims files correctly so that they can use them. Only a few vendors know how to use AC's oddball files. A friend is working on a converter so I can send my claims to Gateway. No help from AC, of course.

If this doesn't work, Practice Fusion is going look more and more inviting.

Too bad, though, as I really like the idea of a small company doing a great job.

Honestly - going from beta to general release in 1 month seems like a bit of a reach to me.

I have been on version 7 for a while. Will I be"rolled back" to 6.5? Communication has been poor regarding what's going on and I can never get answer. I was encouraged to get EZ claims as a"band aid" , but that hasn't worked either. When we ask for help , it seems Claire is the person we need, but she is frequently unavailable.

Ezclaims is supposed to have a direct interface, but it does not seem to work. This has ruined my cash flow.

I frequently get dumped out of the program (not crash), but end up on my desk top.

I need to see my patients and not fight a system that's supposed to help me.

Even though I am testing the system, I still had to pay for support. That $995.00 should have been waived for beta test sites!

Very disappointed!

Sounds like you need to communicate with someone at AC.
In no particular order:
1) I used EZClaims some time ago and it seemed to work. I was trying to also use Office Ally and OA and Illinois Medicaid were not playing nice and each blamed the other. It did output from AC however. Now that might have been V5, I have not tried it since, but it should work.
2) Beta testing is not for the weak of heart. You are putting your data at risk as well as your billing. It does require diligence and close communication to make sure that all is going well. One of the prerequisites for beta testing is that you are subscribed for maintenance, while it might be nice to throw you a bone, asking for rebate on support seems asking for a lot.
3) I have rarely, if ever, been dumped out of V7. Again, sounds like you need to talk to support.
4) I have had some issues and only once did I need to be kicked up to a higher level to get support. Most of the support people were able to help me. Granted, it did not relate to the PM areas, which are new, but I think support has been briefed on V7 particulars.
5) I don't know how difficult it is to downgrade go V6.X, but given your issues, this does sound like a reasonable thing to do. Since V7 has been working for me, I would stick with it until it moves foreword. It would appear to have been stalled while they roll more needed corrections into V6.5 and clean it up.

Why would I want to pay several thousand for EZClaims if this thing is going to get fixed in just a few months?

Worst part about EZClaims is that I can't even get an evaluation copy. If it doesn't work, then Oh Well, a few thousand more down the drain.