Two Weeks Into IDC-10, Uncertainty Remains

A quick Internet search will yield plenty of updated news after the latest rollout of IDC-10, most of it positive. However, despite the mostly optimistic headlines, there is a modicum of uncertainty that remains.

The system is still too new for many health care professionals to have a strong opinion one way or another, but future looking, it’s hard to say how the long-term effects will impact billing and collections.

“Depending on how prepared the organization or facility is, they could see different issues,” says Melanie Endicott, senior director of HIM practice excellence at the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), according to HealthLeaders Media. “There are facilities out there that have been doing dual coding for a year or six months or longer. They’ve had lots of practice, and will be able to jump right in.”

For those unfamiliar with IDC-10, it is the “the 10th revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD), a medical classification list…”

The biggest concern in the health care industry is delays in claims and processing due to improper coding, but the overall benefit of IDC-10 is the ability to better track diseases, measure care, and evaluate patients overall.

Some of the more common complaints in these earlier stages deal with time constraints and system updates. Some have complained of longer wait times with insurance companies, technical difficulties, and wondering when payments will be dispersed. Others have complained of the added time to find the right code when caring for patients, citing that time to code properly has taken time away from those who need care.

Some facilities are still facing the challenges of training staff and bringing everyone up to speed on the newest codes, but that is why compliance programs exist, like those through OSHA.

MedXWaste offers OSHA Compliance Programs to help with the current changes in the medical industry. Our OSHA Compliance Program can help medical facilities with the ongoing transition to ICD-10, thereby reducing rejected claims and giving more time where time is needed: to focus on patients and taking care of communities.

The latest transition to ICD-10 has not been without its challenges, but with the right training program in place, MedXWaste can assist you make a seamless transition.

IDC-10

The medical coding system that was put in place 30 years ago is due for an update. ICD-9 is the set of codes used by healthcare practitioners and hospitals for diagnosis, and while many countries have moved to ICD-10 years ago, the U.S. is making its transition with the final date of compliance by October 1, 2015.

“ICD-10 codes will provide better support for patient care, and improve disease management, quality measurement and analytics,” said Marilyn Tavenner, Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in a statement on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services website. “For patients under the care of multiple providers, ICD-10 can help promote care coordination.”

The difference between ICD-9 and ICD-10 comes down to detail; with the new implementation, practitioners will be able to gather more information on patients, which means diseases and health outcomes will be tracked with greater efficiency.

The move towards ICD-10 is one that has been needed for quite some time. ICD-9 is outdated, with obsolete medical terms that do not align with current medical technology and practices.

Examples of change include reclassification of certain diseases to reflect current medical knowledge, updated definitions of modern practices, and categorizing injuries by anatomical site, not by the injury itself.

Healthcare facilities must be prepared to ensure a smooth transition to ICD-10. Compliance programs are available so that managers and staff can stay current on the newest classifications and regulations.

MedXWaste offers OSHA Compliance Programs to help with the changing landscape of the medical field, including medical waste removal and safety plan builders.

In addition to accessing millions of MSDS/SDSs and bringing staff up to current safety codes, our OSHA Compliance Program helps ease the transition to ICD-10, allowing facilities to reduce rejected claims and bring systems to the current standard.

As with major changes in any industry, the transition to ICD-10 will require focused effort and attention.

Let MedXWaste assist you with the transition today. Contact us for pricing and details.

Medical Record Shredding

We know that proper medical waste management and removal is crucial to protection staff and the community. Medical waste are unwanted biological products that are highly infectious in nature. If not disposed properly, it poses a health and environmental danger.

While not physically dangerous to others, medical professionals also have a duty to properly handle the removal of medical records and all patient data that is no longer required to retain.

Individual states generally govern how long medical records are to be retained. Understanding retention requirements is an obvious first step toward compliance. Once you’ve determined when it’s legally time to remove the records, a licensed shredding company should be hired to destroy the paperwork properly.

In general, retaining records—particularly paper records—for too long may be burdensome for medical record staff. Retaining paper records is also labor intensive and something that can be avoided if information is destroyed according to schedule. Record retention challenges also extend beyond a hospital’s walls, particularly as health information exchanges become more commonplace.

Know when and how you can safely destroy medical records. MedXWaste recommends Legal Shred, a NAID AAA-certified provider that can securely destroy your medical records. NAID certified means you are working with a vendor who has met all of the necessary steps required, under all regulatory guidelines, to protect sensitive data for clients, customers, and patients. In the shredding and document destruction industry, NAID is the only recognized source for security and ethics standards.

 

North America Tops Medical Crushers Market

Recent headlines tell us that North America is dominating the medical crushers market, a statistic that is largely driven by the fact that technological advancement is not only significant for this area, but also because of an increase in pharmaceutical industry, which is leading to increase in the medical waste industry. Europe and Asia are a close second.

According to a news release from Persistence Market Research, the “high adoption rate for medical crushers with new technology are driving the global market for medical crushers.”

Medical crushers are a necessity in the medical waste field, as they prevent the reuse of the infectious biomedical waste.

Reducing medical waste poses special challenges. Processing must meet stringent regulatory standards for the safe handling of infectious and red bag waste, including precise size reduction to ensure proper sterilization. In addition, the waste is comprised of many different materials, ranging from needles and syringes to disposable rags. Medical crushers can handle a range of materials such as syringes, linens, plastic sheets, latex gloves, boxed medical waste, trays and more, reducing them down to size while maintaining high performance rates.

Beyond medical crushers, the disposal of medical waste requires special handling to ensure that safety and regulatory requirements are met. Preparing the waste for incineration must use regulated bins and bags so that the materials are contained safely and in accordance with state and federal requirements.

MedXWaste has been a reliable source of medical waste removal, supplying doctors, doctors groups and associations, dentists, schools, clinics, laboratories, tattoo parlors, funeral homes, and veterinary offices with medical waste removal services.

We deliver to our clients a significant value in measurable cost savings and superior customer service, from OSHA Compliance Program Reviews to providing equipment, including bins, bags, and sharps containers to our clients. 90 percent of the medical waste we handle is autoclaved and the rest is incinerated.

MedXWaste can handle all of your medical waste removal needs, whether you’re a tattoo artist or a director of a high-volume lab.

Call us today for a quote and let us help you maintain your medical waste removal compliance.

Common Mistakes with Medical Waste Removal

If you run a busy lab, a large-scale hospital, or other type of healthcare facility, then you know that federal and state regulations mandate how and when you dispose of and store medical waste. Failure to comply with said regulations can not only put the health of your community and staff at risk, it also means you’ll incur hefty fines. Are you aware of some of the more common mistakes that are made when it comes to medical waste disposal?

Don’t skimp on waste packaging.

Biohazardous waste must be stored properly in order for it to be transported for removal. As we discussed in last week’s blog, shippers must ensure compliance with the U.S. DOT Hazardous Material Regulations for ground transport. The DOT requires that medical waste shippers receive general awareness, security awareness, and function-specific training.

Do you store your medical waste properly? Contaminated sharps must be placed in containers that are puncture resistant, closeable, leak-proof, and labeled or color-coded. Specimens of blood or other biohazardous materials must be placed in a container that is labeled and color coded and closed prior to being stored, transported, or shipped.

A good rule to remember is the higher risk a type of infectious waste poses to the environment and to humans, the higher standard of container you need.

MedXWaste provides equipment for your facility to help you comply with medical waste storage regulations, including bins, red bags, and sharps containers.

Speaking of containers, don’t put waste in the wrong container.

Containers for medical waste are not created equal. Many states categorize waste into sub-categorizes, such as cultures and stocks, human blood, blood products, sharps, and animal waste. Keeping types of medical waste separate and using properly marked containers is not only mandated by law, it’s helps you choose how and when, not to mention whom removes the waste for you.

Medical waste removal requires properly trained professionals and cannot be left up to just anyone to handle.

Whoever signs the manifest for waste pickup must have had the proper OSHA/DOT training and knowledge behind the medical waste. If your average Joe signs for anything that involves medical waste, your facility will receive a citation for non-compliance.

MedXWaste offers an online OSHA Compliance Program, which can be completed from your desktop, mobile device or tablet, includes safety data sheets, a safety plan builder, safety training on all regulated medical waste topics, including bloodborne pathogens, HIPAA and more, and answers to common questions regarding federal regulations.

If you’re unsure about any regulations, medical waste packaging and removal, or just want to be sure that you’re in compliance, MedXWaste can offer assistance in all of your medical waste removal needs. Avoid the common mistakes make medical waste disposal a smooth, safe, and compliant experience.

 

Who Handles Your Medical Waste?

Compliance in the medical waste removal field isn’t just good business practice, it’s mandated by state and federal regulations. Facilities that deal with regulated medical waste must follow a stringent set of rules to ensure the health and safety of patients, staff, and the professionals who are handling the waste.

Because medical wastes poses hazards that are unique in nature, restrictions must be followed for their transportation. Shippers must ensure compliance with the U.S. DOT Hazardous Material Regulations for ground transport. The DOT requires that medical waste shippers receive general awareness, security awareness, and function-specific training.

Of course, before medical waste can be removed and transported, it is up to the facility to dispose of it properly. As we discussed in a previous blog, segregating medical waste and using properly marked containers is not only good practice, it’s safe and economical so that you can choose how and when, not to mention whom removes the waste for you.

So, who is handling your medical waste?

Whether you’re a small, local dentist, a tattoo shop, or a large-scale laboratory or hospital, you must ascertain specific criteria before choosing a medical waste removal service.

Your medical waste removal provider should absolutely:

Be compliant. Compliance with State and Federal laws governing the disposal of medical waste is not a choice. It is the law.

Be reasonably priced. Be sure you are only being charged for what you need, not what is more than necessary.

Dependable. Cheaper doesn’t necessarily mean service and quality are compromised. At MedXWaste, our prices are competitive while our services are unmatched.

MedXWaste’s services are designed to fit your budget and are affordable and simple. We aim to make your regulated medical waste management process as simple and cost-effective as possible. We safely and securely remove your regulated medical waste through autoclaving and incineration. Our professionals offer routine service, no matter how big or small the job.

How much are you spending on your current medical waste removal and how can it be done better? Call MedXWaste today and learn how we can help you manage and handle your medical waste.

OSHA Compliance Medical Waste

Ensuring OSHA compliance in a healthcare environment can be a daunting task, mostly because of the amount of activity and work environment settings that occur in these types of organizations. It is up to healthcare facilities to go far beyond patient and staff safety by also maintaining OSHA compliance, which is crucial to reducing not only costs, but risks to the facility itself.

According to an OSHA press release from 2010, OSHA has taken on a more aggressive approach to enforcing its rules and regulations.

“For many employers, investing in job safety only happens when they have adequate incentives to comply with OSHA requirements. Higher penalties and more aggressive, targeted enforcement will provide a greater deterrent…”

It is particularly important for those in the medical field that deal with regulated medical waste to obtain proper OSHA training and implement a training program for staff. Contracting with a professional medical waste removal company like MedXWaste can also offer other avenues of compliance assistance.

We provide an OSHA compliant program that delivers the training and tools you need to work more safely and maintain regulatory compliance.

Our online OSHA Compliance Program, which can be completed from your desktop, mobile device or tablet, includes safety data sheets, a safety plan builder, safety training on all regulated medical waste topics, including bloodborne pathogens, HIPAA and more, and answers to common questions regarding federal regulations.

Regulated medical waste removal is our core business; we have been helping facilities of all kinds, including tattoo parlors and assisted living facilities, reduce their medical waste costs. MedXWaste can work with your team to develop a wate removal program that meets your objectives, all while keeping you and your staff compliant.

Contact MedXWaste to kickstart your training certification complete with regulatory tools and information, which is applicable to your specific branch of healthcare.

The Importance of Medical Waste Classification

Medical care is vital for the health and well being of our society, but the waste generated from medical procedures poses a problem for the natural world. Improper disposal and management of regulated medical waste in facilities can cause a direct health impact on the community, the healthcare workers, and the environment. Of course, prior to removal, it is imperative that facilities properly classify and store their medical waste until it is time for a medical waste removal company like MedXWaste, to properly dispose of it.

What are medical waste classifications and how can facilities implement a strategy for keeping waste organized? First, let’s define what constitutes medical waste. Regulated medical waste includes, but is not limited to:

Many states categorize waste into the following categories:

Segregating medical waste and using properly marked containers is not only good practice, it’s safe and economical so that you can choose how and when, not to mention whom removes the waste for you.

It’s important to note that not all medical waste can be packaged together, so it’s imperative to separate waste into containers for compliance reasons.

OSHA requires that the following be marked and clearly labeled when it comes to classifying your medical waste:

MedXWaste can not only help you develop a program for your medical waste removal procedures through our online OSHA training program, but we also offer bins, red bags, and containers so that your medical waste is properly stored, segregated, and compliant until it is time to be disposed of.

Improper Medical Waste Disposal

Medical waste removal is serious business, that is why it’s imperative for professionals to consider the implications if waste isn’t handled properly. Is your facility aware of the potential issues and risks that come with the mishandling of regulated medical waste?

 

It’s a threat to workers and patients/customers

Medical waste is not exclusive to hospitals and laboratories, although these are the highest producers of it. Tattoo parlors, assisted living facilities, prisons, and veterinary offices also produce regulated medical waste. Improper disposal means you, your staff, your patients and customers are exposed to dangerous toxins; biohazardous materials, bloodborne pathogens, infected sharps, soiled bandages, and much more. The worst-case scenario to improper disposal? The spreading of infectious disease or death. Yes, it’s that serious.

 

It’s a community issue

Throwing regulated medical waste into the regular trash means you expose your community to a myriad of toxins. Syringes have been known to wash ashore, infectious blood can ruin soil in a landfill, and pathogens can leech into drinking water. Be responsible to your community and learn what proper medical waste removal involves.

 

It’s a legal issue for YOU

There are state and federal laws that mandate the proper handling of medical waste. The Centers for Disease Control, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and various state entities have attempted to define infectious waste based on various waste characteristics, so it is up to you to know the laws, definitions, and how to dispose of your medical waste.

 

It can be a threat financially

While the health and well being of staff, patients and customers, as well as the environment should be the top priorities for proper medical waste removal, there are financial implications that can seriously impede business. Improper disposal means hefty fines, covering injured individuals, legal fees, and federal penalties.

 

Medical waste management has strict rules in accordance with local and federal laws. MedXWaste offers an OSHA Compliance Program to help you and your staff get in the know with medical waste removal, from implementing a safety plan to staying up to date on all federal regulations. MedXWaste also offers the equipment necessary to store your medical waste until it’s time to be removed, including bins, red bags, and sharps containers.

 

We safely and securely remove your regulated medical waste through autoclaving and incineration. Our professionals offer routine service, no matter how big or small the job.

 

Keep your staff, your customers and patients, and the community safe and healthy by working with a licensed medical waste removal company like MedXWaste.

 

Questions to ask before you sign a medical waste contract

Whether you own a tattoo parlor, manage a busy medical laboratory, run an assisted living facility, or offer mortuary services as part of a funeral home, you will absolutely, 100% need to rely on a professional medical waste removal company to help dispose of your regulated medical waste. For these industries, regulated medical waste includes sharps, needles, lancets, dressings, tubing, cultures, swabs, and countless other materials that come into contact with bodily fluids. But before you sign a contract with a medical waste removal company, you should have this checklist handy to ensure that you are hiring the right professional who can meet and exceed your needs.

 

How long is my contract service time?

Customers should be leery of providers whose contract terms exceed a period of 12 months. A business tactic among many is to lock in customers with a long-term contract so that if prices fluctuate, the customer does not have the option to leave. At MedXWaste, we do not have long-term contracts nor hidden fees.

 

Do you have the right permits for compliance?

Many states govern how waste transporters remove waste. For example, in New York State, there are specific requirements for persons transporting waste, including regulated medical waste. Your provider must be transparent about any and all permits and licenses to ensure that you are also compliant.

 

How quickly can my facility be serviced?

A reputable service provider will offer quick turn around time for your convenience. MedXWaste offers same and next-day service for all of our customers and are always on time.

 

My organization needs a medical waste program and some assistance in training. Is this a service you provide?

Medical waste removal companies are not your every day trash collectors. We in the business make it our business to not only educate our staff, but our customers as well. MedXWaste can help your facility get compliant with our OSHA Compliance Program, which includes safety plan building, training for employees on all medical waste removal topics, including HIPAA, bloodborne pathogens and more. What’s more, this can all be done online and is compatible with desktops, tablets, and mobile devices.

 

What if I have more waste than I was expecting? Are my prices inclusive? Will there be additional charges?

No one wants to sign up for a service blindly without knowing what they’re getting and what they’re paying for. MedXWaste works with all of our customers and guarantee no hidden fees and straight-forward pricing on service plans that will fit your needs.

I need medical waste removal equipment. Do you provide this with your services?

Not all medical waste removal companies offer bins, red bags, and containers. MedXWaste is able to provide the equipment you need to keep you, your staff, and your customers safe as you handle medical waste.

 

I have some questions and need to speak to a rep. Will I be able to reach someone?

It’s common for bigger, national corporations to send your call to an out-of-state customer representative. MedXWaste provides responses from our local service representatives with a solution within 24 hours.