Today, I had a great example of why healthcare software is a tough business. Recently, regulations changed and claims for medications that are administered required additional information to be sent with the claim. For example, the NDC number, the quantity and unit of measure, and the cost have to be sent along with the CPT code that tells what the charge was. Seems fairly straightforward, right? Well, when we were implementing it, we studied the requirements for the standard specifications, and then we read many implementation guides. Then, we looked at several different states guides. Hmmm... the instructions for paper claims were pretty clear, but there was some debate on the cost portion for electronic. Some say to enter $0.00 if the cost is unknown which makes it not seem very important. Some say that they will not even accept claims with the cost. Others state that the quanity associated with the unit of measure (e.g. 5 ml) times the cost must equal the charge. Where this becomes complicated is if you are giving multiple units of the 5 ml. So, then you would think that you would use units * cost = charge. But, that doesn't work for the quantity * cost. Bummer. Even when you ask the different payers, they say that they don't even know their own requirements. THAT is what makes healthcare transactions frustrating. There is no definitive answer. EVER.
This acquisition stuff is pretty crazy. My staff have had more concerns, thoughts, ideas, questions, and everything in between over the last week than they have over the last 3 years combined. Of course, I want everyone to feel comfortable, so I keep trying to address all of the items. At the same time, there is some sentimental portion of me that is not ready for this change. Silly things like my email address, my scrubs, etc - not sure I am ready for those to change. Little things like the email software we use that may change because they use a different one. Of course, all of this is extra stuff. We still have the processes, software, and the rest of the company to get through. Should make for an interesting ride. :)
More and more software companies seem to be asking employees to sign non-compete agreements. I put a poll to the right to ask whether you have a non-compete. I will be interested to see the results.
I am certainly not commenting on the Bond-MediNotes deal!
ReplyDeleteI do think non-competes in general are foolish. Everyone seems to go about violating them. And who could possibly survive in such an industry-specific career with an entire year out of the business?
I recently talked to someone from Goldman-Sachs. You leave the day you resign and you are held to a 90-day non-compete. Now that is palatable. If you don't have the funds to cover yourself for 90 days, you could do something to bridge it without changing careers.
The 90-day idea seems to protect the client list without causing departing employees to choose between leaving healthcare and dishonoring documents they signed. And deep down, none of us want to soil our good names with dirty tricks like that.