Infusion Clinics Archives - Corinthian Health Services Blog

How Does IVIG Treat Kawasaki Disease

Jun 6

Kawasaki Disease is a rare childhood illness and one of the leading causes of acquired heart disease in infants. The disease is typically IVIG Treat Kawasaki Disease characterized by red rashes on the hands, feet, and body in children under the age of five. If left untreated, it can lead to dangerous heart conditions and, in the worst case scenario, myocardial infarction.

What is Kawasaki Disease?

The immune system attacks blood vessels in children, primarily of Asian descent. Antibodies attack medium-sized blood vessels (including arteries, veins, and capillaries), which leads to acute inflammation and a reduced flow of blood to the heart and valve muscles.

When this happens, the heart may not pump as efficiently, which, in turn, increases the risk of myocardial infarction, arrhythmias, and heart failure. Infants are at risk of aneurysms developing in enlarged blood vessels and clots in narrow ones.

The cause of Kawasaki Disease is unknown, though it’s believed to have a strong genetic component. Untreated symptoms pass through a series of three stages and last around two weeks before the child returns to normal.

Typical symptoms present themselves as a red rash on the hands, feet, and body along with a high fever (above 102.2 F) that lasts for more than five days. Conjunctivitis or red eye, red lips, and a swollen strawberry-colored tongue are typical in the early stages. You may also find swollen lymph nodes in the neck and swelling around the rashes in the hands and feet.

The second phase starts after a few days to a week. Parents often notice the skin peeling in large sheets around the fingers and toes. Vomiting and diarrhea along with abdominal and joint pain are common.

The final phase sees a reduction in the rash, peeling, and swelling and the symptoms slowly dissipate as the child returns to normal. Kawasaki Disease doesn’t usually present itself again and responds well to treatment. However, heart complications may persist if the disease is untreated.

Parents should consult a doctor if they notice a high fever for more than a few days along with the typical rash and strawberry tongue.

Risk Factors

The exact cause of Kawasaki Disease is unknown. Common risk factors appear to be children between the age of one and five of Asian descent, and boys have a slightly higher risk than girls. However, 25% of cases involve infants younger than one and over the age of five. These cases are more likely to present an incomplete set of symptoms which is harder to identify and diagnose correctly.

It’s very likely that Kawasaki Disease has a strong genetic and environmental component. Experts also claim the prevalence varies between different seasons.

Treating Kawasaki Disease with IVIG

Diagnosing and treating Kawasaki Disease as early as possible is imperative to the health of the child. The longer the inflammation continues, the higher the risk of severe damage to blood vessels, heart muscles, and further complications. It is therefore of vital importance to get a correct diagnosis and begin treatment as early as possible. The purpose of treatment is to reduce the inflammation that can cause long-lasting damage to the circulatory system.

Typical treatment is a dose of aspirin and injections of IVIG. Aspirin reduces the risk of blood clots, and IVIG lowers inflammation. The latter are antibodies that are injected into the bloodstream to counter the inflammation, and has a high success rate.

Infants who undergo IVIG treatment typically experience coronary aneurysms in 1-5% of cases compared to 25% or greater in untreated patients.

Children may need to stay in the hospital under close observation by a team of cardiologists to ensure the treatment is reducing the inflammation. Maximum benefits from IVIG happen in the first ten days of manifestation. This is why it is so important for parents to identify symptoms and contact a medical professional as soon as possible.

Severe cases of Kawasaki Disease are extremely rare and are typically associated with no measurable response to the IVIG treatment. In cases like this, doctors will administer a course of corticosteroid therapy. Unfortunately, those who fail to respond to the IVIG are at a much higher risk of heart complications.

The vast majority of children fully recover and have no long-lasting effects after receiving early treatment. Parents should bring their child to be monitored after IVIG to ensure the cardiovascular system hasn’t suffered any irreversible damage.

Things to Remember

Kawasaki Disease usually presents itself in children of Asian descent between the ages of one and five.
The cardinal symptoms are a high fever with rashes on the hands, feet, and body with a swollen
Early diagnosis allows early treatment, which reduces the risk of complications and heart disease.
Proper treatment to reduce the inflammation, if administered in the first ten days, can mitigate the damage caused by Kawasaki Disease in most patients.

IVIG Purchase Reimbursement – Everything You Need to Know

Nov 29

A steady and sustainable stream of revenue is integral to the health of any practice. And often, revenue hinges on the ability to secure timely reimbursements, especially for expensive products like IVIG. If you’re like most physicians, you know all too well how challenging IVIG purchase reimbursement can be.

From payment denials to nuanced processes, unsuccessful IVIG purchase reimbursement efforts can hurt your bottom line. To ensure speedy and accurate IVIG purchase reimbursement, you must be well-versed in MACs, relevant codes, and reimbursement files.

What are Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs)?

Acquiring an in-depth understanding of the role and function of a Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) is critical to managing your practice’s or center’s IVIG purchase reimbursements. MACs essentially acts as intermediaries between healthcare facilities and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). All financial transactions are submitted by healthcare facilities to MACs to be processed for payment. MACs perform a host of time-sensitive and critical tasks including:

Submitting and accounting for Medicare FFS payments
Processing, Medicare FFS claims
Enrolling providers in the Medicare FFS program
Managing provider reimbursement services and provider cost reports
Overseeing and responding to redetermination requests (first stage appeals process)
Responding to provider inquiries and teaching providers about Medicare FFS billing requirements
Establishing and communicating local coverage determinations (LCD’s)
Reviewing medical records relevant to specific claims
Coordinating and communicating with CMS and additional FFS contractors

As you can see, MACs play an essential and decisive role in IVIG reimbursement and process over 1.2 billion Medicare FFS claims each year.

Using the Right Codes

The importance of using the right medical codes when it comes to submitting an IVIG purchase reimbursement claim is often underestimated. Precise medical coding is significant on many levels, among the most notable being its role in helping to maintain accurate patient records reflecting the treatment, care, and medications administered. Proper medical codes are also necessary to guarantee correct payment to physicians for services rendered. Failure to reference the right code may lead to delay or even denial of payment.

Medical coding is a complex and specialized asset for all healthcare organizations, regardless of size or patient population. Simply put, coding is the operational channel between coverage and payment. To ensure favorable and expeditious IVIG purchase reimbursement outcomes, you should employ an experienced medical coding service provider with a proven track record of quality and accuracy.

Estimating Your Reimbursement

When it comes to reimbursement, the only constant is change. In other words, reimbursement for the physician office and hospital outpatient facilities changes all the time. CMS provides reimbursement based on the Average Sales Price (ASP), which is calculated using manufacturer sales data. With fluctuating market conditions, new products emerging, and price shifts, it’s not surprising that reimbursement for some medication increases, while it decreases for others.

In addition to reviewing informative and updated resources such as CMS’s quarterly reimbursement drug file or ASP guides provided by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Resources, you need a trusted partner to answer your questions and ensure that you get the reimbursement that you deserve.

With so many factors to consider and effectively manage with ROI in mind. As a provider of this service, w, contact us today to learn more. It’s not what you’re paying; it’s what you’re getting paid.

IV Infusion Companies – Your Guide to Finding the Best

Nov 8

The best IV infusion companies provide cost-effective infrastructure and high-quality patient care. As the demand for IV infusion centers continues to grow, many physicians are clamoring to find the best company to collaborate with amid a seemingly endless list of options. Finding the best company to help you launch and sustain a successful IV infusion center requires research and careful vetting. The first step is identifying the pillars of service that ensure patient satisfaction and operational success.

Finding the Best IV Infusion Companies

Exceptional Patient Care. Let’s face it – high caliber patient care is paramount. The first deliverable you should look for in IV infusion companies is how they play a role in staffing. Generally, physicians are bogged down with hiring, training, and paying their own clinicians in a self-managed model. Top notch IV infusion companies will provide clinically superior RN’s to staff the infusion center and administer care. Additionally, you want to partner with a company who provides personnel for sick and vacation coverage, guaranteeing that your center will always be fully staffed.

Care for your Practice. Feeling overwhelmed by the administrative demands of managing a practice? Superior IV infusion companies allow you to focus solely on your patients as they absorb the center’s core operational functions including:

Furnishing and instituting all policies and procedures for liability coverage
Providing RN case managers for precertification and authorization to ensure collections, sparing you the need to find and train an employee to oversee and document these critical transactions
Delivering all components of Human Resources with the cost being included in the management fee, as opposed to you incurring the ongoing exorbitant costs
Capitalizing on its large provider status and strong collective bargaining power to negotiate cost-effective terms with vendors and better J-codes and infusion codes on your behalf
Sharing clinical liability while boasting a lawsuit-free record, relieving the physician of assuming all liability
Producing detailed monthly financial reports for review, exempting the practice from additional accounting fees

Contemporary Products and Services. A key trait to look for when finding the best IV infusion companies is their proven reputation for being up-to-date on the latest infusion therapy practices and state-of-the-art services. It’s important to collaborate with a company who regularly monitors and assesses potential products and payor contracts to ensure that the center is not only providing optimal care for its patients but also achieving financial success in the process.

No Hassle Billing. Additionally, the best IV infusion companies take pride in managing all time-sensitive and complex financial elements such as paying vendors within 15 days and monitoring and reconciling all bills and claims to achieve nearly debt-free standing. As all physicians in a busy practice know, time seldom permits for the persistent efforts needed to track and resolve problem claims. As a result, the profitability and overall health of the practice suffers. Only the best IV infusion company can remedy this common challenge and propel a practice to come out ahead.

Why Your Patients Deserve More

Your patients have enough on their plates. Between the financial and emotional adversity that they often face, coupled with the tedious and overwhelming nature of paperwork, billing, and endless appointments, they deserve only the best when it comes to care. Partnering with an esteemed IV infusion company will allow you to provide a positive and comfortable healthcare experience for your patients and their families.

If you are actively searching for the best IV infusion companies with whom to do business, look no further. Our turnkey solution eliminates the hassle and headache of starting from scratch by providing all the operational, staffing, and financial components needed to get started. If you already have an infusion center established and would like us to see if we can get you lower costs per gram and meet your unique needs, contact us today to learn more.

Infusion Center Business Plan

Oct 25

Having an infusion center business plan is a required step in making the right decision for your practice. If you’re a physician who places a high premium on quality patient care coupled with an increased revenue stream, you may be considering the addition of an infusion center. While an infusion center is often a viable solution, opening one is no small feat. Below is a seven-pronged approach to crafting an infusion center business plan designed to set you up for success.

Project Description & Overview

Begin with an overview that provides a soup-to-nuts description of the infusion center that you plan to open. Offer details explaining why you are opening the center and what parameters are in place. Additionally, address critical logistics about the space and set-up, anticipated patient population and volume, schedule, and staffing.

Benefits of Project

Paint a clear picture of how the infusion center will benefit patients, providers, and other relevant constituents. Next, articulate ways in which the infusion center is in clear support of your practice’s core values, mission, and long- and short-term strategic plan. How will the center foster synergy and alignment between patients and a robust network of physicians?

Description of Operations

Itemize a scope of services to be offered and administered and what conditions and diseases will be treated at the infusion center. Also, be sure to address operational issues such as accessibility, billing protocol, and efficiency. Finally, discuss what outcomes you anticipate and what factors will ultimately dictate success.

Market Assessment & Alternative Strategies

Present data-based market research in support of the center’s viability. Include specifics about geography, population, payer mix, and provider resources that will be undoubtedly impacted by the infusion center. Highlight your strategy winning the market and dealing with competitors. Consider outlining an alternative strategy as well.

Financial Analysis

Provide a snapshot of what is needed in terms of securing ample space, staffing, equipment, medication, and the cost associated with each component. Next, address variables that may necessitate additional financial analysis, including the impact of insurance changes and the likelihood of out-of-pocket expenses for patients.

Project Timetable

Provide specific dates that correspond to each step in the process from inception to completion. This linear framework should address details about the infusion center budget, construction, and grand opening.

Marketing Plan & Management Recommendations

Communicate how and where you will advertise the infusion center. Reference specific communication and outreach modalities, and identify your target audience. Additionally, explain how the center will be managed, who will provide oversight of staff and assess departmental performance.

Much attention and credence must be paid to developing a comprehensive business plan that addresses each key component of the project. Part of crafting an effective business plan is doing your due diligence in evaluating different companies. After all, as the popular adage reminds us, “failing to plan is planning to fail.”

Ready to get started? If you’d like to learn more about our business plan – give us a call. Our turnkey infusion center solution takes the financial, operational, and staffing component off your plate so you can get back to doing the work you love.

How to Open an Infusion Center

Oct 11

How to open an infusion center is one of the most frequently asked questions we hear. If you’re like most physicians looking for a competitive edge in the ever-changing landscape of patient care, you may be considering the addition of an infusion center to your practice or medical facility.

While the benefits of an infusion center are plentiful, the process of opening one can certainly be daunting. Don’t worry. We’ve designed this blueprint to guide you through the requisite steps to establish a successful, sustainable, and a profitable infusion center.

How to Open an Infusion Center

Step 1: Understand Your Why

Determine why you want to open an infusion center. An infusion center can yield a host of favorable outcomes for both you and your patients, but identifying the specific motives and intentions driving your decision to open one is the critical first step in framing the planning process.

Clarify your short- and long-term goals and outline your anticipated deliverables. For some physicians, profitability and increased revenue stream is the key objective. For others, an infusion center provides an unparalleled level of convenience and accessibility for patients. Perhaps opening an infusion center is simply a way of bolstering the overall quality of patient care that your practice provides. Whatever your reasons may be, a concrete purpose of action must be determined before subsequent developments can materialize.

Step 2: Know Your Target Audience

Once you establish your purpose, the next step is to identify and hone in on your target market. “Target market” is often a nebulous term in the healthcare industry when considering how many influencers and individuals play key roles in driving business. The first cohort that should be included is your existing patient base.

Next, think about both traditional and nontraditional customers that are aligned with your reasons for opening the infusion center. For example, if profit is your motive, maybe it makes sense for you to target insurance companies or establish partnerships with key companies. On the other hand, if your motive is to expand and grow your patient base, you may want to target case managers, referral coordinators, and other physicians who regard your center as a more appropriate treatment site than the standard hospital-like setting.

Step 3: Determine How You Will Reach Your Target Market

With a target market established, it’s time to meet your customers where they are. Take a multifaceted approach, and employ a variety of outreach methods. For example, establish and maintain strong rapport with both patients and other physicians, and communicate to them the value and impact of referrals. Additionally, identify appropriate websites and other online channels like Facebook to market your infusion center. Traditional print advertising such as newspapers, journals, and information boards are also effective ways to gain exposure if you target the right audience.

Dollars and Sense

Step 4: Create a Financial Analysis

Performing an in-depth financial analysis of operating costs is a must. Simply put – you can’t open the doors to your infusion center without first opening your books and crunching numbers. From overhead and inventory to monthly budgets, risk assessment, and projected growth, a detailed financial picture of the entire operation must be clearly established from the beginning.

Step 5: Design Your Center

Gone are the days of cold, sterile patient settings. The ambiance of your infusion center is what patients will remember, with comfort and inclusion serving as key features. Your infusion center should represent the culture of your practice while fostering safety, warmth, and physical and emotional wellbeing–not only for your patients, but for their family, friends, and caretakers as well.

Step 6: Assess Staff and Operational Components

When it comes to a fully operational infusion center, there are a lot of moving parts, and each one plays an integral role. Identify staffing needs from infusion nurses to management personnel to billing professionals. Make sure to define their unique functions and expected contributions.

Step 7: Inventory

You’ll need to ensure that you have the right medical equipment and medication on hand. Work with a provider that negotiates the best prices and can deliver what you need when you need it. At Corinthian, we can help you identify the medications that may be costing you more to administer than what you’re bringing in. We can also help you identify areas where you can improve your return on medication.

The Optimal Solution

When it comes to opening up your infusion center, a turnkey solution can take the guesswork and grunt work off your busy plate. A turnkey healthcare service provider manages all facets of the process – operational, staffing, and financial. It allows you to direct your focus where it belongs: on your patients and practice.

From providing equipment, software, and décor to assessing managed care contracts, performing audits, and facilitating purchases, a turnkey model is the only solution that takes work off your plate.

If you would like more information and pointed guidance on how to open an infusion center, contact us today to get started.