LYNX Medical Systems acknowledged by CMS in 2007 OPPS Final Rule

November 10, 2006—Bellevue, WA—LYNX Medical Systems (LYNX), the leading provider of emergency medicine documentation and revenue management solutions, was acknowledged by CMS as one of the organizations interested in assisting in the development of national guidelines in the 2007 Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) Final Rule, published on November 1, 2006. CMS noted that “several organizations have expressed interest in working with CMS as well as the AHA/AHIMA expert panel in the development of national guidelines, including the American College of Emergency Physicians and LYNX Medical Systems” (page 674, CMS-1506-FC).

This recognition of LYNX in the 2007 OPPS Final Rule is a direct result of a meeting with CMS on September 25, 2006 in Baltimore, MD. LYNX met with Carol Bazell, MD, Joe Kelly and Ken Simon, MD of the CMS Hospital & Ambulatory Group, Joan Sanow, CMS Division of Outpatient Care Deputy Director, Tamar Spolter, CMS Division of Outpatient Care, and Edith Hambrick, Chair, CMS Advisory Panel on APC Groups and extended an offer to assist CMS with data to support development of national coding guidelines. In addition, LYNX submitted comments to CMS regarding the 2007 OPPS Proposed Rule and again stated the benefits of a presenting problem-based approach to coding guidelines for Emergency Departments and clinics.

“We were honored to have met with CMS representatives and to have shared our thoughts and insights with them,” said Mike DeTolla, LYNX executive vice president. “We look forward to any opportunities to bring our expertise to bear on this issue.”

The Final Rule can be found by clicking here.