Save Your Business Money With Managed IT Services

2020 Alliance sponsor feature article courtesy of Apex Technology

Are you a small business considering managed IT services as a solution for your business in order to save on your bottom line, or to reinvest your savings to other endeavors? You’d be in good company if you did. Globally, Gartner data showed that IT spending by businesses reached roughly $3.7 trillion in 2018, with IT services growing 5% from 2017 and accounting for $980 billion.

Don’t let those numbers scare you, though. There’s a good reason companies are investing in managed IT services at this level – it’s allowing them to save elsewhere in their business and redirect those resources to improving upon the customer experience. Let’s look at some specific ways outsourcing IT to a vendor like Charlotte-based Apex Technology can help keep costs low and efficiency high.

Eliminate the Variables

Do you know the costs of installing, managing, and maintaining an IT department internally for your small business? While it might seem on the surface like a long term investment that could pay off, you have to take into account just how unpredictable the personnel and infrastructure costs might end up being, and how a flat, predictable monthly cost might be more beneficial to your bottom line.

Infrastructure Costs

Technology is not built to last, but rather built to wear out and will often need to be replaced more often than you anticipate. Hardware upgrades to achieve additional functionality balanced against installation, upkeep, and maintenance costs, along with managing all this yourself is starting to not sound appealing. Hardware failure, such as a server or router going down, isn’t going to just cost you the price of the equipment, but also the productivity loss during downtime and the hidden costs of a damaged reputation for being temporarily unreliable as a service provider.

Employing a small business IT services provider changes this dynamic completely, as you’ll be leasing equipment maintained by a third party, and the entirety of your network can be deployed to the cloud, providing a flexibility and level of access that can be scaled to your needs and budget without costly investment. And you’ll never have to worry about the next shiny new piece of equipment breaking the bank. Managed IT services will always make available the technology necessary to do the job, and when upgrades hit the market, transitioning to the new industry standard will be performed as a value added service to you, rather than a budget-killing undertaking on the part of your organization.

Expert Personnel Are Expensive

Information technology is constantly evolving as new software and equipment is constantly being released, and you will either need to train up existing staff or invest in new personnel constantly in order to remain staffed sufficiently for your IT needs. For small businesses on a limited budget, this means your people will be overworked and having to pull double duty, likely performing less efficiently at the tasks that generate income for your business.

Outsourcing to a managed IT services provider, you get the benefit of an entire team of professionals with the sole task of managing your information technology infrastructure, leaving your team to do the heavy lifting by focusing on creating a profitable customer experience for your client base.

It Pays to Be Secure

Along with the benefit of a set monthly bill for a service that scales to your needs, you’ll save money indirectly in that managed IT services offer an expertise in cybersecurity and data security that your personnel might not have brought to the table. Ensuring your data remains secure, you’re less likely to experience a costly and reputation-damaging cybersecurity event and you’ll avoid fines from regulatory agencies, as your service provider will ensure your systems remain compliant with industry standards.

Warning Signs of a Data Breach

2020 Alliance sponsor feature article courtesy of Apex Technology

In the modern economy, data breaches are no longer the stuff of spy movies and science fiction thriller novels. They’re common place, and in 2019, data breaches cost businesses an average of $3.92 million – per incident! Can you afford a multi-million dollar payout to cover damages to your clients? Do you want to close your doors for good 6 months after the incident like 60% of all companies who fall victim to such attacks? Our team of IT specialists at Apex Technology want to help protect your organization from a costly data breach. Below we’ve compiled some indicators that your business might be at risk, followed by steps you can take internally before calling our team to learn more about how we’ve integrated cybersecurity measures into our managed IT services in order to help protect your brand.

Are You at Risk for a Data Breach?

With customer relationship management software being what it is today, and the growing reliance across industries on big data, there’s a strong likelihood that you gather and maintain a database of client data. This makes you a target for cybercriminals. Depending upon your operational standards, you might be leaving the door wide open for a breach. Let’s take a look at two elements of your operation that might be increasing your risk of an attack or breach.

• Exploiting a Lack of Training and Enforcement
  Many of the tools used by hackers exploit a lack of training or discipline in the employees of their targets. Human error in technical configurations, phishing attacks enticing targets to click on malicious links, and other mistakes all leave your organization exposed. Risk mitigation training and enforcement is crucial to protecting your organization.
• Failing to Meet Risk and Compliance Requirements
  Depending on the industry in which you operate, your management of client data is likely regulated by legal and regulatory requirements. Compliance can require certain data storage requirements, as well as standardized and documented data flows so the controls that are subsequently put into place are effective. Failing to adhere to compliance, or not understanding compliance requirements, could lead to costly breaches due to inadvertent mishandling of information.

Prevention Through Education and Inclusion in the Process

While these and other possible elements of your operation can be putting you at risk, there are a number of strategies you can employ to mitigate your risk internally. At the core of any strategy you might deploy, you must first make a plan to educate your employees as to access expectations, the importance of keeping work off of personal devices, best practices throughout their workday to avoid exposing sensitive data, and most importantly teaching them about the ways hackers might exploit their trust to infiltrate your systems. Once you’ve integrated education and awareness and involved your employees, it will be much easier to partner with a managed IT service provider who might make changes to routines and systems in order to improve internal protections.

Medical Practice Issues to Watch in 2019

Originally published in the January 9, 2019 issue of MGMA’s Washington Connection
Reprinted with permission from MGMA

2019 promises to be another busy year in healthcare. The 2018 midterm elections shifted the balance of power in Washington as Democrats now hold the gavel in the U.S. House of Representatives, creating a divided Congress with the Republican-held Senate. MGMA has identified the following legislative and regulatory issues critical for medical practices in the coming year. We will keep members apprised of key developments in these areas and their impact on medical practices and will continue to advocate for policies that enable practices to thrive in their mission to furnish high-quality, cost-effective patient care.

1. HHS doubles down on risk

Despite an anemic pipeline of new voluntary Medicare alternative payment models (APMs) trickling out of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Secretary Alex Azar is planning a new approach to accelerate participation in risk-based APMs. Forgoing incremental implementation, the Secretary is expected to unveil new mandatory models in 2019 and to emphasize performance-based risk as a necessary component of any new APM.

MGMA strongly supports voluntary participation in APMs when it makes financial sense for individual practices and disagrees with the Secretary that the way to expedite the move to value-based care is to mandate participation. We will continue to advocate for new opportunities for practices to participate in voluntary APMs and for development of more physician-led models.

2. Regulatory relief from government burdens

It is expected that Congress and the Administration will continue to work toward reducing the regulatory burden on medical practices participating in government healthcare programs. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS’) “Patients Over Paperwork” initiative is one such example. However, this has translated into only modest relief for practices thus far, as 88% of MGMA members polled reported an increase in overall regulatory burden last year. MGMA will continue to make regulatory relief a top advocacy priority in 2019. Keep up with our efforts at mgma.com/regrelief.

3. Kicking back the Stark Law

As part of the effort to accelerate payment innovation, HHS leaders pledge to revisit antiquated fraud and abuse rules such as the Stark Law and Anti-Kickback Statute. In 2019, watch for proposed rules that expand exceptions and safe harbors to protect value-based arrangements and benefit providers willing to take on performance-based risk.
While a push to simplify Medicare compliance rules is welcomed, it is likely that congressional intervention will be necessary to achieve meaningful reform. It remains to be seen if Congress will also prioritize this issue in 2019.

4. Surprise! Here is a medical bill you didn’t expect

Medical practices can expect to see a push to curb surprise medical bills, including efforts to empower patients and consumers through improved access to healthcare cost information. The sticker shock of surprise hospital bills continues to make headlines and draw bipartisan attention in Congress, making this issue ripe for legislative action in 2019.

5. A spoonful of new regulations to help drug prices go down

With a new Congress and support from the Administration, reducing Medicare drug prices is on the action list for 2019. For physician-administered drugs, one proposal seeks to curb the price of drugs in Part B by tying prices to a new International Price Index, create new private-sector vendors to supply practices with drugs, and set drug administration cost as a flat fee. CMS is also looking to give Part D drug plans greater flexibility to negotiate drug prices in protected classes.

6. The stakes are higher in MIPS

Implementation of the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) continues to ramp up. In 2019, MIPS performance will determine whether clinicians receive a positive or negative payment adjustment of up to 7% on 2021 Medicare reimbursement. Medicare is accelerating cost accountability for MIPS clinicians by increasing the cost component to 15% of the overall MIPS score and introducing episode-based measures. The performance threshold required to avoid a payment penalty also doubles from 15 to 30 points in 2019. With more on the line this year, it is critical that MGMA members prepare their practices for success. Visit mgma.com/macra for helpful resources.

7. Data interoperability a priority for feds

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) is expected to release regulations to meet requirements of the 21st Century Cures Act and facilitate improved data sharing between healthcare entities. ONC will define and seek to discourage “information blocking,” develop a framework to facilitate data movement between heath information exchange entities, and release specifications for the use of apps to foster data exchange between different providers and between providers and patients. The goal of using apps, a component of MIPS and Stage 3 Meaningful Use, is to permit practices to efficiently and securely move administrative and clinical data via their EHR.

8. Cybersecurity continues to be a top practice concern

Medical practices can be a prime target for phishing and other cybersecurity attacks because they possess valuable information assets (patient clinical and financial data) and often have inadequate cybersecurity protections. HHS’ HIPAA enforcement arm is expected to ramp up audits and fines in 2019. Medical practices should protect both their data and business continuity by completing a comprehensive risk assessment, identifying vulnerable areas of the organization, and taking the steps necessary to mitigate risk. Check out MGMA security resources to prepare your practice this year.

9. Site-of-service payment differentials remain a target

Policymakers will continue the trend toward site-neutral payments with the goal of equalizing Medicare payments for the same services across clinical sites. Medicare expanded this policy through 2018 rulemaking by phasing-in payment reductions for clinic visits at hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs), including HOPDs excepted from previous site-neutral payment rules. In addition to saving money for patients and the government, site-neutral payments are viewed as a policy lever for increasing market competition, eliminating the incentive for hospitals to purchase freestanding clinics and leveling the playing field.

10. “Repeal and replace” is out, “Medicare for all” is in

This shift in power within Congress will recast the role the federal government plays in healthcare in 2019. With “Medicare for all” a key platform for many progressives during the 2018 primaries, the politicized debate over a single-payer health system shows no signs of slowing down and will likely gain steam ahead of 2020 elections.
Passage of any major health reform bill is highly unlikely anytime soon. However, as presidential contenders begin campaigning for the 2020 primaries, universal healthcare will almost certainly become a point of debate.

Cyber Survival Guide Webinar is December 17th

NCMGMA-NCMSF December Lunch & Learn Webinar:
Pings, Penalties & Posts:
A Cyber Survival Guide for the Modern-Day Practitioner

December 17, 2018 | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Sponsored by Medical Mutual

Program

Cybersecurity as a patient safety issue:

• OCR’s current investigation and enforcement priorities
• Cyber risk assessment tools and cyber resources
• NIST’s latest guidance on password advice
• Current varieties of phishing attacks

Basic steps health care providers and their staff should be taking for good
cyber-hygiene:

• “Distracted Doctoring” claims
• Consequences of audio/video recordings in the clinical setting
• Risks of filing un-redacted proofs of claim in bankruptcy court

Speaker

Jason Newton, Sr.
Vice President & Associate General Counsel
Medical Mutual Group

Jason graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill and obtained his law degree from Wake Forest University. After a 14-year career in private law practice defending doctors, APPs, and hospitals, Jason came in-house with Medical Mutual – a longstanding client – in 2013.

At Medical Mutual (one of the 15 largest professional liability carriers in the country), Jason oversees the Risk Management and Claims departments in offices in Raleigh, NC, as well as in Philadelphia and Harrisburg, PA. Medical Mutual provides coverage for and/or services claims for nearly 13,000 physicians and over 4,000 CMNs, CRNAs, PAs and NPs in a territory with an infrastructure to accommodate large practice and national alternative risk programs in over 20 states. The claims department handles claims and oversight of outside defense counsel in over 18 states.

Organizations regularly request Jason to speak and he has presented to nearly 5,000 healthcare providers, lawyers, and medical liability industry professionals. He is a Fellow in the Litigation Counsel of America, has received the Presidential Award from the North Carolina Medical Society, and early in his career was recognized among North Carolina’s best lawyers for four years as a “Rising Star” by North Carolina’s Super Lawyers annual publication and for three years as a “Young Gun” in NC Business Magazine’s annual “Legal Elite” edition.

Registration

This webinar is complimentary for NCMGMA members and $50 for non-members. Space is limited so make sure to register early! After you register, you will receive an emailed confirmation with webinar and phone-in instructions.

• Click here to register online

Continuing education credit may be granted through your professional organization (MGMA, PAHCOM, AHIMA, etc.). Please self-submit for these organizations.

Questions

For questions or more information please contact the NCMGMA offices at info@ncmgm.org.

NCMGMA-NCMSF December Lunch & Learn Webinar

NCMGMA-NCMSF December Lunch & Learn Webinar:
Pings, Penalties & Posts:
A Cyber Survival Guide for the Modern-Day Practitioner

December 17, 2018 | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Sponsored by Medical Mutual

Program

Cybersecurity as a patient safety issue:

• OCR’s current investigation and enforcement priorities
• Cyber risk assessment tools and cyber resources
• NIST’s latest guidance on password advice
• Current varieties of phishing attacks

Basic steps health care providers and their staff should be taking for good
cyber-hygiene:

• “Distracted Doctoring” claims
• Consequences of audio/video recordings in the clinical setting
• Risks of filing un-redacted proofs of claim in bankruptcy court

Speaker

Jason Newton, Sr.
Vice President & Associate General Counsel
Medical Mutual Group

Jason graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill and obtained his law degree from Wake Forest University. After a 14-year career in private law practice defending doctors, APPs, and hospitals, Jason came in-house with Medical Mutual – a longstanding client – in 2013.

At Medical Mutual (one of the 15 largest professional liability carriers in the country), Jason oversees the Risk Management and Claims departments in offices in Raleigh, NC, as well as in Philadelphia and Harrisburg, PA. Medical Mutual provides coverage for and/or services claims for nearly 13,000 physicians and over 4,000 CMNs, CRNAs, PAs and NPs in a territory with an infrastructure to accommodate large practice and national alternative risk programs in over 20 states. The claims department handles claims and oversight of outside defense counsel in over 18 states.

Organizations regularly request Jason to speak and he has presented to nearly 5,000 healthcare providers, lawyers, and medical liability industry professionals. He is a Fellow in the Litigation Counsel of America, has received the Presidential Award from the North Carolina Medical Society, and early in his career was recognized among North Carolina’s best lawyers for four years as a “Rising Star” by North Carolina’s Super Lawyers annual publication and for three years as a “Young Gun” in NC Business Magazine’s annual “Legal Elite” edition.

Registration

This webinar is complimentary for NCMGMA members and $50 for non-members. Space is limited so make sure to register early! After you register, you will receive an emailed confirmation with webinar and phone-in instructions.

• Click here to register online

Continuing education credit may be granted through your professional organization (MGMA, PAHCOM, AHIMA, etc.). Please self-submit for these organizations.

Questions

For questions or more information please contact the NCMGMA offices at info@ncmgm.org.

NCMGMA July 18th Webinar: 2017 Cybersecurity Update

Lunch & Learn Webinar Sponsored by Medical Mutual

2017 Cybersecurity Update:
How Does Your Practice Stack Up?

Tuesday, July 18th | 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Managing Enterprise Security and Compliance can be overwhelming – how much security is enough or too much? What controls do you need? Ultimately, the organizations that have the most success at right-sizing their security environments are those that employ a systematic approach.

Join us on July 18th from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm as Sirius Computer Solutions’ Rob Hoisington presents one such approach – the NIST Cybersecurity Framework – in a way you may not have seen before. Rob will provide a 2017 security update for participants to see how their practice is stacking up against the latest security trends, and he will also present a great tool for communicating cybersecurity ideas and controls that is new to many – the NIST Cyber Defense Matrix.

Speaker

Rob Hoisington
Security Architect
Sirius Computer Solutions
Rob Hoisington is a Security Architect and member of the IT Consultant team for Sirius Computer Solutions. Robert holds a Masters of Science degree in Information Technology from University of Maryland University College and he is an alumnus of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point where he received a Bachelors of Science in Computer Science.

Rob has been with Sirius Computer Solutions for 5 years. During this time he has worked with clients in a wide variety of industries including banking, insurance, education, healthcare, manufacturing, distribution, and utilities – addressing a wide variety of security, regulatory and disaster mitigation challenges.

Prior to joining Sirius, Rob worked for the U.S. Army as a Signal Corps Officer where he was responsible for technical teams as well as security, networks and systems both in the U.S. and deployed overseas.

Registration

This webinar is complimentary for NCMGMA members and $50 for nonmembers. You must be registered to attend. Space is limited so register early. After you register, you will receive an emailed confirmation with webinar and phone-in instructions.

Continuing education credit may be granted through your professional organization (MGMA, PAHCOM, AHIMA, etc.). Please self-submit for these organizations.

Questions

If you have any questions, please contact us at 800-753-MGMA (6462) or 704-365-0565; or email us at info@ncmgm.org .