Time for a three-year APC checkup.

As hospitals near the end of their third year with APCs and the Medicare outpatient PPS, it's important to reflect on past successes and prepare for the management strategies that will be needed for tomorrow. Particularly important will be reinforcing the importance of interdepartmental cooperation, especially as it relates to new documentation and coding requirements, observation and emergency department protocols, E/M classifications, registration processes, and medical staff involvement.