News 3/19/13

The 48-provider Commonwealth Orthopaedic Centers (KY) chooses SRS EHR and PM.

PCPs and endocrinologists that have electronic access to their patients’ formularies and co-pays are more likely to prescribe a less expensive drug for Type 2 diabetes and hypertension.

Through February 2013, Medicare and Medicaid have paid an estimated $4.3 billion in MU incentives to 216,000 Eligible Providers. The most often used menu objectives for EPs are drug formularies, immunization registries, and patient lists; the least popular are transition of care summaries and patient reminders.

athenahealth reports that 96 percent of its participating providers have successfully attested for the 2012 Stage 1 Year 1 MU program.

SRS CEO Evan Steele offers an interesting analysis of MU attestation data as of December 2012, including the observation that many of the 472 EHR vendors with certified Complete EHRs did not have a single physician who had attested by the end of the year. Evan notes that the top 24 EHR vendors account for 80 percent of all attestations and only 32 companies have exceeded 500 attestations. Meanwhile, 112 vendors have had only one to five attestations. Evan’s prediction: many EHR vendors will not be around to see Stage 2.

SuccessEHS successfully moves into production health information exchange with South Carolina’s HIE.

Hayes Management Consulting updates its Web site to commemorate its 20th year in business.

E-mail Inga.