News 4/4/13

Vitera launches Intergy Mobile, the iPad companion app to Intergy EHR.

CMS provides updated stats on the MU program, which has paid EPs and hospitals $12.7 billion in incentives though the end of February. A few other interesting tidbits:

• Of the estimated 527,000 EPs, 384,000 (73 percent) have registered to participate
• Over 230,000 EPs have been paid $4.5 billion in incentives. That’s almost 44 percent of all EPs and 57 percent of those registered
• Drug formulary, immunization registries, and patient list are the most popular menu objectives for EPs; transition of care summary and patient reminders the least popular.

Seven New York practices using MEDENT EMR are live on the Southern Tier HealthLink’s RHIO platform and able to use protocols for the Direct Project.

A report from the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends adoption of e-prescribing systems with pediatric functionality, noting that pediatric data supports the role of e-prescribing in mitigating medication errors, improving physician-pharmacist communications, and improving medication adherence.

Nearly 40 percent of physicians are burned out, according to Medscape’s Physician Lifestyle Report. ER and critical care physicians express the highest burnout levels; pediatricians, ophthalmologists, psychiatrists, and pathologists were among the least burned-out.

CMS posts the 2011 PQRS and eRx Incentive Program Experience Report, which summarizes program trends, including  participation and penalties breakdowns by specialty and geographic region.

Rep. Jim Dermott (D-WA) asks HHS to consider renewing its safe harbor provision that allows hospitals to subsidize EHR technology for its affiliated physicians under the federal Anti-Kickback Statute. The provision is set to expire at the end of 2013.

One last plea: please take a moment to complete our annual HIStalk Practice reader survey. Thanks.

E-mail Inga.