News 11/1/17

Top News

Open enrollment for individual healthcare coverage in 2018 commences with nary a thought for IT-related kinks – a huge change in user experience (and mainstream media coverage) compared to 2013’s disastrous roll out. The Wall Street Journal reports that users have been signing up for plans at a fairly steady rate. Technology-related problems have been limited to the occasional “fluctuating” display of inaccurate premium prices. 

Coverage this time around – aside from what seems like a never-ending parade of repeal and/or replace efforts – has largely focused on President Trump’s self-fulfilling prophecy proclaiming the ACA’s demise, payers subsequently (or proactively) pulling out of markets, increasing plan prices, a lack of funding for navigators, a huge cut in enrollment-related marketing and PR efforts, and grassroots efforts to spread the word about an enrollment period that has been cut in half. President Obama has even taken to Twitter to make sure his 95 million followers know about their insurance options.

While all signs point to lower enrollment numbers, it’s hard to make concrete predictions about sign ups and site traffic amidst a cantankerous political climate that has put US citizens in the middle of a healthcare cost-and-access tug of war that shows no signs of ending anytime soon.

Webinars

November 8 (Wednesday) 1:00 ET. “How Clinically Integrated Networks Can Overcome the Technical Challenges to Data-Sharing.” Sponsored by: Liaison Technologies. Presenters: Dominick Mack, MD, executive medical director, Georgia Health Information Technology Extension Center and Georgia Health Connect, director, National Center for Primary Care, and associate professor, Morehouse School of Medicine;  Gary Palgon, VP of  healthcare and life sciences solutions, Liaison Technologies. This webinar will describe how Georgia Heath Connect connects clinically integrated networks to hospitals and small and rural practices, helping providers in medically underserved communities meet MACRA requirements by providing technology, technology support, and education that accelerates regulatory compliance and improves outcomes.

November 15 (Wednesday) 1:00 ET. “How Hospitals and Practices Can Respond to Consumerism by Better Engaging Patients Through Price Transparency and Payment Options.” Sponsored by: Change Healthcare. Presenters: Kathy Moore, president, Moore Martini Medical; Linda Glidewell, VP of business development, consumer payment solutions, Change Healthcare. Healthcare consumerism and high-deductible health plans require providers to offer upfront estimates and payment options throughout all points of service. In his webinar, we’ll discuss consumerism as a critical area of opportunity in revenue cycle management and review numerous areas across the revenue cycle where your staff interacts with patients and leaves lasting impressions. From your first interaction with patients on the phone to discuss financial responsibility; to collecting payments at all points of service; to offering payment plans and various payment options — these are all areas that can be game-changing. With the right approach to consumerism, you can improve patient collections and optimize revenue from the start while also improving the overall patient experience.

Previous webinars are on our YouTube channel. Contact Lorre for information.

Announcements and Implementations

Sigmund Software integrates the American Society of Addiction Medicine’s line of Continuum assessment tools with its Aura EHR for behavioral health and substance abuse treatment providers.

Consulting firm Sullivan, Cotter and Associates works with the Mayo Clinic (MN) to develop Provider Performance Management Technology, giving physicians analytics-based insight into their value-based care measures and compensation.

The Missouri State Medical Association enlists Kammco Health Solutions to help it develop a statewide HIE for members that should be operational in the first quarter of 2018. The state launched a public HIE – Missouri Health Connection – in 2013.

Dallas-based Pathway Healthcare’s chain of Impact Healthcare clinics implement an opioid abuse treatment app from Emocha that prompts patients to record themselves taking their medication and report side effects and cravings. The app also offers medication reminders, and gives behavioral health providers the ability to assess patient progress, provide support, and intervene in cases of non-compliance.

Acquisitions, Funding, Business, and Stock

Milwaukee-based Sift Medical Data raises $665,000 in a seed funding round led by The Winnebago Seed Fund. The company has developed RCM software aimed at helping physicians increase patient collections and better manage claim denials.

People

Steven Mason (MedeAnalytics) joins ChartWise as president and COO.

MGMA elects Yvette Doran (Ascension Medical Group) board chair. New 2017-18 board members include Ryan Campbell (DCH Health Systems), Gregory Feltenberger (Idaho Urologic Institute), and Lindsey Tubbs (Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center).

Telemedicine

Teladoc reports Q3 results: total revenue up to $68.7 million, with nearly $60 million of those coming from subscription access fees; visits increasing 51 percent to 306,000. The July acquisition of Best Doctors seems to have generated some momentum for the company, with revenue from that company’s second-opinion service generating $2.1 million. The company has promoted Best Doctors Division President Peter McClennen to the newly created title of company president.

Government and Politics

United Rheumatology develops the United Rheumatology Effectiveness and Quality Analytics registry to help independent rheumatologists report MIPS data to CMS. UREQA also provides MIPS performance summaries and scoring estimates at physician and practice levels. The membership-based service organization has applied to CMS for Qualified Clinical Data Registry recognition for UREQA.

The White House Opioid Commission makes 56 recommendations on combating the opioid epidemic in its final report, including expanded use of block grants to fund state-level initiatives, a mandate that HHS establish prescriber guidelines and educational materials covering the use of opioids in pain management, mandated deployment of state-level PDMPs, bolstered prosecution and criminal penalties, and a media campaign aimed at publicizing treatment options to the general public. The commission also recommends that “CMS remove pain survey questions entirely on patient satisfaction surveys, so that providers are never incentivized for offering opioids.”

Sponsor Updates

• AdvancedMD will exhibit at APTA’s Private Practice Section event November 1-4 in Chicago.

Blog Posts

• Decentralized vs. Centralized Access at Health Systems: The Patient’s Perspective (Culbert Healthcare Solutions)
• Using Technology to Build an Integrated Practice #3 of 6 (AdvancedMD)

Contacts

Jenn, Mr. H, Lorre

More news: HIStalk, HIStalk Connect.

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News 10/31/17

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AMA President David Barbe, MD calls out Missouri lawmakers for failing to implement a “real” statewide PDMP. (It is the only state left without one.) His remarks come in the wake of St. Louis County’s efforts to ramp up its own PDMP with the addition of prescribers in Stone County. Nearly 40 of the state’s 144 counties participate or plan to participate in the St. Louis County program. “I think the fact that it exists at all is an indication that the Missouri legislature has failed us up to this point,” Barbe says, adding that he does hope the effort will eventually lead to a statewide database. Barbe, who hails from Missouri, believes successful PDMPs should include as much real-time prescription data as possible, and easily fit into the workflows of prescribers. Missouri’s efforts are so far lacking in all areas. Governor Eric Greitens has mandated the creation of a PDMP that would only be accessible to law enforcement officials.

Webinars

November 8 (Wednesday) 1:00 ET. “How Clinically Integrated Networks Can Overcome the Technical Challenges to Data-Sharing.” Sponsored by: Liaison Technologies. Presenters: Dominick Mack, MD, executive medical director, Georgia Health Information Technology Extension Center and Georgia Health Connect, director, National Center for Primary Care, and associate professor, Morehouse School of Medicine;  Gary Palgon, VP of  healthcare and life sciences solutions, Liaison Technologies. This webinar will describe how Georgia Heath Connect connects clinically integrated networks to hospitals and small and rural practices, helping providers in medically underserved communities meet MACRA requirements by providing technology, technology support, and education that accelerates regulatory compliance and improves outcomes.

Previous webinars are on our YouTube channel. Contact Lorre for information.

Announcements and Implementations

The Center for Health Education Medicine & Dentistry, an FQHC based in Lakewood, NJ, selects EHR technology from EClinicalWorks.

Greenway Health adds analytics to the latest edition of its Prime Suite EHR and PM software.

Radiologic Associates (NY) implements Carestream’s mobile-friendly enterprise imaging technology and upgrades to its Clinical Collaboration Platform.

App-powered house call company Heal launches the Heal Health Network to offer users easier access to lactation consultants and physical therapists. The network also gives Heal physicians the ability to recommend consultants and PTs to patients.

Acquisitions, Funding, Business, and Stock

EWellness adds content-driven social marketing services to its line of remote physical therapy services for physician practices.

EQHealth Solutions relocates its Baton Rouge, LA-based headquarters to a nearby office building. The population health management company, which also has offices in Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Mississippi, Texas, and Vermont, spent $1.4 million on upgrading the office space to accommodate its high-tech needs. Nearly 100 of its 400 employees are based in Baton Rouge.

AMA spinoff Health2047 launches Health2047 SwitchCo with $12 in initial funding – the first of what it promises to be many independent companies focused on developing commercially viable and workflow friendly technologies for providers. Led by CEO Adriaan Ligtenberg (AllMobile Fund), the new company aims to develop a subscription-based network of stakeholders interested in securely sharing health data.

People

Laurie Cordova (Hobsons) joins Knowledge to Practice as VP of product.

Halloween Fun

The ScriptSender team looks like it’s having fun with The Radiology Clinic (AL) staff.

I may have to steal this idea and dress up as a social butterfly, but with more sparkle.

Don’t let health IT buzzwords scare you. Stay safe out there folks!

Contacts

Jenn, Mr. H, Lorre

More news: HIStalk, HIStalk Connect.

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News 10/30/17

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Speaking at the Health Care Payment Learning and Action Network Fall Summit, CMS Administrator Seema Verma announces the agency will take a less burdensome and more streamlined approach to assessing quality measures through its new Meaningful Measures effort. The new method will focus only on “those core issues that are most vital to providing high-quality care and improving patient outcomes.” Verma, who didn’t offer any concrete details as to when Meaningful Measures will commence, added that CMS will focus only on outcome-based measures moving forward.

Webinars

November 8 (Wednesday) 1:00 ET. “How Clinically Integrated Networks Can Overcome the Technical Challenges to Data-Sharing.” Sponsored by: Liaison Technologies. Presenters: Dominick Mack, MD, executive medical director, Georgia Health Information Technology Extension Center and Georgia Health Connect, director, National Center for Primary Care, and associate professor, Morehouse School of Medicine;  Gary Palgon, VP of  healthcare and life sciences solutions, Liaison Technologies. This webinar will describe how Georgia Heath Connect connects clinically integrated networks to hospitals and small and rural practices, helping providers in medically underserved communities meet MACRA requirements by providing technology, technology support, and education that accelerates regulatory compliance and improves outcomes.

Previous webinars are on our YouTube channel. Contact Lorre for information.

Announcements and Implementations

Bridge Patient Portal adds new GE Centricity interface capabilities, secure messaging, bill pay, and patient self-service functions to its flagship technology.

Stryker’s Performance Solutions business develops a Practice Excellence Program to help orthopedic practices transform workflows and RCM, and better utilize data analytics.

People

John Ayanoglou (Build Capital) joins biometrics-focused remote patient monitoring company Biotricity as CFO.

Telemedicine

Telemedicine stakeholders cheer President Trump’s decision to expand telemedicine resources for opioid abuse treatment as part of his national public health emergency declaration last week. American Telemedicine Association President Peter Yellowlees points out that, “Three groups of patients will be primary beneficiaries of this important regulatory change – individuals with addictions, children with ADHD, and veterans with PTSD. They are all commonly treated with a range of controlled substances which, until now, have not been able to be prescribed by telemedicine.”

Government and Politics

The Maine Health Data Organization and Maine Health Quality Forum update CompareMaine.org, a database of healthcare prices and patient satisfaction ratings for 200 procedures performed at 175 facilities across the state. Users now have the ability to break down costs between facility and individual that performs the procedure. Future updates, including the addition of pricing data for electrocardiograms and chiropractic services, will be released twice a year.

In light of President Trump’s declaration of a national public health emergency to combat the opioid epidemic, the Office of Civil Rights reiterates the ways in which HIPAA can help physicians respond to the crisis.

Surgeon General Jerome Adams, MD tells US News & World Report in his first official interview that, unlike some of his predecessors, he won’t focus his efforts on one particular problem “du jour.” His first official report will address the opioid epidemic’s economic impact, including its ties to unemployment and the vicious cycle the two factors perpetuate. “The communities that are suffering from the opioid epidemic in many cases are communities that have suffered from a poor economy in which you’ve seen a vicious downward spiral, and they’re also communities where you’ve seen crime increase,” Adams explains. 

Research and Innovation

Researchers continue to test the ways in which social networks can act as public health tools, this time focusing their efforts on opioid-related chatter on Twitter. Using custom software, researchers combed through tweets looking for words and phrases like “dope,” “percs,” “white,” “TNT,” and “Captain Cody,” as well as details related to location that, when taken together, might act as an early warning system for public health officials. “Are people talking about getting high, controlling pain or some other motivation that is underlying a common behavior?” asked one researcher. “People are more likely to share certain types of information with their peers than they will with their health care providers.” Their findings were consistent with state-based estimates of opioid misuse culled from the National Survey on Drug Usage and Health.

Other

I’m beginning to think hackers might have too much time on their hands: A cybersecurity firm discovers a vulnerability in LG’s smart home devices and corresponding apps that could give hackers control to a homeowner’s appliances, including the video camera-equipped Hom-Bot robot vacuum cleaner. The flaw has since been fixed.

This is what family medicine is all about: Jeff Kellogg, MD steps in to officiate patient Rachel Meisner’s wedding after she discovers her scheduled minister had passed away. Kellogg, who delivered Meisner in 1994, has cared for many of her family members over the years. The arrangement came about after he asked her how the wedding planning was coming along during a routine checkup. (No word on whether he asked the question while facing her or his computer.)

Somewhat last-minute pumpkin-carving ideas from @jkwillettmd

Sponsor Updates

• Nordic will lead focus groups at the CHIME Fall CIO Forum October 31-November 3 in San Antonio.
• Aprima will exhibit at the American College of Phlebology’s 2017 Annual Congress November 2-5 in Austin, TX.

Contacts

Jenn, Mr. H, Lorre

More news: HIStalk, HIStalk Connect.

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Contact us online.
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News 10/26/17

Top News

President Trump declares a public health emergency to address the country’s opioid crisis. The directive – signed by acting HHS Secretary Eric Hargan – does not provide any new funding. The highlights:

• Expanded access to telemedicine services, which will no doubt be well received in rural areas with few physicians and fewer behavioral health resources.
• Loosening up red tape involved with appointing HHS officials who will help refocus programs and resources.
• Freeing up of resources within HIV/AIDs programs to help give those patients access to substance abuse treatment.
• Issuing grants to help workers displaced from the workforce by the opioid crisis – a somewhat nebulous benefit that is subject to available funding.

Webinars

November 8 (Wednesday) 1:00 ET. “How Clinically Integrated Networks Can Overcome the Technical Challenges to Data-Sharing.” Sponsored by: Liaison Technologies. Presenters: Dominick Mack, MD, executive medical director, Georgia Health Information Technology Extension Center and Georgia Health Connect, director, National Center for Primary Care, and associate professor, Morehouse School of Medicine;  Gary Palgon, VP of  healthcare and life sciences solutions, Liaison Technologies. This webinar will describe how Georgia Heath Connect connects clinically integrated networks to hospitals and small and rural practices, helping providers in medically underserved communities meet MACRA requirements by providing technology, technology support, and education that accelerates regulatory compliance and improves outcomes.

Here is the recording from this week’s webinar with ZappRx on improving care and saving time with streamlined specialty drug prescribing.

Previous webinars are on our YouTube channel. Contact Lorre for information.

Announcements and Implementations

Westmed Medical Group (NY and CT) upgrades its Bridge Patient Portal with enhanced appointment management, online bill pay, and prescription refill request tools. The practice has also launched an app that offers appointment scheduling and secure messaging.

TSYS will add Rectangle Health’s Practice Management Bridge payment processing software to its line of healthcare payment products.

Drchrono develops EHR and PM technology for urgent care practices.

Government and Politics

The Delaware Healthcare Commission awards Health Management Associates a $1.3 million contract to help the state’s department of health and social services integrate behavioral healthcare services into primary care facilities, and support the Health Neighborhoods population health management program.

People

John Vassall, MD (Swedish Health Services) joins Qualis Health as physician executive for quality and safety.

Harry Kim (Samsung Health) joins American Well as SVP of strategic partnerships.

United Rheumatology appoints Jon Glaudemans (Manatt Health) CEO.

Telemedicine

CareClix adds Isabel Healthcare’s Symptom Checker to its white-label telemedicine software.

MyTelemedicine develops patient enrollment and administration software for its Access a Doctor telemedicine products.

Kareo adds telemedicine capabilities to its EHR, PM, and billing platform.

Contacts

Jenn, Mr. H, Lorre

More news: HIStalk, HIStalk Connect.

Get HIStalk Practice updates.
Contact us online.
Become a sponsor.

News 10/25/17

Top News

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf will use $3.8 million in federal grant money to help prescribers integrate their EHRs with the state’s PDMP as part of a new program that runs through 2019. Pennsylvania was relatively late to the PDMP party, launching a system in 2014 after many other states had already done so. It now connects to similar systems in 11 other states and is searched 1.1 million times per month.

Webinars

October 26 (Thursday) 2:00 ET. “Is your EHR limiting your success in value-based care?” Sponsored by: Philips Wellcentive. Presenters: Lindsey Bates, market director of compliance, Philips Wellcentive; Greg Fulton, industry and public policy lead, Philips Wellcentive. No single technology solution will solve every problem, so ensuring you select the ones most aligned to meet your strategic goals can be the difference between thriving or merely surviving. From quality reporting to analytics to measures building, developing a comprehensive healthcare strategy that will support your journey in population health and value-base care programs is the foundation of success. Join Philips Wellcentive for our upcoming interactive webinar, where we’ll help you evolve ahead of the industry, setting the right strategic goals and getting the most out of your technology solutions.

November 8 (Wednesday) 1:00 ET. “How Clinically Integrated Networks Can Overcome the Technical Challenges to Data-Sharing.” Sponsored by: Liaison Technologies. Presenters: Dominick Mack, MD, executive medical director, Georgia Health Information Technology Extension Center and Georgia Health Connect, director, National Center for Primary Care, and associate professor, Morehouse School of Medicine;  Gary Palgon, VP of  healthcare and life sciences solutions, Liaison Technologies. This webinar will describe how Georgia Heath Connect connects clinically integrated networks to hospitals and small and rural practices, helping providers in medically underserved communities meet MACRA requirements by providing technology, technology support, and education that accelerates regulatory compliance and improves outcomes.

Previous webinars are on our YouTube channel. Contact Lorre for information.

Announcements and Implementations

Family Health Services of Darke County will implement EClinicalWorks early next year. The switch will bring each of its departments – now running on separate EHRs – onto a unified platform. Medical Director Carlos Menendez, MD alluded to the upcoming roll out in my interview with him last month: “We anticipate catching up with Meaningful Use after our new EHR is up and running,” he said. “The new system will help solve [ our data extraction] problem.”

Acquisitions, Funding, Business, and Stock

Athenahealth will lay off 61 employees at its Ponce City Market offices in Atlanta as part of company-wide cost-cutting measures announced last week. The company will also close offices in Princeton, NJ and San Francisco – home to its MDP accelerator.

Compliancy Group launches the HIPAA Alliance Marketplace to help providers find vetted vendors of HIPAA-compliant solutions.

Atlanta-based CoinMD hopes to attract consumers fed up with increasingly burdensome healthcare costs to a new cryptocurrency-based healthcare rewards network. I’ll be honest in that I don’t totally understand all the details. It looks like the company will offer members discounted healthcare services and cryptocurrency-based incentives for using providers within its preferred provider network, though it gives no details about how it will develop said network. It also plans to offer participating providers access to member healthcare records via blockchain.

Research and Innovation

New research from Black Book finds that delayed payment from patients with high-deductible health plans and trouble communicating patient payment responsibilities are top collection challenges for over 80 percent of small practices. Those same practices have also fallen behind in their abilities to accurately estimate healthcare costs, despite payer efforts to provide accurate data. Physicians cite the need for better management of consumer expectations ahead of appointments, improved cost transparency, and more convenient payment methods.

Other

I wish this formula got more attention: A note penned by Albert Einstein in 1922 sells for $1.56 million at auction. Einstein wrote and gave the note to a hotel waiter in lieu of a tip, noting that perhaps it would one day become valuable. Included in the note: “A calm and humble life will bring more happiness than the pursuit of success and the constant restlessness that comes with it.”

Health IT-related humor from Sutter Medical Group’s Peter Valenzuela, MD winner of MGMA’s 2017 Harwick Innovation Award. Valenzuela developed a program to help prevent physician burnout that increased the group’s physician satisfaction and engagement, and patient experience scores.

Sponsor Updates

• EClinicalWorks will exhibit at the Connected Health Conference October 26-27 in Boston.
• Intelligent Medical Objects will exhibit at the CHIME CIO Fall Forum October 31-November 3 in San Antonio.
• Healthwise will exhibit at the HealthTrio 2017 Users Group Conference October 25-27 in Tucson.
• Nordic releases a new podcast, “How to communicate effectively during your EHR transition.”
• AdvancedMD joins CommonWell.

Blog Posts

• Innovations From Our National Conference (EClinicalWorks)

Contacts

Jenn, Mr. H, Lorre

More news: HIStalk, HIStalk Connect.

Get HIStalk Practice updates.
Contact us online.
Become a sponsor.