News 3/13/17

Top News

IExhale raises $1.86 million seed funding round led by Dorilton Capital. The Beverly Hills, CA-based startup, which launched its messaging and phone-based therapy app for California residents last December, will likely use the investment to add video consult capabilities and expand into additional states.

Webinars

None scheduled soon. Previous webinars are on our YouTube channel. Contact Lorre for information on webinar services.

Announcements and Implementations

ClinicTracker upgrades its behavioral health EHR to be more compatible with new and emerging operating systems. Added features include compliance automation, enhanced reporting, and staff and patient portal enhancements. 

Curatio develops a social support app for people suffering or recovering from a variety of ailments. Features include the ability to connect with people from similar backgrounds with the same condition, a physical and mental health symptom tracker, patient communities, and educational materials.

Southwest Behavioral & Health Services (AZ) adopts EnSoftek’s DrCloudEMR at its 15 facilities in the metro Phoenix area.

Acquisitions, Funding, Business, and Stock

CaptureRx will relocate to larger headquarters in downtown San Antonio early next year thanks to a variety of tax breaks and waivers. The 17 year-old company and its 114 employees have developed technology that helps safety net providers manage inventory and financial transactions for 340B prescriptions. It has pledged to invest in further development of the historic Kress building, and will create an additional 200 full-time jobs within six years. 

Research and Innovation

Just over half of 1,300 surveyed physicians report using multiple methods to remind patients of appointments, according to a new MGMA poll. I’d like to dig a little deeper and determine what combination improved no-show rates the most. Providers, feel free to share your experience with technology and appointment reminders in the comments below.

Other

The local business paper covers the opening of a second One Medical practice in Boston, highlighting the ways in which its homegrown technology and membership-based business processes are helping to prevent physician burnout: “The balance of the virtual care means less burn out for us,” says Julie Sugarbaker, a OneMedical nurse practitioner who came from the world of private practice. “I don’t even know what percentage of e-mails or phone calls I don’t deal with during the day, because they’re handled by the virtual team.” She adds with a laugh that patients thank her for “fitting them into her schedule. They don’t know the back end that goes into reserving a percentage of same-day appointments and our process.”

ProPublica launches aggregates data from several healthcare projects at a new website. Consumers can look at specific providers based on payments received from pharma companies, number of prescriptions written by drug type, their Medicare fees for visits and treatments, and complication rates for surgeons who perform common elective procedures covered by Medicare. The nonprofit will launch a corresponding API later this year to give software developers the ability to integrate the data with their own applications.

Sponsor Updates

• Intelligent Medical Objects will exhibit at the Cerner UK Collaboration Forum March 13-16 in London.
• NVoq will exhibit at the AAOS Annual Meeting of Orthopedic Surgeons March 14-18 in San Diego.
• PerfectServe will exhibit at the Renal Physicians Association Annual Meeting March 17-18 in Nashville.

Blog Posts

• [International Women’s Day] Four things everyone can do to #BeBoldForChange (Nordic)

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Jenn, Mr. H, Lorre

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News 3/9/17

Top News

Senate Republicans break through the Democratic attempt to stall final voting on Seema Verma’s nomination to head up CMS by passing a cloture vote – a move HIStalk Practice readers may recall from the will-they-or-won’t-they voting process for HHS Secretary Tom Price, MD. It looks like the final confirmation vote will happen within the next several days. As with Price, Verma’s eventual confirmation is expected along party lines.

Webinars

None scheduled in the coming weeks. Contact Lorre for information on webinar services.

Acquisitions, Funding, Business, and Stock

Global skincare company LEO Pharma’s Innovation Lab invests $5.5 million in five startups, two of which are based in the US. San Francisco-based Pacific has developed an app to help consumers manage stress, anxiety, and depression; and a corresponding dashboard tool for providers. Remedly, also based in San Francisco, has developed an EHR and PM system for dermatologists. 

Announcements and Implementations

Austin-based startup WeInfuse develops cloud-based infusion center management software that includes patient scheduling, insurance pre-authorization, and medication inventory and delivery capabilities.

Casamba adds MedBridge’s patient engagement technology, including home therapy programs, to its TherapySource EHR and PM solution for post-acute therapy providers.

People

CareCloud brings on Greg Shorten (Validic) as chief revenue officer.

Meghan Hendricks (SSM Health) joins prescription drug pricing software company Doc and I as CIO.

Mordechai Raskas, MD (Children’s National Medical Center) joins specialized pediatric urgent care provider PM Pediatrics as director of telemedicine and clinical informatics.

Telemedicine

Akos launches its virtual consult business for consumers and employers in Arizona, with plans to expand to 10 more locations within the next few months. The company, formed last year by InstaMed Health Center Chairman Kishlay Anand, MD and neurologist Swaraj Singh, MD has raised $1 million in seed funding thus far. Its preferred brick-and-mortar provider network for patients that need in-person care seems to be the only thing setting it apart from the many other telemedicine companies popping up with increasing frequency.

Greenway Health software reseller and consulting company MDS Medical will add Otto Health’s telemedicine platform to its service line.

Government and Politics

Athenahealth CEO Jonathan Bush makes the media rounds this week to weigh in on the release of the GOP’s American Health Care Act, which he admits offers a “glimmer of hope” when it comes to prompting consumers to shop around for their care. He believes three things need to happen to make healthcare “shoppable:”

1. Arm patients and providers with cost/quality information to make better decisions, and reward them financially for doing so.

2. Connect our various care settings so when people do go in and out of certain settings, their health information will follow them.

3. Put all of health care on a national network. The industry can build all the software it wants, but without the connected tissue of a network innovation and knowledge-sharing can only happen in silos. One of many missed opportunities in healthcare that could be resolved with a national network is around scheduling; today only 16% of providers have at least some of their appointments available for web scheduling. A two-sided national network would allow patients to book appointments more conveniently, as well as for providers to fill appointments more conveniently. On the clinical side, with a national network doctors could share and access like-clinical scenarios and outcomes in real-time vs. once a year at an annual conference.

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Jenn, Mr. H, Lorre

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Readers Write: 5 Tips for HIPs to Help Jumpstart MIPS Readiness

5 Tips for HIPs to Help Jumpstart MIPS Readiness
By Chris Gluhak

Despite rumblings among the new administration and some members of Congress about dismantling the ACA, one thing remains certain: The move toward a performance- and outcome-based healthcare economy is critical to ensuring affordable access to quality care. MACRA is designed to do just that by establishing baseline performance requirements aimed at improving both the quality and cost effectiveness of care to benefit patients, providers, and payers.

As part of MACRA compliance, the MIPS Quality Payment Program kicks off this year, requiring healthcare providers to start collecting and reporting on quality metrics to CMS. With the first clinician scores set to be published in 2019, the stakes are high for providers in demonstrating that they meet performance and outcome expectations.

Not only is MIPS required for successful population health management and adequate reimbursement under CMS guidelines, but the trend toward healthcare consumerism will also force providers to compete for market share on the basis of their performance. Consumers care about ease of access, transparency of care and costs, affordability, and outcomes. These factors are driving patients to select providers more carefully. With these kinds of metrics soon to be publicly available, clinicians are under increasing scrutiny to maximize their performance scores to maintain market share.

As a result, Health Information Professionals (HIPs) are in a powerful position to help providers implement accurate, efficient data collection and reporting processes to meet these new standards for reimbursement and market satisfaction. Here’s where your expertise is needed most:

1) Determining performance measures. Clinicians can choose what types of data they will submit to CMS in order to measure performance. Several scoring criteria relate directly to the work of HIPs including the use of end-to-end electronic reporting through certified EHR technology; heavily weighted activities like member outreach and engagement, care coordination and population management; and IT-related requirements, such as establishing reporting structures for measures on individual and group levels, and planning for including Part D cost data into cost reporting. Choosing the right scoring criteria can make a substantial difference in the reportable success of the practice, and HIPs can help practitioners understand which metrics make the most sense for their practice.

2) Implementing MIPS systems. One of the most critical aspects of MACRA will be implementing the necessary infrastructure to support timely and accurate submissions. That means IT systems must provide for efficiency and accuracy in collection, documentation, reporting, tracking, and submission of clinical metrics. One of the biggest obstacles in this process is often the inability to use unstructured data in clinical charts. Manual analysis is exceptionally expensive and time-consuming, and frequently prone to error. To resolve that problem, HIPs should investigate and lobby for a MIPS solution that uses an advanced natural language processing engine to automate the extraction of all data from clinical charts.

3) Integrating data across reimbursement processes. In addition to required MIPS reporting systems, practices may also find that integrating data collection and analysis across all of their reimbursement processes, including clinical data collection, analysis, and tracking, will provide for additional efficiencies, as well as reveal insights into practice management. Again, implementing the right technology can enable this integration. Solutions that provide a versatile data acquisition and integration suite that supports a wide range of interfaces, with the ability to ingest and integrate data from even the most complex and disparate sources are ideal. HIPs can assist in this process by collaborating with payers and other partners to ensure congruency across data fields, ensuring all data fields and patient records are complete and accurate, and monitoring data entry processes for data cleanliness and efficiency.

4) Educating providers. Providers must be made aware that the performance scores for all participating clinicians (or groups of clinicians) will be made public by CMS in 2019. It’s imperative that they understand the implications of this publication, in terms of both reimbursement and competitive positioning. As stewards of the information, HIPs can play a primary role in articulating the importance of positive performance metrics in maintaining a strong CMS relationship, and a successful practice overall.

5) Continuous evaluation. Along with emphasizing the importance of the initial score publication, HIPs can also play a critical role in establishing internal monitoring mechanisms that keep clinicians informed of their performance status relative to others in the organization, and relative to themselves on an ongoing basis. This type of continuous evaluation not only provides benchmarking data to improve practice performance and care quality overall, but also to help maintain a strong position in the marketplace as consumers begin to gravitate toward practices that demonstrate top-notch performance.

With the initial MACRA/MIPS reporting period already underway, HIPs must act quickly to ensure their practices are in compliance both operationally and technologically. In order to earn the maximum benefit through CMS, clinicians must submit a full year of data by March 31, 2018. Implementing the most effective IT systems and processes now will ensure accurate data collection throughout the year, for the most thorough and efficient reporting now and into the future.

Chris Gluhak is director of risk adjustment – solutions consultant at Health Fidelity in San Mateo, CA.

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Jenn, Mr. H, Lorre

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News 3/8/17

Top News

Scottsdale, AZ-based telemedicine hardware, software, and medical device company GlobalMed acquires Miami-based TreatMD, a telemedicine company with global providers that also offers billing, EHR, remote monitoring, and wearable integration, plus white-labeling capabilities. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. TreatMD was launched by Lennick Holdings Managing Partner Bryan Lenett last August.

Webinars

March 9 (Thursday) 1:00 ET. “PAMA: The 2017 MPFS Final Rule.” Sponsored by National Decision Support Company. Presenter: Erin Lane, senior analyst, The Advisory Board Company. The Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 instructed CMS to require physicians to consult with a qualified clinical decision support (CDS) mechanism that relies on established appropriate use criteria (AUC) when ordering certain imaging exams. Providers must report AUC interactions beginning January 1, 2018 to receive payment for Medicare Advanced Imaging studies, with the CDS recording a unique number. Outliers will be measured against a set of Priority Clinical Areas and interaction with the AUC. This webinar will review the requirements for Medicare Advanced Imaging compliance and will review how to ensure that CDS tools submit the information needed for reimbursement.

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

Announcements and Implementations

Parasail Health offers an open API to help developers integrate its patient financing app, which includes tools to help patients comparison shop for loans, into their respective website or payment portal.

Modernizing Medicine will add e-commerce capabilities to its EHR through a partnership with skincare company Galderma Laboratories, giving dermatologists and their patients the ability to more easily order OTC products in tandem with prescription drugs.

Alternative Family Services will replace six IT systems in use at its eight facilities in California with the Cx360 EHR from Core Solutions.

Medical Oncology Hematology Consultants (DE) joins The US Oncology Network, a McKesson Specialty Health-supported company that provides PM tech and services to independent oncologists across the country.

Mental health and substance abuse outpatient provider A Helping Hand of Wilmington (NC) adopts Mediware’s AlphaFlex EHR.

People

Navicure hires Kermit Randa (PeopleAdmin) as its first chief growth officer.

Todd Unger (Daily Racing Form) joins AMA as chief experience officer and SVP of physician engagement.

Government and Politics

The Delmarva Foundation joins 11 other CMS-funded organizations in helping small practices participate in MACRA’s Quality Payment Program. The foundation will specifically provide technical assistance to 5,500 MIPS-eligible practices with 15 physicians or less in Maryland and Washington, DC.

Sponsor Updates

• EClinicalWorks releases a new podcast, “Tips from a Superuser – How to Improve Functionality.”

Blog Posts

• Transform how your front office engages with your patients (AdvanceMD)
• Population Health: An old-school approach to handling requests of your IT team [podcast] (Nordic)
• Patient Access Throughput: The Strategy to Success (Culbert Healthcare Solutions)
• Four Focus Areas in Health IT for Care Coordination Workflow Success (Healthwise)
• #HIMSS17 fun, takeaways, giving [recap] (Nordic)
• Using RTLS Data to Increase Capacity in Ambulatory Care (Versus Technology)

Contacts

Jenn, Mr. H, Lorre

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News 3/7/17

Top News

A study conducted by RAND Corp. and Harvard Medical School researchers uses commercial claims data from 300,000 patients with acute respiratory illnesses to determine that, while telemedicine may increase access to care, it also has the potential to increase utilization and resultant healthcare spending. Their analysis found that 12 percent of direct-to-consumer virtual visits replaced in-person visits to other providers, 88 percent were new users, and annual spending increased by $45 per user. “If you make something easier to access, people will use it,” says co-author Lori Uscher-Pines. “That lower threshold means that people are using this as an add-on service.”

HIStalk Practice Announcements and Requests

Don’t miss the second installment of the HIStalk Practice Winners Circle, an interview series featuring physician practice professionals that have been recognized for their health IT-related expertise. This month features Kids Plus Pediatrics owners Albert Wolf, MD and Todd Wolynn, MD. They entered the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year competition not once, but three times, finally winning in the healthcare category. I’d ideally like to run at least one of these interviews a month. (February got away from me thanks to HIMSS.) I’m already looking to line up April’s interview. Feel free to email me with suggestions of award-winning physician to reach out to.

Webinar

March 9 (Thursday) 1:00 ET. “PAMA: The 2017 MPFS Final Rule.” Sponsored by National Decision Support Company. Presenter: Erin Lane, senior analyst, The Advisory Board Company. The Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 instructed CMS to require physicians to consult with a qualified clinical decision support (CDS) mechanism that relies on established appropriate use criteria (AUC) when ordering certain imaging exams. Providers must report AUC interactions beginning January 1, 2018 to receive payment for Medicare Advanced Imaging studies, with the CDS recording a unique number. Outliers will be measured against a set of Priority Clinical Areas and interaction with the AUC. This webinar will review the requirements for Medicare Advanced Imaging compliance and will review how to ensure that CDS tools submit the information needed for reimbursement.

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

Announcements and Implementations

Over 120 primary care providers in Maryland partner with management services company Collaborative Health Systems to form the Chesapeake Independent Physician Association. “This new IPA fills a need and offers independent physicians the means to provide better care while transforming their practices as healthcare changes from ‘volume to value,’ notes Gene Ransom, president of The Maryland State Medical Society. “The association prepares physicians to take advantage of value-based contracts with commercial and public payers.”

Acquisitions, Funding, Business, and Stock

India-based Omega Healthcare Management Services acquires healthcare analytics company WhiteSpace Health for an undisclosed sum. The deal adds Research Triangle Park, NC-based WhiteSpace’s development facility in Hyderabad, India to the Omega fold, bringing its India-based facilities to five.

People

Family HealthCare Network (CA) promotes Paramvir Sidhu, MD to CMO.

Peter Spitzer (Spitzer & Associates) joins Innovaccer’s Board of Directors.

Research and Innovation

Researchers develop technology that enables a human to correct a robot with their mind using an electroencephalography monitor cap, which measures brain waves, algorithms to monitor those brain waves, and output capabilities that can send the brain wave analysis to the robot before it makes a mistake. The scientists have even programmed the robot to blush after being corrected.

Fitbit introduces a new, slimmer wristband with continuous heart-rate monitoring, plus new sleep-tracking capabilities to help users monitor the duration and intensity of their sleep cycles. The product developments come alongside the company’s announcement that two founding employees – Chief Business Officer Woody Scal and Interactive EVP Tim Roberts – are on their way out, and that it will “formally align” around consumer health and fitness, and enterprise health. “2017 is a transition year,” says co-founder and CEO James Park, “and while we continue to lead the connected health and fitness market, we must take important steps to chart our return to profitability and growth. It is essential that we are organized properly so that we can successfully execute our strategy.”

Other

Web application security blogger Anand Prakash shares a payment method entry bug that could have allowed cash-strapped hackers to take Uber rides for free. Prakash alerted Uber about the bug, after which they apparently gave him several free rides in the US and India.

Contacts

Jenn, Mr. H, Lorre

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