News 10/18/23

Top News

Waymark announces $42 million in funding in an investment round led by Lux Capital, bringing its total funding to $87 million. The company offers tech-enabled care support services to primary care teams and their Medicaid patients in Virginia and Washington.

Co-founder and CEO Rajaie Batniji, MD also helped to launch health benefits management software vendor Collective Health, where he still works part-time.

Webinars

October 25 (Wednesday) 2 ET. “Q&A: What’s new with the NSA? A No Surprises Act update.” Sponsor: Waystar. Presenters: Joseph Mercer, JD, managing director, Marwood Group; Heather Kawamoto, VP of product strategy, Waystar. The No Surprises Act created a lot of change,  and those changes are still coming. A panel of revenue cycle experts answer frequently asked questions and offer a concise update on the NSA, including legislative developments, FAQs, and tips for navigating changes.

October 25 (Wednesday) 2 ET. “AMA: The Power of Data Completeness.” Sponsor: Particle Health. Presenters: Jason Prestinario, MSME, CEO, Particle Health; Carolyn Ward, MD, director of clinical strategy, Particle Health. Is your healthcare organization looking to drive profitability and scale quickly? Our experts will explore how comprehensive clinical data can revolutionize the health tech landscape. This engaging discussion will cover trending topics such as leveraging AI and data innovation to enhance patient care and outcomes, real-world examples of organizations leading the charge in data-driven healthcare, overcoming challenges in data completeness and interoperability, and visionary perspectives on the future of care delivery.

Previous webinars are on our YouTube channel. Contact Lorre to present or promote your own.

Acquisitions, Funding, Business, and Stock

Ventricle Health, a virtual and at-home cardiology care provider, raises $8 million in seed funding. The company works with ACOs, primary care practices, and payers.

Allara raises $10 million in a Series A funding round. The startup offers membership-based virtual care and online prescriptions to women suffering from chronic hormonal, metabolic, and gynecological conditions. Allara CEO Rachel Blank was formerly a director at women’s online health and wellness company Ro.

Announcements and Implementations

Sphere company Health IPass announces GA of cloud-based payments processing technology.

Well Health Technologies develops AI-enabled disease diagnosis capabilities using technology from HealWell AI.

Radiology Associates of Keene (NH) selects RCM software and services from Healthcare Administrative Partners.

CareCloud announces GA of its CirrusAI digital healthcare assistant, powered by Google’s new Vertex AI technology.

Other

Patients on Canada’s Prince Edward Island are losing patience with the province’s telemedicine service due to licensing rules that prevent non-local physicians from seeing patients virtually during peak appointment times. While the number of appointments conducted via the Maple platform has gone from 932 per month in 2022 to 2,339 as of June 2023, the number of physicians licensed to see patients in the province hasn’t kept up. Canadian lawmakers are considering a national licensing model to help address the issue.

Sponsor Updates

• Nordic publishes another episode of its In Network podcast, “Designing for Health: Bre Loughlin.”

Blog Posts

• Navigating the Challenges of Transcription: Finding a Solution that is Accurate, Timely & Secure (AdvancedMD)

Contacts

Jenn, Mr. H, Lorre

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News 10/16/23

Top News

Rite Aid files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as part of a debt reduction program it is undertaking amidst flagging sales and the repercussions of prescription opioid-related lawsuits that saw it pay out $30 million in settlements in 2022. The retail pharmacy chain, which is also dealing with noncompliance issues related to its NYSE listing, has obtained $3.45 billion in financing from lenders to ensure its operation through the Chapter 11 process.

It anticipates selling its Elixir Solutions pharmacy benefits and solutions business to competitor MedImpact as part of the Chapter 11 process.

In addition, the company has named Stein Advisors founder Jeffrey Stein CEO and chief restructuring officer.

Webinars

October 25 (Wednesday) 2 ET. “Q&A: What’s new with the NSA? A No Surprises Act update.” Sponsor: Waystar. Presenters: Joseph Mercer, JD, managing director, Marwood Group; Heather Kawamoto, VP of product strategy, Waystar. The No Surprises Act created a lot of change,  and those changes are still coming. A panel of revenue cycle experts answer frequently asked questions and offer a concise update on the NSA, including legislative developments, FAQs, and tips for navigating changes.

October 25 (Wednesday) 2 ET. “AMA: The Power of Data Completeness.” Sponsor: Particle Health. Presenters: Jason Prestinario, MSME, CEO, Particle Health; Carolyn Ward, MD, director of clinical strategy, Particle Health. Is your healthcare organization looking to drive profitability and scale quickly? Our experts will explore how comprehensive clinical data can revolutionize the health tech landscape. This engaging discussion will cover trending topics such as leveraging AI and data innovation to enhance patient care and outcomes, real-world examples of organizations leading the charge in data-driven healthcare, overcoming challenges in data completeness and interoperability, and visionary perspectives on the future of care delivery.

Previous webinars are on our YouTube channel. Contact Lorre to present or promote your own.

People

CVS Health names Oak Street Health CEO Mike Pykosz interim president of Health Services. Pykosz takes over the role from CFO and EVP Shawn Guertin, who has taken a leave of absence for family reasons.

Announcements and Implementations

Compliancy Group announces GA of The Guard, its healthcare compliance platform encompassing solutions for HIPAA, OSHA, SOC-2, and custom programs.

Addiction treatment provider Cedar Recovery (TN) launches Studio Health, a virtual mental health program.

Other

Providers and patients using SimplePractice’s telehealth software now receive an alert at the beginning of sessions letting them know that MacOS software will automatically display video reactions like fireworks and hearts when certain hand gestures are detected.

Bedside manner seems to be driving factor behind the success of the Buladean rural telehealth clinic, according to patients. Telefacilitator Vicki Garland, a former paramedic, welcomes and assists patients during their appointments at the Buladean clinic in North Carolina. She also assists patients at the (somewhat) nearby Tipton Hill telehealth clinic, a job she took on after her predecessor had trouble connecting with the local community. “Mountain people are clannish,” Garland explains. “You have to know how to speak to them, and that’s where I fit in.”

Sponsor Updates

• The Dermatology Specialists realizes a 50% reduction in claim submission lab and a 33% reduction in payer rejections after implement RCM optimization services from EClinicalWorks.
• PerfectServe will exhibit at the American Association of Physician Leadership Fall Institute October 26-29 in Scottsdale, AZ.
• EClinicalWorks will exhibit at MGMA’s Leaders Conference October 22-25 in Nashville.
• Valley ENT reaches 10,000 patients with its first Text2Pay campaign using Healow Payment Services from EClinicalWorks.

Blog Posts

• Burnout’s triple threat: Compromising care, clinicians, and cash flow (Nordic)
  

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Contacts

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News 10/11/23

Top News

Remote patient monitoring and chronic care management vendor Optimize Health raises $18 million in a Series B funding round, bringing its total raised to over $37 million.

Webinars

October 25 (Wednesday) 2 ET. “AMA: The Power of Data Completeness.” Sponsor: Particle Health. Presenters: Jason Prestinario, MSME, CEO, Particle Health; Carolyn Ward, MD, director of clinical strategy, Particle Health. Is your healthcare organization looking to drive profitability and scale quickly? Our experts will explore how comprehensive clinical data can revolutionize the health tech landscape. This engaging discussion will cover trending topics such as leveraging AI and data innovation to enhance patient care and outcomes, real-world examples of organizations leading the charge in data-driven healthcare, overcoming challenges in data completeness and interoperability, and visionary perspectives on the future of care delivery.

Previous webinars are on our YouTube channel. Contact Lorre to present or promote your own.

Acquisitions, Funding, Business, and Stock

Flourish Labs raises $6.6 million in seed funding. The startup offers peer-to-peer mental health coaching through its virtual platform. The company has partnered with Sutter Health (CA) offer customers access to Sutter’s Scout digital resources program.

Cigna’s Evernorth Health Services subsidiary acquires Bright.md’s asynchronous virtual care technology and clinical assets, and will incorporate them into its MDLive telehealth business beginning next year. MDLive will also begin offering health coaching from Welldoc to patients with chronic conditions.

People

Ash Tengshe (Wells Fargo) joins Recuro Health as SVP and chief product and technology officer.

UnisLink names Patti Peets (Conifer Health Solutions) chief sales officer.

Qualifacts hires Josh Schoeller (Elsevier) as CEO.

Tim Wentworth (Evernorth) comes out of retirement (per his LinkedIn profile) to join Walgreens as CEO.

Announcements and Implementations

NextGen adds AI-enhanced, automated note-taking capabilities to its mobile app.

Government and Politics

The FDA will create a Digital Health Advisory Committee to help the agency better understand the benefits, risks, and clinical outcomes associated with digital health technologies. The committee will consist of nine core members and is expected to be operational sometime next year.

Other

Azova puts a new spin on retail healthcare by offering its UTI Telehealth Bundle at Walmart.com. The bundle includes an at-home testing kit and voucher for one telemedicine visit with an Azova provider.

High school senior Ayaan Parikh launches Medic All, a telemedicine nonprofit in Wichita, KS, that has partnered with local healthcare providers and community organizations to offer low-income patients free or reduced-cost care.

Sponsor Updates

Blog Posts

• Are You Struggling with Interoperability Challenges? You’re Not Alone (AdvancedMD)
• Screen, stream, support: The tech-driven future of mental health (Nordic)

Contacts

Jenn, Mr. H, Lorre

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News 10/9/23

Top News

Main Street Health raises $315 million and announces it will expand into eight additional states. It partners with primary care providers in rural locations to help them transition to value-based care. CEO Brad Smith was formerly director of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, while Chief Product Officer Amy Gleason, founder of CareSync, most recently led the healthcare team within the US Digital Service.

Webinars

October 25 (Wednesday) 2 ET. “AMA: The Power of Data Completeness.” Sponsor: Particle Health. Presenters: Jason Prestinario, MSME, CEO, Particle Health; Carolyn Ward, MD, director of clinical strategy, Particle Health. Is your healthcare organization looking to drive profitability and scale quickly? Our experts will explore how comprehensive clinical data can revolutionize the health tech landscape. This engaging discussion will cover trending topics such as leveraging AI and data innovation to enhance patient care and outcomes, real-world examples of organizations leading the charge in data-driven healthcare, overcoming challenges in data completeness and interoperability, and visionary perspectives on the future of care delivery.

Previous webinars are on our YouTube channel. Contact Lorre to present or promote your own.

Acquisitions, Funding, Business, and Stock

Tech-enabled women’s healthcare provider Diana Health (TN) raises $34 million in a Series B round of funding. The company, which has several brick-and-mortar clinics, also partners with hospitals to enhance their women’s health programs, particularly labor and delivery.

Announcements and Implementations

The Centers for Advanced Orthopaedics implements PatientIQ’s automated patient-reported outcomes data collection and analysis software across its facilities in Maryland, Washington, DC, and Virginia.

Washington, DC’s Department of Behavioral Health will use technology and services from Syra Health to bolster its Evidence-Based Supported Employment Program and Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program. Syra Health went public two weeks ago, raising $7 million.

Eastside Counseling Center (WA) selects RCM software from CareCloud.

DrFirst debuts its AI-powered, Epic-compatible Fuzion medication management technology.

Research and Innovation

A seven-year study of diabetes care delivery in 300 Minnesota-based primary care practices finds that high-quality care is synonymous with proactive and consistent patient outreach, standardized care delivery processes, and engaged and expanded care teams.

Other

A physician in Ottawa considers legal action after discovering that a clinic at which she has never worked had listed her, along with her credentials and bio, as practicing at that facility. The offending clinic has also made headlines for offering special access to nurse practitioners for an added fee, a care delivery model that has many Canadians up in arms.

Sponsor Updates

• Nordic releases a new Designing for Health Podcast, “Interview with Evan Heigert.”
• Robbins Dermatology experiences streamlined payment collections and processing using Healow Payment Services from EClinicalWorks.
• Medicomp Systems directly maps over 10 million clinical codes and concepts across more than 12 terminologies to its Medcin clinical relevancy engine.
• Nordic releases a new episode of DocTalk, “DocTalk Ep. 210 | Optimizing value from EHR investments.”

Blog Posts

• Nurses of Note 2023: The Regional Practice Administrator Celebrates 30 Years in the Field (PerfectServe)
• Essential Checklist for Starting a Weight Loss Clinic or Medical Spa (EClinicalWorks)

Contacts

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News 10/4/23

Top News

Autism and neurodivergent care company Cortica raises $115 million in an extended Series D funding round led by CVS Health Ventures. Cortica will use the investment to bolster its technology, staff, research, and patient and provider experiences.

Webinars

October 25 (Wednesday) 2 ET. “AMA: The Power of Data Completeness.” Sponsor: Particle Health. Presenters: Jason Prestinario, MSME, CEO, Particle Health; Carolyn Ward, MD, director of clinical strategy, Particle Health. Is your healthcare organization looking to drive profitability and scale quickly? Our experts will explore how comprehensive clinical data can revolutionize the health tech landscape. This engaging discussion will cover trending topics such as leveraging AI and data innovation to enhance patient care and outcomes, real-world examples of organizations leading the charge in data-driven healthcare, overcoming challenges in data completeness and interoperability, and visionary perspectives on the future of care delivery.

Previous webinars are on our YouTube channel. Contact Lorre to present or promote your own.

People

Howard Cutler (VillageMD) joins One Call as chief strategy and network officer.

Panoramic Health names Tarek Elsawy, MD (Optum Care) CEO.

Announcements and Implementations

Fraser (MN) selects NetSmart’s CareFabric technology and services for behavioral health.

Customer review and feedback software company Swell develops the Patient Experience Management app to help practices gain real-time insights into the patient journey.

Elation Health announces GA of a unified EHR and billing solution.

The Bone & Joint Center (NY) implements Athenahealth’s AthenaOne EHR, RCM, and patient engagement software.

Sponsor Updates

• AdvancedMD staff volunteer at The Green Urban Lunchbox, Encircle, St. Vincent De Paul Dining Hall, and The Road Home during the company’s day of service.
• The Toledo Clinic in Ohio successfully leverages RCM optimization services from EClinicalWorks.

• Nordic publishes a new episode of its “In Network” podcast titled “Designing for Health: Interview with Evan Heigert.”

Contacts

Jenn, Mr. H, Lorre

More news: HIStalk.

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