News 6/29/22

Top News

Walmart will acquire Memomi, an augmented reality optical software company has offered Walmart customers the ability to virtually “try on” eyewear since 2019.

Webinars

July 12 (Tuesday) 1 ET. “Digital Data Stewardship for Trusted, High-Quality Data Exchange.” Sponsor: Clinical Architecture. Presenter: Carol Graham, MS, RN, product manager, Clinical Architecture. Organizations face challenges in ensuring that the patient data they received and send is consistent, accurate, and usable. Use cases include receiving multi-source data across health information networks with variation in formats and content; merging and de-duplicating provider, payer, and research data; uplifting legacy data for current use cases and formats; and normalizing and formatting data for public health surveillance, quality measure reporting, and providing directly to the patient. This webinar will cover Pivot, a comprehensive Digital Data Steward solution that orchestrates format harmonization, content (vocabulary) normalization, de-duplication, and data quality validation into a single solution.

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

Acquisitions, Funding, Business, and Stock

Independent physician enablement company Aledade will open a new office in New York City, San Francisco, and Durham, NC. The company, headquartered in Bethesda, MD, also has an office in Austin. Aledade was founded eight years ago as a value-based care venture by former national coordinator Farzad Mostashari, MD. It has raised nearly $420 million.

Ambulatory surgery center development and management company Atlas Health Partners will work with MedAxiom, a performance improvement company focused on cardiovascular organizations, to launch a yet-to-be-named cardiovascular ASC business.

People

Srini Chillara (Verisys) joins Kipu Health as CTO.

Announcements and Implementations

Atwal Eye Care (NY) will implement Nextech’s EHR and practice management software across its five offices and surgery center.

Liberty Doctors (SC) partners with tech-enabled value-based care company Agilon Health to launch a Freedom Senior Care Advantage program for its Medicare patients.

The Villages Health (FL) selects Kaid Health’s Whole Chart Analysis technology to improve documentation and coding for its population of Medicare Advantage patients.

Research and Innovation

A CHG Healthcare survey of 543 physicians finds that 43% changed jobs during the pandemic, with top reasons being a need for better work/life balance, increased pay, and more flexibility. Of those who changed jobs, 39% moved into a different practice setting and 31% worked locum tenens assignments. Ten percent went to work for telemedicine companies.

Clinical staff practicing in rural and non-rural settings believe the biggest opportunities for technology to improve care quality in both areas are to be found in better medical equipment; faster, more reliable Internet connections; and expanded use of EHRs, according to a Walmart survey of more than 10,000 people.

Sponsor Updates

Blog Posts

• The Importance of Patient Engagement in a Medical Practice (AdvancedMD)
• Dermatology Made Easier This Summer (EClinicalWorks)

Contacts

Jenn, Mr. H, Lorre

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News 6/27/22

Top News

Kins announces a seed funding round of $7.2 million. The Boston-based company offers its virtual and in-home physical therapy programs to payers and directly to consumers. CEO Dan Smith was formerly head of Asics Digital, which included overseeing the development and management of the footwear company’s RunKeeper app.

Webinars

July 12 (Tuesday) 1 ET. “Digital Data Stewardship for Trusted, High-Quality Data Exchange.” Sponsor: Clinical Architecture. Presenter: Carol Graham, MS, RN, product manager, Clinical Architecture. Organizations face challenges in ensuring that the patient data they received and send is consistent, accurate, and usable. Use cases include receiving multi-source data across health information networks with variation in formats and content; merging and de-duplicating provider, payer, and research data; uplifting legacy data for current use cases and formats; and normalizing and formatting data for public health surveillance, quality measure reporting, and providing directly to the patient. This webinar will cover Pivot, a comprehensive Digital Data Steward solution that orchestrates format harmonization, content (vocabulary) normalization, de-duplication, and data quality validation into a single solution.

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

People

Virtual musculoskeletal medical practice Vori Health names John Walsh (Zipari) CTO.

Government and Politics

CMS announces the Enhancing Oncology Model, a new five-year payment program designed by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation that will incentive oncology practices to improve the delivery of high-quality, coordinated care, including social support, and improves patient and caregiver support. Participating practices will provide enhanced services that include patient navigation, care planning, collection of electronic patient-reported outcomes, and screening for social needs.

Research and Innovation

A survey of 50 leaders at FQHCs across the country finds an overwhelming majority are determined to remain independent, and nearly 75% are willing to work with similar organizations and pool data for greater insights into workforce and service line trends, patient populations, payment models, and the impact of regulatory requirements and Medicaid expansion.

Other

Interesting: I noticed a local McDonald’s advertising telemedicine benefits as part of a hiring push. Turns out the company offers full- and part-time employees access to virtual care benefits that include 10 free urgent or mental healthcare visits per year. I wonder how many employees take advantage of the benefit. Having been self-insured now for several years, I also wonder how common telemedicine is as a benefit included within a health plan or as an employer add-on. Is it par for the course these days, or definitely a perk? Readers, please weigh in.

Hopefully, telemedicine hasn’t become so routine that The Onion’s portrayal of virtual care providers is anywhere near accurate.

Sponsor Updates

• The Health Information Resource Center recognizes Healthwise with seven Digital Health Awards for its medical illustrations and health education videos.
• Medicomp Systems releases a new Tell Me Where It Hurts Podcast, “On Innovation with Dr. Nick van Terheyden.”

Blog Posts

• The big squeeze: Navigating the confluence of post-COVID challenges (Nordic)

Contacts

Jenn, Mr. H, Lorre

More news: HIStalk.

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News 6/22/22

Top News

Physical therapy-focused practice management software startup Spry raises $7 million in a funding round led by Eight Roads Ventures.

Webinars

July 12 (Tuesday) 1 ET. “Digital Data Stewardship for Trusted, High-Quality Data Exchange.” Sponsor: Clinical Architecture. Presenter: Carol Graham, MS, RN, product manager, Clinical Architecture. Organizations face challenges in ensuring that the patient data they received and send is consistent, accurate, and usable. Use cases include receiving multi-source data across health information networks with variation in formats and content; merging and de-duplicating provider, payer, and research data; uplifting legacy data for current use cases and formats; and normalizing and formatting data for public health surveillance, quality measure reporting, and providing directly to the patient. This webinar will cover Pivot, a comprehensive Digital Data Steward solution that orchestrates format harmonization, content (vocabulary) normalization, de-duplication, and data quality validation into a single solution.

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

People

DispatchHealth promotes Reza Alavi, MD (Optum) to president of its Advanced Care hospital-at-home program.

Announcements and Implementations

Bizmatics integrates Zocdoc’s appointment finder and booking software with its PrognoCIS EHR.

Therapy Brands makes its pediatric Fusion EHR, practice management, and billing system available to physical, occupational, and speech therapy practices serving adult patients.

Research and Innovation

Patient preferences for online conveniences are growing, according to a Phreesia survey of 4,136 patients:

• An average of 83% say they’d book or reschedule an appointment online if given the option.
• Sixty-four percent prefer to see providers who offer online check-in; 29% consider it a must-have when selecting a provider.
• Seventy percent would opt for online payments if given the option.
• Nearly 90% have digitally messaged their physician; 41% say it’s also a must-have.

Other

The American Medical Association highlights physician (and patient) frustrations with prior authorization denials. Several, including Tauseef Ali, MD have taken to Twitter to post de-identified denial letters: “Patients ‘love it – and they get very excited and encouraged that there is a doctor who is advocating on their behalf.’”

Other physicians take a more satirical route. I’d label it as comedy if patient lives weren’t on the line.

Sponsor Updates

• AdvancedMD recognizes Product Developer Kylie Jensen with a FIT Award.
• Nordic posts DoctTalk Ep. 106, “Redefining health for a new era of care.”

Blog Posts

• Disease Explorer: Effectiveness Through Cohorts (EClinicalWorks)

Contacts

Jenn, Mr. H, Lorre

More news: HIStalk.

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News 6/20/22

Top News

NBC News points out the decreasing levels of telemedicine access across the country as pandemic emergency waivers lapse and states revert back to traditional licensure rules, giving patients access to virtual visits only with physicials licensed within their same state. Last year, 26 states still allowed patients to be seen by physicians licensed in other states. Now just a dozen still allow for that type of telemedicine access. Several within that group will soon revert back to pre-pandemic access.

Webinars

None scheduled soon. Previous webinars are on our YouTube channel. Contact Lorre to present your own.

People

Violetta Ostafin (Aon) will join CVS Health as EVP and chief strategy officer.

Former ConnectiveRx and Surescripts executive Rick Ratliff (CAQH) joins Australian medication management app company MedAdvisor as its US-based CEO and general manager.

Rich Steinle (Innovista Health Solutions) joins Carium as CEO. Co-founder and CEO Scott Pradels will transition to COO.

Announcements and Implementations

AdvancedMD notifies users that outages and related performance issues resulting from a code update on June 15 have now been resolved.

Other

You can’t make this stuff up: US Coast Guard and US Customs and Border Patrol officials pick up Ernesto Graveran aboard a broken down jet ski near Key West, thwarting his attempt to escape to Cuba to avoid prosecution for allegedly bilking Medicare out of $4.2 million in fraudulent charges made through his durable medical equipment company.

Sponsor Updates

• EClinicalWorks announces its continued partnership with Witham Health Services (IN) to further improve patient communications and achieve overall operational efficiency in more than 30 locations.

Blog Posts

• 7 Benefits Digital Health Education Brings to Care Management (Healthwise)

Contacts

Jenn, Mr. H, Lorre

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News 6/15/22

Top News

Florida-based startup Constellation4Health raises pre-seed funding and acquires Vulcan Health, an offshoot of Florida Eye Specialists & Cataract Institute that specializes in digital referral management technology.

Constellation4Health offers provider data and network management, referral management, and analytics.

Webinars

None scheduled soon. Previous webinars are on our YouTube channel. Contact Lorre to present your own.

People

Charika Wilcox-Lee (Waystar) joins Health Recovery Solutions as VP of RCM.

Epocrates promotes Andrew Johnson (Athenahealth) to executive director of commercial strategy, and names Bridget Seay (Wiley) executive director of customer experience and commercial consulting.

Government and Politics

HHS announces the Building Bridges to Better Health: A Primary Health Care Challenge. Entrants must develop or speed up the development of low-cost, scalable solutions to help federally-supported community health centers improve patient access to primary care and enhance the coordination of healthcare and social services. A total of $1 million will be awarded over three phases.

Research and Innovation

The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute will allocate $50 million in funding this fall for research focused on comparing different approaches to incorporating telemedicine into primary care for the most effective management of multiple chronic conditions.

Other

In California, the Santa Barbara County Department of Behavioral Wellness reports a data breach stemming from an unauthorized staff member logging into its EHR to view patient information. The March 30 breach was discovered earlier this week during the implementation of new cybersecurity protocols.

Sponsor Updates

• EClinicalWorks releases a new podcast, “Healow Payment Services: Convenient, Electronic, and Easy to Use.”

Blog Posts

• A Behavioral Health Module That Behaves Like One (EClinicalWorks)

Contacts

Jenn, Mr. H, Lorre

More news: HIStalk.

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