CMS is holding conference calls for eligible professionals (EPs), eligible hospitals, and critical access hospitals (CAHs) participating in the Medicare Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program to provide information on the attestation process.
The calls take place on Tuesday, May 3, from 2:00 PM-3:30 PM ET and Thursday, May 5, from 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM ET. Advanced registration is required.
More information about the calls, including registration, is available here: http://www.cms.gov/EHRIncentivePrograms/50_Spotlight.asp
Visit the CMS EHR Incentive Programs website for the latest news and updates on EHR Incentive Programs.
Friday, April 29, 2011
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Drug Companies Challenge Vermont Data Mining Law in Supreme Court
A lawsuit brought by pharmaceutical manufacturers challenging a Vermont law that prohibits the sale of information about the medicines that doctors are prescribing to their patients was argued in the U.S. Supreme Court on April 26.
The Vermont law prohibits the sale of the information without obtaining permission from the doctor first.
Source: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=135737160
The Vermont law prohibits the sale of the information without obtaining permission from the doctor first.
Source: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=135737160
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
High Court Rejects Request for Fast Track Decision on Health Care Reform Law
On April 25, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a request from the Commonwealth of Virginia to issue an immediate ruling on the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act enacted last year to reform the nation's health care system.
The Supreme Court indicated that it would wait until all of the pending cases challenging the act reached them before considering the controversy. The cases could reach the court as early at this fall.
Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/supreme-court-turn-down-virginias-request-to-expedite-review-of-health-care-law/2011/04/15/AFr7U5hE_story.html
The Supreme Court indicated that it would wait until all of the pending cases challenging the act reached them before considering the controversy. The cases could reach the court as early at this fall.
Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/supreme-court-turn-down-virginias-request-to-expedite-review-of-health-care-law/2011/04/15/AFr7U5hE_story.html
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Washington State Uses Panels to Make Coverage Determinations
A recent article in The New York Times highlights a Washington state panel which uses evidence-based measures to make coverage determinations for state employees, Medicaid patients, and injured workers.
The Health Technology Assessment committee, which was created in 2006 with bipartisan support, is a panel of healthcare professionals that evaluates the cost and effectiveness of medical devices and procedures before deciding to grant or deny coverage.
Committees such as this one were criticized during the healthcare reform debate as being examples of "rationing care." However, the committee argues that it has been balanced in its decision making.
To read the full article, click here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/22/business/22care.html?pagewanted=2&emc=eta1
Source: The New York Times
The Health Technology Assessment committee, which was created in 2006 with bipartisan support, is a panel of healthcare professionals that evaluates the cost and effectiveness of medical devices and procedures before deciding to grant or deny coverage.
Committees such as this one were criticized during the healthcare reform debate as being examples of "rationing care." However, the committee argues that it has been balanced in its decision making.
To read the full article, click here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/22/business/22care.html?pagewanted=2&emc=eta1
Source: The New York Times
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Project Boost Aims to Curb Hospital Readmissions
In an attempt to reduce the number of preventable readmissions, hospitals are turning to program called Project Boost.
Project Boost was developed by the Society of Hospital Medicine. The project integrates the better collection and communication of information at patient discharge to avoid logistical and psychosocial problems that may lead to a patient's readmission.
Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta has reported decreased readmission rates since implementing the program.
To read more about Project Boost, click here:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/21/AR2011022102949.html?hpid=sec-health
Source: Washington Post
Project Boost was developed by the Society of Hospital Medicine. The project integrates the better collection and communication of information at patient discharge to avoid logistical and psychosocial problems that may lead to a patient's readmission.
Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta has reported decreased readmission rates since implementing the program.
To read more about Project Boost, click here:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/21/AR2011022102949.html?hpid=sec-health
Source: Washington Post
Friday, January 21, 2011
House Votes to Repeal Health Reform
The House voted to repeal the healthcare reform act by a vote of 245 to 189 on Wednesday. Three Democrats joined all Republican representatives in voting to repeal the act, which was a campaign promise by many Republicans in the past election.
The Senate, which is still controlled by the Democrats, intends to block any attempts to repeal healthcare reform. House Republicans acknowledged that their vote may merely be a symbolic one. However, they intend to "chip away" at healthcare reform by blocking funding and introducing bills to unravel certain provisions.
To read the full article, click here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/20/health/policy/20cong.html?emc=eta1
Source: The New York Times
The Senate, which is still controlled by the Democrats, intends to block any attempts to repeal healthcare reform. House Republicans acknowledged that their vote may merely be a symbolic one. However, they intend to "chip away" at healthcare reform by blocking funding and introducing bills to unravel certain provisions.
To read the full article, click here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/20/health/policy/20cong.html?emc=eta1
Source: The New York Times
Monday, December 13, 2010
Congress Determines Red Flags Rule Does Not Apply to Physicians
Both the House and Senate have passed the Red Flag Program Clarification Act of 2010, which provides additional information on who is determined a "creditor" under the rules.
The rule clarifies the definition to state that a "creditor" does not include an entity that "advances funds on behalf of a person for expenses incidental to a service provided by the creditor to that person." This means that physicians and healthcare institutions are no longer held subject to the red flags rule.
The red flags rule would have required these entities to take precautionary measures to prevent identity theft. Groups such as the American Medical Association fought enforcement of the rule on healthcare providers, stating that the rule would be burdensome and redundant if enforced along with HIPAA protections.
The red flags rule is scheduled to go into effect on December 31, 2010.
To read more, click here:
http://www.outpatientsurgery.net/news/2010/12/14
Source: outpatientsurgery.net
The rule clarifies the definition to state that a "creditor" does not include an entity that "advances funds on behalf of a person for expenses incidental to a service provided by the creditor to that person." This means that physicians and healthcare institutions are no longer held subject to the red flags rule.
The red flags rule would have required these entities to take precautionary measures to prevent identity theft. Groups such as the American Medical Association fought enforcement of the rule on healthcare providers, stating that the rule would be burdensome and redundant if enforced along with HIPAA protections.
The red flags rule is scheduled to go into effect on December 31, 2010.
To read more, click here:
http://www.outpatientsurgery.net/news/2010/12/14
Source: outpatientsurgery.net
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