New APRs on Focused Standards Assessment Released

The Joint Commission released new Accreditation Participation Requirements (APR) on the Focused Standards Assessment (FSA) for the ambulatory care, behavioral health care, home care, hospital, laboratory services, and long term care programs. The APRs become effective on January 1. 2012.

For more information, click here.

Source: The Joint Commission Online

New App Gets "Meaningful Use" Certification

A new iPad application called "drchrono" has received ONC-ATCB "meaningful use" certification from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid's (CMS) Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs.

The new application allows speech-to-text, so physicians can forgo transcription of their notes and also has paperless billing and prescription writing functions.

Source: The Washington Post Ideas@Innovations Blog

Updates to Long Term Care Credentialing Requirements Released

The Joint Commission has released updates to the credentialing requirements for Long Term Care & Medicare/Medicaid Long Term Care Accreditation Programs.

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Source: The Joint Commission release

CMS Announces "Train the Trainers" Workshops

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced an upcoming series of "Train the Trainers Workshops." The 2011 National Medicare Train-the-Trainer Workshop schedule is designed for CMS to share consistent, accurate, current information with partners who help Medicare beneficiaries make the best choices for their healthcare coverage at these national events.

The 2011 National Medicare Training Program workshops will include:
- Refresher on Medicare program
- Basic information and detailed casework-tailored to your needs
- Medicare training information and materials that are current, accurate, and consistent
- Opportunity to network with CMS staff and other partners who share your commitment
- Subject matter experts to answer your questions
- 2011 CD Suite—with the training modules, videos, resource guide, toolkits, and more

For more information about the workshops, please click here.

Source: CMS Announcement

Study: Medicaid Increases Use of Health Care, Decreases Financial Strain, and Improves Health for Recipients

A recent study by researchers from Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), and Providence Health & Services has found that expanding low income adults’ access to Medicaid substantially increases health care use, reduces financial strain on covered individuals, and improves their self-reported health and well-being. This is the first study to evaluate the impact of insuring the uninsured in the U.S. using a randomized controlled trial, the gold standard in medical and scientific studies.

The study was released as working paper 17190 on the website of the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) on July 7, 2011.

“This study shows that Medicaid substantially expands access to and use of care for low-income adults relative to being uninsured,” said Katherine Baicker, professor of health economics at HSPH and co-principal investigator of the study.

Medicaid, which is jointly funded by the federal and state governments, covers the health care costs of eligible low-income individuals and families. The 2010 Affordable Care Act expands Medicaid to cover additional low income adults in all states in 2014.

Source: Fiercehealthcare.com article Health Reform Working: Medicaid Access Fixes Financial Strain, Improves Health

HHS OIG: New Technology Helps Cut Waste, Prevent Fraud

Lewis Morris, Chief Counsel to the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services recently testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs, Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security about the role new technologies can play in cutting waste and fraud in the Federal health care programs.

"OIG is using information technologies and analytics, including data mining, trend evaluation, and modeling, to better identify fraud vulnerabilities and target our oversight efforts," reported Morris. "OIG is leveraging an analytical foundation that provides an enterprise view of questionable activities, suspected fraud trends, and prevention opportunities. When united with the expertise of our agents, auditors, and program evaluators, OIG brings a formidable combination of cutting edge techniques and traditional investigative skills to the fight against fraud, waste, and abuse."

Source: HHS OIG News Release

Web Conference to Examine Clinical Decision Support and Knowledge Management Systems

Three researchers will present evidence reviews at a July 20 web conference on experiences with clinical decision support and knowledge management systems (CDSS/KMS).

The findings, gathered from AHRQ’s Evidence-Based Practice Centers for Health IT, will address how CDSS/KMS can serve as information tools to bolster clinician decision-making at the point of care. Researchers will also examine the effects of health IT on the medication management process of prescribing, and the impact of consumer health informatics applications on health outcomes. Participants in the web conference are eligible for 1.5 credit hours of continuing medical education.

For more information or to register, please click here.

Source: AHRQ News Release