EI Connections – December 2011In this month’s newsletter, our topics include:
Monthly HHS & CMS Update:Delaying Stage 2 EHR Meaningful Use Adoption Is Viewed As PositiveAt a recent Health Information Technology Policy Committee meeting, the committee ruled in favor of delaying the EHR Stage 2 Meaningful Use requirements start date from 2013 to 2014. 5 Roadblocks to Meaningful Use Stage 2Summer of 2012 will be an interesting time in healthcare, as Stage 2 requirements of meaningful use will finally come to light. In the meantime, doubts remain regarding the successful adoption of Stage 2 – and whether it’s even possible.HIPAA 5010 and ICD-10 from a Vendor’s PerspectiveMost HIPAA 5010 and ICD-10 coverage focuses on how far behind payers, providers and vendors are in the conversion. Less often discussed is the role being played by vendors that are that are up-to-date.How Technology Can Connect Doctors and CaregiversCaregivers want technology that can help facilitate the care of loved ones. Not only can physicians provide those tools, they also can benefit from them.Market Booming for Wireless Monitoring DevicesThe increased use of electronic medical records is one of the top reasons why wireless patient monitors are the fastest-growing medical device segments in terms of revenue, according to market research published by Kalorama Information.Monthly HHS & CMS Update:HHS Extends MU Stage 2 Deadline to Spur Faster EHR AdoptionDoctors’ adoption of health information technology doubled in two years, according to a new report, Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius released Wednesday. Sebelius also announced extension of the meaningful use qualification date to 2014.CMS Will Top $2B in EHR Payments in 2011The Medicare and Medicaid electronic health record program has paid physicians and hospitals nearly $2 billion in incentive payments as of the end of November, surpassing what federal health officials anticipated.CMS Offers 90 Enforcement-Free Days for HIPAA 5010It’s not entirely surprising that CMS has instituted a 90-day grace period for HIPAA 5010.To be clear: The compliance date remains January 1, 2012 but the agency said it will not “initiate enforcement action” on that compliance before March 31, 2012.ONC Chief Responds to IOM ReportFarzad Mostashari, the national health IT coordinator, said Wednesday that agencies in the Health and Human Services Department will work closely to craft a surveillance and action plan to keep patients safer through health IT, and it will be done sooner than called for by the Institute of Medicine. |
