Healthcare IT News For VARs — January 6, 2014
In the news, the CMS has extended the Stark law exception that permits hospitals to help fund EHR costs for physicians. Also, a survey shows most vendors are still in the ICD-10 product development phase, a newly introduced House Bill 3750 would provide assistance to states for telehealth policies, and ACO participation is on the rise.
Extension For Exemption To Allow Hospitals To Fund EHR Costs
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Health and Human Services (HHS) Inspector General have extended the EHR exemption to physician self-referral and kickback laws. The exemption has been extended until 2021. A Government Health IT article reports that the CMS has finalized the Stark law exception, which allows hospitals to fund up to 85 percent of EHR costs for physicians. In addition, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) updated the related anti-kickback safe harbor for “protected donors.” The article explains that the CMS says although the exemption was “implemented to encourage the adoption of health information technology, it is now a necessity for the creation of new health care delivery and payment models. " The new sunset of 2021 coincides with the end of the Medicaid EHR incentive program. Laboratory companies are excluded from the final rule. CMS says this “furthers our continued goal of promoting the adoption of interoperable electronic health records technology” while “reducing the likelihood that the exception will be misused by donors to secure referrals.”
Survey Reveals Most Vendors Still In ICD-10 Product Development Phase
The Workgroup For Electronic Data Interchange (WEDI) conducted its most recent ICD-10 readiness survey. About one-fifth of vendors surveyed report they are halfway or less than halfway complete with ICD-10 product development. Only one-fourth report their product development is complete. About three-fifths of vendors are planning or have begun customer review and beta testing.
Bill Would Provide Assistance To States For Telehealth
U.S. Representatives Doris Matsui (D-CA) and Bill Johnson (R-OH) have introduced a bill that would provide assistance to states for the development of telehealth policies necessary for virtual healthcare. The Telehealth Modernization Act of 2013 (H.R. 3750) aims to establish patient-provider relationships through the use of telehealth, to provide medical histories of telehealth patients, to enable documentation of the evaluation, treatment, and telehealth encounter, to facilitate forwarding records to providers for continuity of care, and to provide prescription requirements.
Healthcare IT Talking Points
Accountable Care Organization (ACO) participation has almost quadrupled since the spring of 2012, according to the Premier study, “Accountable Care Organization and Population Health Management Trends.” Current participation is expected to double to 50 percent by the end of 2014. Large hospitals, non-rural, and hospitals in an integrated delivery network are more likely to make the move toward an ACO. Of the 115 C-Suite executives surveyed for the study, the majority are making investments in infrastructure needed to manage population health. They are also exploring new partnerships with large employers, external providers, health departments, and public and private partners.