Healthcare IT News For VARs 2-27-15: $28 Million Earmarked For HIT Grants
By Megan Williams, contributing writer
In the news, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) announces $28 million in awards to state HIEs, and vendors are named in holding back healthcare IT reform.
ONC and HHS To Give $28 Million To State HIEs
The ONC and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have pledged to give out $28 million in awards that will be distributed among states, in the form of health information exchange grants as announced on the agency’s blog. The grants are a part of a “Department-wide effort to achieve the safe and secure exchange and use of electronic health information.” Funds will be distributed in the form of ten to twelve new awards as cooperative agreements to territories, states, or state designated entities.
Doctors Blame Vendor Data Fees For Holding Back Healthcare Reform
As more vendors charge fees to unlock patient data, Congress is considering stepping in to answer the complaints of doctors. Politico reports that the data that has been incentivized through government investment in encouraging EHR (electronic health records) adoption, is frequently stuck in storage run by competing software companies, many of which are using incompatible products and have minimal incentive to make them interoperable. Connection fees can range between $7,500 and $40,000 — amounts that many providers consider excessive.
CMS Releases Testing Week Results
CMS has announced the results of the testing week that ran from January 26 through February 3, 2015. The agency is reporting an 81-percent claims acceptance rate, as well as a breakdown of claim rejection reasons. In preparation for upcoming weeks, tester education will be conducted to address non-ICD-10 errors. Past testers are permitted to sign up for future weeks.
Medicare EHR Attestation Deadline Extends To March 20
CMS has extended the Medicare deadline for eligible professionals (EPs) to attest for Meaningful Use in 2014. EPs now have until March 20 to comply with standards. Previously, the deadline was February 28. The deadline extension will not apply to the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program, but does apply to PQRS, which now also has an attestation deadline of March 20. Visit HealthDataManagement for more information.
Heightened Competition In EHR Market According To KLAS
The KLAS report, “Acute Care EMR Purchasing Plans 2015: New Energy In A More Competitive Market,” reveals substantial changes in the EHR market, including:
- the consolidation of McKesson into one EMR
- Cerner acquiring Siemens
- providers on legacy systems being forced to upgrade
- marked changes in the acute care EMR market
The report is available for paid download here.
Healthcare IT Talking Points
Last month, Dr. DJ Patil was appointed Chief Data Scientist for the United States. Previously head of LinkedIn data sciences, the author now occupies a new position that will have considerable impact on the healthcare industry. This article from CIO.com explores some of the benefits big data analysis, and the position itself will bring, as well as some challenges that are faced exclusively on the national stage.
For more news and insights, visit BSMinfo’s Healthcare IT Resource Center.