Healthcare IT News For VARs — September 5, 2014

By Megan Williams, contributing writer

In this week’s news, the CMS made its final ruling on EHRs, meaning more providers should be able to meet Meaningful Use standards — but receiving criticism from interoperability advocates. American Hospital Association (AHA) weighs in on healthcare IT progress and correctional departments are adopting EHRs (electronic health records).

CMS Makes Certified EHR Tech Flexible

CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) made its final ruling on EHRs this past Friday, meaning more providers should be able to meet Meaningful Use standards, and thereby qualify for incentives in 2014. The Stage 3 attestation deadline has been pushed out until 2017 (previously 2016). The extension has been met with mixed reactions, with many interoperability advocates, The College Of Healthcare information management executives in particular, frustrated over some details of the change. Read more at FedScoop.

AHA Data Shows Both Challenge And Progress In Healthcare IT

The American Hospital Association’s 2013 Annual Survey IT Supplement illustrates that while most hospitals in the U.S. are using a basic EHR system, advanced use is still a challenge. According to Virtual Strategy, the survey reveals that,

• 59 percent of hospitals have a basic or comprehensive EHR system (quadruple the figure from 2010).
• Nearly 26 percent of hospitals have a comprehensive EHR system (more than quintuple the figure from 2010).
• While the majority of hospitals can meet many of the Stage 2 Meaningful Use requirements, only 5.8 percent of hospitals are able to meet all of those criteria.

Hospitals and facilities will be penalized for not meeting these requirements beginning fiscal year 2015.

Correctional Departments And Homeland Security Adopting EHRs

Correctional departments on the state and federal level are searching for off-the-shelf vendor products to manage their patients. They cater to patient populations that have an inherently high prevalence of mental health issues, substance abuse issues, and chronic conditions. EHR adoption has been found to lead to significant improvement in the quality of life and overall health of more than 2 million adults currently in prisons and jails, according to EHR Intelligence.

Wireless EHRs In The Global Market

MarketWatch offers a paid report on the use of Wireless EHR technology in the global market. The report provides market segmentation on the basis of wireless patient monitoring, EHR compatible devices, wireless EHR software, EHR mobile technologies, application markets, end-user markets and specialty markets. The study also includes detailed analysis on technologies including blood glucose meters, BP monitors, pulse oximetry, capnography, stress monitoring, pediatric growth trackers, coagulation monitors, peak flow meters, 3G, RFID, Zigbee, etc.

Talking Points

EHR Intelligence presents a case for why providers should participate in ICD-10 acknowledgement testing. The reasons include an 89 percent claim acceptance rate across the board, risks providers face from even small glitches, and the need for coders and billers to practice before the implementation deadline hits.

For more news and insights, visit BSMinfo’s Healthcare IT Resource Center.