Healthcare IT News For VARs 2-20-15: Phishing Scam Born Of Anthem Breach
By Megan Williams, contributing writer
In this week’s news, cybercriminals take advantage of Anthem breach fears, and the Department of Defense (DOD)’s vendor selection process faces critique.
Phishing Scam Born Out Of Anthem Breech
In the wake of the Anthem breech, cybercriminals have launched a phishing scam targeted toward customers concerned about their credit. The scam comes in the form of emails that appear to come from Anthem, including information about the breech, and a link that customers can click to get a free year of credit monitoring protection. A legitimate offer for credit monitoring was made by Anthem after the breech, and was provided by AllClear Pro. Read more about the scam and protection advice at Komando.com.
DOD Vendor Procurement Process Under Criticism
A whitepaper from the Center For A New American Security takes a critical look at the Defense Department’s EHR vendor procurement process. It stresses the importance of careful thought in this area, and highlights the risks inherent in installing a requirements-driven platform based on “current-need specifications.” It is also direct in pointing out the department’s less-than-stellar IT procurement history, especially in the area of EHRs.
Report Predicts Hospital IT Investments In Post-EHR Era
As the healthcare industry moves past a period of intensive focus on EHR systems, hospitals and other healthcare organizations are investing in other business and administrative information systems. This report from Frost & Sullivan covers the expected growth rate of the U.S. IT market broken down by type of information system, and highlights the predicted increase in investment in revenue cycle, and other administrative systems.
Computer Assisted Coding Market To Expand To $3.5B By 2019
The transition to ICD-10 is expected to fuel the growth of the computer assisted coding (CAC) market at double-digit CAGR to $3.5 billion by 2019. A report by Markets And Markets (available via HITConsultant.net) covers the report, including factors such as growth in healthcare facilities, an increase in claim reimbursement and government encouragement of the CAC market. It also includes a list of major players in the world of CAC.
HIEs Provide Possible Insight Into Healthcare Consumption Of Homeless
The Journal Of The American Medical Informatics Association has released the paper, “Identifying Homelessness Using Health Information Exchange Data,” that addresses the question of identifying homeless patients by their health consumption habits, and how HIE data can aid in that effort. The study concluded that large numbers of homeless people were able to be identified. These results can be used to provide the homeless with better care, a goal of some forward-thinking federal programs.
Healthcare IT Talking Points
This article from Washington Technology focuses on the existing gap between healthcare technology and the private sector. The opinion comes out of a panel discussion on Jan 27, 2015, and features three federal health IT experts from the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). They emphasize he need for more collaboration between federal, state, payers, and business entities, as well as increased incentives that go beyond Meaningful Use. It also addresses interoperability and its importance across all of healthcare, as well as security, tools, and acquisition of these aids through vendor help.
For more news and insights, visit BSMinfo’s Healthcare IT Resource Center.