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Editor's Picks
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White House wants to tie Medicare fee fix to overhaul of information technology
This story, barely noticed in the mainstream press, may foreshadow one of the most significant developments in healthcare IT in years. The Hill reports that "The Bush administration has issued an eleventh-hour challenge to the physician lobby's efforts to prevent a pending 10 percent cut in their Medicare fees, in the form of a call for a mandate that doctors use new information technology standards." Physicians who do not adopt IT would receive lower Medicare funding than those who do. Coming on the heels of an earlier announcement that Medicare is going to reward physicians for adopting EMRs, this little gem sounds like the other shoe that just fell. The last thing physicians need is a government mandate to adopt IT. Can you imagine what a nightmare of enforcement this would be? [Read More]
Massachusetts seeks more use of electronic medical records
Massachusetts health officials say the state is in danger of losing its lead in implementing electronic medical records and needs to quickly decide how to pay for the new systems and what role government should play. The officials are scheduled to attend a conference, hosted by the Massachusetts Health Policy Forum, that will explore ways to apply lessons learned from the Massachusetts eHealth Collaborative. The collaborative received $50 million in early funding from the state's Blue Cross plan. Micky Tripathi, chief executive of the eHealth collaborative, said rolling out electronic medical records statewide could cost about $500 million over five years. This story is a bit of cold water on the faces of those with high hopes who worked on the Massachusetts initiative. I covered this project in the Feb. 2005 issue of HealthLeaders magazine. Back then, Blue Cross CIO Carl Ascenzo said the biggest burden on providers will be readjusting their work places to incorporate electronic data. "The energy needed to participate will be big," he told me. "Much bigger than our $50 million." Now we know how much bigger. [Read More]
Revolution Health buys stakes in two Web sites
Revolution Health Network has invested in two new Web sites, a move that continues its effort to challenge WebMD. Revolution said it acquired a site devoted to patients with chronic conditions, and invested in another which offers diet ideas, exercise plans and advice. This Washington Post article details the latest market maneuvers of Revolution Health, which has been funded by AOL co-founder Steve Case. How come I can't get the consumer-oriented healthcare dot-com implosion out of my mind when I read about this company? [Read More]
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Tech Headlines
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New efforts to remind patients to take pills
U.S. News & World Report/The Daily Herald - December 11, 2007
RHIOs aren't working, new report says
Healthcare IT News - December 11, 2007
Canada reactor woes delay medical tests
Seattle Post-Intelligencer - December 11, 2007 |
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Events & Product News
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YourCity.MD launches Web site nationwide
Medical companies form group to protect electronic health records
Supreme Court may prohibit lawsuits for FDA-approved devices |
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Audio Feature
Listen: ETH Technology: Sabatino Bianco, MD, director of the Trinity Mother Frances Neuroscience Institute in Tyler, TX, recently began performing an innovative procedure, the endoscopic transsphenoidal hypophysectomy, or ETH. In this podcast, Bianco discusses ETH and the technology involved. | |
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