EVENTS

MAY

Summit on States' Implementation of Health IT Initiatives

Baltimore

MAY

West Coast Summit on Using Health Data To Boost Care

San Francisco

MAY

Briefing on Legal Issues Related to Health IT Use

Washington, D.C.

View All Events

FROM THE FOUNDATION

Informing Choices, Improving Outcomes

The California Joint Replacement Registry collects data on device efficacy, surgical techniques, and patient outcomes for hip and knee replacements. A new report details how this CHCF-sponsored effort is faring.

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Friday

CMS: Health Care Providers Have Nabbed $4.5B in EHR Incentives

New CMS data show that 76,612 eligible professionals and hospitals had received $4.5 billion in Medicare and Medicaid meaningful use incentive payments as of last month. The report finds that during the first quarter of 2012, the number of eligible professionals and hospitals registered for the program increased by 29% and 13%, respectively. Government Health IT et al.

E-Rx Could Improve Monitoring of Off-Label Drug Use, Study Finds

Including treatment indications in electronic prescriptions could make it easier to track off-label usage of prescription drugs, according to a study. The study finds that 11% of e-prescriptions issued through a Canadian electronic health record network were for off-label use. CMIO.

Survey: 84% of Doctors Prefer Virtual Events Over In-Person Meetings

A survey by two firms that provide webcasting and interactive content services finds that 84% of surveyed doctors would rather attend continuing medical education events virtually than in person. The survey also looks at types of digital devices that doctors use. InformationWeek.

FDA Using Health IT To Monitor Drug Safety After Market Approval

FDA is leveraging IT initiatives like the Sentinel program as part of its efforts to better monitor drugs after they are approved for the market. Sentinel is an electronic surveillance system that tracks drug safety information from various databases. Reuters, Modern Healthcare.

California To Overhaul 30-Year-Old Medicaid Computer System

California Auditor Elaine Howle recently announced that the state is developing a new computer system to handle Medi-Cal billing. The new system -- called Health Enterprise -- will replace the Medicaid Management Information System that currently processes billing. Capitol Weekly.

FDA Looking Into Use of Technology Tools To Help People Self-Diagnose, Obtain Medications

Marcie Bough of the American Pharmacists Association, Charles Daniels of the University of California-San Diego and Sandra Adamson Fryhofer, chair-elect of the American Medical Association's council on science and public health, spoke with iHealthBeat about how technology could expand the number of medications available without a prescription.

Running Time: 4:33

DATA POINTS

How Many Times Per Month Do Certain Types of Patients Seek Online Health Information?

The average U.S. adult goes online to look up health information about three times per month, while U.S. adults with multiple sclerosis go online for health information about seven times per month and adults with rheumatoid arthritis go online for health information about four times per month, according to a Manhattan Research survey.

FEATURES

Health Gaming and the Power of Social

by Lisa Zamosky, iHealthBeat Contributing Reporter

Startups, health insurers and employers are investing in gaming to motivate people to improve their health. Although studies show the potential of games to affect behavior change, more research is needed to establish whether they live up to their claims.

COMMENTS (1)

"Interesting article, Lisa. I agree that game-like mechanics or social components can have an impact in improving the health and wellbeing of consumers. Perficient has seen an increased interest with its healthcare clients surrounding the use of gamif..."

- Martin Sizemore

PERSPECTIVES

Moving Federal Health Care Targets Becoming a Way of Life

by Fred Bazzoli

Last month, CMS pushed back for the second time the enforcement date for the transition to HIPAA 5010 transaction sets. Observers say the delay -- as well the extension for ICD-10 implementation-- raises questions about the validity of future federal deadlines.