05/17/2012
HHS has released guidance to help states establish health insurance exchanges under the federal health reform law or work with the federal government to create a "federally facilitated exchange." HHS also awarded $181 million in exchange grants to six states. Reuters et al.
05/09/2012
CMS has posted a notice on the Federal Business Opportunities website seeking information about data systems that could help health insurance exchanges verify whether an individual has access to employer-sponsored coverage. Responses are due by May 21. Government Health IT.
04/23/2012
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.
04/09/2012
Today, HHS released a proposed rule that calls for delaying the ICD-10 compliance deadline by one year, to Oct. 1, 2014. The proposed rule also includes a provision to assign a unique health plan identifier number to all health insurers. The proposal aims to make it easier for health care organizations to use computer systems for administrative functions. Modern Healthcare et al.
03/26/2012
Today, the Supreme Court started hearing oral arguments in the lawsuit against the federal health reform law. The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society has released a fact sheet on the case, and a HIMSS official has posted a blog entry noting that the court's decision could affect certain health IT-related provisions of the overhaul. Government Health IT et al.
03/12/2012
Today, HHS released its final rule on state-based health insurance exchanges under the health reform law. Most of the exchanges will rely on an IT foundation to link up with eligibility systems for Medicaid and other programs. HHS said the final rule aims to provide states with guidance while giving them the flexibility to design their own exchanges. The Hill's "Healthwatch" et al.
03/09/2012
Maine likely will need to refund the federal government after a computer error caused MaineCare, the state's Medicaid program, to continue paying out benefits to about 19,000 residents who had become ineligible for the program. Portland Press Herald, Bangor Daily News.
03/08/2012
A new study credits Health-e-App, an online application tool, with boosting enrollment in California's Healthy Families program. Use of the online tool was associated with a 14% increase in total Healthy Families applications from 2010 to 2011. Sacramento Business Journal.
02/14/2012
UnitedHealth Group's Optum health-services unit soon will launch a cloud-computing platform that will allow health data exchange and offer health-related applications. Initially, the apps will be aimed at health providers and insurers but eventually could be expanded to focus on consumers. Wall Street Journal.
02/13/2012
Gene Ransom -- CEO of MedChi, the Maryland State Medical Society -- argues that advances in health IT can be used to streamline the insurance prior authorization process, which would "make health care in Maryland more efficient, more effective and more affordable." Baltimore Sun.
02/10/2012
A federal judge has approved the distribution of $200 million to physicians under a settlement in a lawsuit against UnitedHealth Group. The lawsuit was filed over an allegedly flawed database that underpaid out-of-network doctors. Modern Physician, Health Data Management.
02/02/2012
Medical Group Management Association President and CEO Susan Turney has sent a letter calling for HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to address several challenges health care providers are facing as they work to adopt HIPAA 5010 transaction standards. The letter reiterated MGMA's request for CMS to delay enforcement of HIPAA 5010 standards until June. Modern Healthcare et al.
01/23/2012
Large health insurance companies are investing in mobile health applications to assess patient wellness and connect patients with physicians. Aetna, UnitedHealth Group and WellPoint all have made recent investments in mobile health apps. American Medical News.
01/04/2012
Yesterday, the National Conference of State Legislatures released its annual list of the top priorities for state lawmakers in the new year. According to NCSL, state lawmakers in 2012 will prioritize efforts to develop infrastructure for state health insurance exchanges and promote more widespread use of health information exchanges. Government Health IT, NCSL release.
12/19/2011
Physicians at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center's cancer clinic will be the first to work with IBM's Watson supercomputer. The WellPoint-funded project will use Watson's data analysis capabilities to recommend diagnosis and treatment options. Los Angeles Times.