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05/17/2013

Report: Data Analytics Crucial for Population Health, ACOs

An Institute of Health Technology Transformation report finds that data analytics is critical to the success of population health management and accountable care organizations. The report lists several steps that are key to the effective use of health data analytics, such as building partnerships with health plans to obtain claims data. HIT Consultant, Clinical Innovation & Technology.

05/10/2013

Federal Officials Say Insurance Exchange Websites on Schedule

White House and HHS officials say they have taken several steps to ensure that health insurance exchanges will be operational by Oct. 1. However, to hit that deadline, officials will need to ensure that a host of technological systems are functioning effectively. USA Today.

05/01/2013

Report: More Employers Adopting Health Care Engagement Technology

A report from Buck Consultants and WorldatWork finds that 52% of surveyed employers are weighing the use of mobile or online games to boost their employees' health care engagement over the next three years. Crain's Business Insurance/Modern Healthcare, Becker's Hospital Review.

04/03/2013

Report Cites CMS for Poor Oversight of Health Plan Comparison Portal

A report from HHS' Office of Inspector General finds that CMS does not adequately oversee the "Plan Finder" website that it established to help consumers find coverage prior to the launch of the Affordable Care Act's health insurance exchanges. Modern Healthcare, CQ HealthBeat.

03/21/2013

Lawmakers Question VA Over Large Backlog of Veteran Medical Claims

During a House Committee hearing yesterday, a Department of Veterans Affairs official maintained that the agency will be able to eliminate its backlog of nearly 900,000 claims by 2015. However, lawmakers said they are skeptical. Military Times/USA Today, NextGov.

03/04/2013

Audit: Computer Flaws Led NY To Issue $26M in Medicaid Overpayments

An audit by the New York State Comptroller finds that flaws in a state computer system caused about $26 million in Medicaid overpayments and other questionable payments. The audit analyzed claims for individuals dually eligible for Medicaid and Medicare. WNYT, WKBW.

02/28/2013

Opinion Piece Calls for Decentralized Approach on Claims Database

In an opinion piece, Deven McGraw of the Center for Democracy & Technology writes that the Obama administration's proposal to create a centralized database of individuals' health insurance claims would create "needless privacy and security risks." The Hill's "Congress Blog."

02/21/2013

Private Firms Secure IT Contracts for Federal, State Health Exchanges

Several large private firms have been awarded multimillion-dollar contracts to develop IT infrastructure for federal and state health insurance exchanges. Some of the contracts also require the companies to update states' Medicaid IT systems. Kaiser Health News' "Capsules."

02/13/2013

New Tool Lets Providers Seek Electronic Payment From Multiple Insurers

CAQH, formerly known as the Council for Affordable Quality Healthcare, has launched a new online tool that allows health care providers to use a single electronic funds transfer system to obtain claims reimbursements from multiple health insurers. Modern Healthcare et al.

02/11/2013

IBM Offering Two New Decision Support Tools Based on Watson

IBM has released two new applications that use its Watson supercomputer to help health care providers and insurers make decisions about patient care and insurance coverage. One of the new decision support tools offers recommendations for treating patients with lung cancer and the other tool recommends treatments that should be covered by insurers. AP/Atlanta Journal-Constitution et al.

02/06/2013

AHIP Report Finds Rise in Electronic Processing, Filing of Medical Claims

A report by America's Health Insurance Plans finds that the percentage of medical claims filed and processed electronically has nearly doubled since 2002. AHIP says that electronic claims filing and processing can boost efficiency and curb costs. The Hill's "Healthwatch" et al.

01/24/2013

Most States Updating, Digitizing Medicaid Enrollment Systems

A new survey from the Kaiser Family Foundation finds that 47 states have received or applied for federal funds to upgrade their Medicaid enrollment systems. Under the Affordable Care Act, all state Medicaid programs must shift to online enrollment systems by January 2014. The federal government is covering 90% of the cost of Medicaid IT upgrades through 2015. The Hill's "Healthwatch" et al.

01/15/2013

UnitedHealth, Mayo Partner on Data Mining Project To Improve Care

UnitedHealth Group and the Mayo Clinic have launched a new research initiative to identify best practices for high-quality, low-cost care. The project will involve analyzing millions of de-identified health insurance claims and clinical records. Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal et al.

01/08/2013

Insurers Say New Rate Filing Rules Would Require IT Upgrades

A survey from America's Health Insurance Plans finds that the costs involved in meeting new rate filing and data submission requirements could be 70% higher than HHS estimates. Insurers say meeting the requirements could require IT upgrades. Government Health IT, FierceHealthIT.

01/03/2013

IT Companies Expected To Gain Business From Affordable Care Act

The implementation of the federal health reform law is expected to generate business for IT firms. New data systems likely will be needed to handle the law's Medicaid expansion and operate state health insurance exchanges. The Hill's "Healthwatch," Kaiser Health News.

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