04/11/2013
Physician education is one of the most difficult challenges in preparing for the transition to ICD-10. Hospitals should provide such education to their medical staff through a phased approach utilizing learning management systems and expert content delivered via a peer-to-peer, physician-to-physician format. By Paul L. Weygandt
03/08/2012
Health plans have embraced the concept of value-based payment models. As part of that push, insurers such as Aetna and UnitedHealth Group have made substantial investments in health IT to support these new payment designs. By Brian Ahier
07/07/2011
In keeping with its traditional role as the front-runner in health care trends, California surged ahead with plans for two health exchanges -- one for insurance and one for information. In some ways, the state now is shifting from sprint mode to a long-distance strategy. by George Lauer, iHealthBeat Contributing Editor
05/20/2010
The health reform law's medical loss ratio provision requires health insurers to spend a minimum percentage of premium dollars on health care services or activities that improve health care quality. The final definition could incentivize or discourage insurers from investing in health IT. by Kate Ackerman, iHealthBeat Senior Editor
05/03/2010
The computer systems that manage California's human services programs -- including Medi-Cal, the state's Medicaid program -- are nearing the end of their useful lives. Legislators are trying to figure out how the cash-strapped state can pay for new ones. by David Gorn, iHealthBeat Contributing Reporter
07/23/2009
Accelerating the deployment of health IT strategies is an essential cornerstone of the America's Health Insurance Plans' pledge to help bend the health care cost curve to make broad reform sustainable in the long run. By Karen Ignagni
11/06/2008
The second Health 2.0 conference attracted 1,000 people last month, double the initial draw last year. Organizers say the jump in attendance is a sign of the growing call for online health care communities and tools. by George Lauer
09/11/2008
The BlueCross and BlueShield Association agrees with the federal government that coding systems for diagnosing and treating millions of patients need to be updated, but they disagree on the timetable for those updates. by George Lauer, iHealthBeat Features Editor
07/07/2008
Working with a team of consultants and health insurance vendors, San Francisco's Health Service System has engineered a collaborative program to compare health insurance plans offered to city workers and retirees. by George Lauer, iHealthBeat Features Editor