05/17/2012
A new report from Surescripts finds that 36% of U.S. prescriptions were sent electronically by the end of 2011. The report also found that about 58% of office-based physicians were electronically prescribing by the end of last year. According to Surescripts, e-prescribing helps increase the likelihood that patients will pick up new prescriptions. AP/Washington Post, Healthcare IT News.
05/16/2012
In an Archives of Internal Medicine article, National Coordinator for Health IT Farzad Mostashari, former CMS Administrator Donald Berwick and other experts provide information about the meaningful use program and offer guidance to help health care providers participate. MedPage Today.
05/16/2012
Yesterday, the Medical Group Management Association-American College of Medical Practice Executives asked CMS to extend the deadline for health care providers to submit hardship exemptions to avoid penalties under the electronic prescribing program. Modern Physician.
05/16/2012
In a letter to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, the Texas Medical Association called for the federal government to skip the transition to ICD-10 code sets. Instead, TMA suggested that the U.S. wait to implement ICD-11 code sets or adopt SNOMED-CT standards. Modern Healthcare.
05/15/2012
A new report by Manhattan Research finds that the percentage of surveyed physicians using tablet computers has nearly doubled from about 35% in 2011 to about 62% in 2012. Of the surveyed doctors who are using tablets, 81% said they use Apple's iPad and about 50% said they have used their tablet device at the point of care, according to the report. Becker's Hospital Review et al.
05/11/2012
An upgraded database developed by the Utah Department of Occupational and Professional Licensing offers information on disciplinary orders against licensed health professionals, including explanations and copies of the disciplinary actions. Government Technology.
05/10/2012
CMS has published a list of health care providers, as well as a list of hospitals, that have received Medicare incentive payments through the meaningful use program. The agency plans to update the lists, which are organized by state, on a quarterly basis. Government Health IT.
05/08/2012
New guidelines from the Federation of State Medical Boards' House of Delegates recommend that health care providers always maintain their professionalism and strive to protect patient confidentiality when using social networking websites. CMIO, Modern Physician.
05/07/2012
CMS recently announced that it will not require medical industry companies to collect data for the Physician Payments Sunshine Act until 2013. The act requires companies to report certain payments to health care providers, and the information will be available on a public website. Sens. Chuck Grassley and Herb Kohl said they are disappointed by the delay. Modern Physician et al.
05/04/2012
Today, the American Medical Association reminded physicians that they have until June 30 to report at least 10 electronic prescribing encounters to avoid the 2013 payment penalties under the Medicare e-prescribing program. The group said that doctors who are unable to meet the program's requirements should apply for a hardship exemption before the deadline. Health Data Management et al.
04/30/2012
Although studies have found that electronic prescribing helps reduce drug errors, adoption of the technology is growing slowly. According to a Surescripts report scheduled to be released in May, only 36% of all U.S. prescriptions were delivered electronically in 2011. New York Times.
04/26/2012
A Kalorama Information report finds that sales of electronic health record systems to physicians are growing at a faster rate than sales of EHR systems to hospitals. The report also cites growth in sales of Web-based EHR systems to physicians. Healthcare IT News, CMIO.
04/25/2012
CMS has released a final rule requiring health care providers and suppliers to use a National Provider Identifier number when submitting claims or enrollment applications for Medicaid and Medicare. The NPI aims to curb fraud in the programs. Health Data Management et al.
04/25/2012
Small, rural physician groups and hospitals have been slower to adopt electronic health record systems than their larger, urban counterparts, according to two new Health Affairs studies. To address such issues, researchers called for policymakers to provide more support and incentives to health care providers lagging in EHR adoption. Modern Healthcare, Health Affairs' "Health Affairs Blog."
04/25/2012
A Health Affairs study finds that 51% of U.S. doctors said they plan to apply for meaningful use incentives, but only 11% reported having an electronic health record system that meets at least 10 Stage 1 core requirements. Healthcare IT News, Health Affairs' "Health Affairs Blog."