GovHealthIT

Top 9 fraud and abuse areas big data tools can target

Mon, 14 May 2012 07:35:23 GMT

Fraud and the abuse of healthcare services in the U.S. cost an estimated $125-175 billion annually. This represents the second largest component of the $600-850 billion surplus in healthcare spending. Healthcare organizations and government agencies must leverage big-data collections of patient records and financial billing to identify and eliminate system abuses.

Examples of fraud and abuse in healthcare range from:

Why telemedicine, health IT camps need each other

Fri, 11 May 2012 06:41:37 GMT

The telemedicine and health IT camps need to overcome their traditional way of operating in silos and develop partnerships to make a significant impact on improving the quality of care in the healthcare system.

If anyone is reaching out, however, it's the telemedicine side, according to four industry executive panelists who discussed whether there is any synergy or required partnerships between telemedicine and health IT at the American Telemedicine Association’s 17th Annual International Meeting and Exposition in San Jose last week.

Big data and public health, part 2: Reducing unwarranted services

Mon, 07 May 2012 08:34:50 GMT

Spending on unwarranted use of healthcare services, where no actual measurable benefit is obtained, has been estimated in the range of $250-$325 billion annually in the U.S., according to Thompson Reuters data from 2009. The unwarranted use of healthcare services is the largest single component to the $600-$850 billion surplus in healthcare spending that can be attributed to embedded inefficiencies; inefficiencies that ultimately increase healthcare cost and decrease the overall quality of public health.

CMS EHR incentive payments surpass $5B

Wed, 02 May 2012 10:34:10 GMT

Medicare and Medicaid electronic health record payments have tipped the scales at over $5 billion to 93,650 physicians and hospitals in total program estimates through April.

Final figures will be available later this this month as progress “continues apace,” according to an official from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Mitigating PHI danger in the cloud

Wed, 02 May 2012 08:59:56 GMT

For all of its benefits, cloud computing poses very real dangers to covered entities responsible for safeguarding protected health information (PHI).

IBM, WellPoint hint at Watson's role in public health

Tue, 01 May 2012 07:31:21 GMT

IBM’s Watson frequently had the right answer when the supercomputer competed on Jeopardy last year. Now, the nation’s second largest health insurer is hoping it will have the right diagnosis and treatment for patients.

VA tests iPhone EHR app for summer rollout

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 09:38:32 GMT

Clinicians at the Washington, D.C., veterans’ medical center have developed an electronic health record application for the Apple iPhone that the Veterans Affairs Department hopes to begin rolling out this summer.

VA is distributing a limited number, up to 1,000, of mobile devices, starting with the Apple iPhone and iPad, when there is a business case for them, such as at the D.C. VA medical center.

It is one of the examples of how VA is demonstrating that it is incorporating up-to-date technology in its operations, said Roger Baker, VA CIO.

KPMG's top 5 hurdles to meaningful use

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 10:10:31 GMT

Most hospitals and health systems report being well along in completing electronic health record implementation, but many still have doubts about their ability to meet new EHR standards, according to a new poll from KPMG.

Why Stage 2 MU transactions need more than SMTP

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 06:33:09 GMT

Health IT is at a critical juncture with the technical NPRM for Stage 2 of Meaningful Use (MU). There have always been questions about whether enough standards, implementation guidance, and policies would be expressed ahead of the huge HITECH EHR investment in order to leverage an interoperable health IT infrastructure for health reform needs. But now, in addition to the tiered schedule for meeting MU requirements, the deadlines for Stages 2 and 3 have been further extended.

Why Harvard's Health Record Bank could be a turning point

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 07:42:04 GMT

In a major new development in the world of health IT, the Data Privacy Lab in the Institute of Quantitative Social Science at Harvard University will soon unveil a health record bank (HRB) that allows anyone to own and manage a complete, secure, digital copy of their health records and wellness information with a free account. This is the first time that a prominent academic institution is hosting an HRB for use by the general public and communities nationwide.