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Health policy and implementation challenges to achieving big data outcomes

April 29, 2013 |

John Loonsk, MD FACMI

John Loonsk, MD explains why Big Data and related tools might take longer than it presently appears to gain traction, be put into strategic use and ultimately fulfill its potential role in research and population health.

Senator halts Tavenner nomination to head CMS

April 26, 2013 |

Diana Manos

Tom Harkin, an Iowa Democrat, said he is "beyond upset" that money for The Prevention Fund will be cut and cited that as his reason for blocking the nomination.

Montana partnership intends to bolster care transitions

April 25, 2013 |

Mike Miliard

With a $10.5 million CMS Innovation Grant, the FMBHP project hopes to reduce readmissions and improve transition of care for rural patients.

Report quantifies EHR benefits for Canadian docs

April 23, 2013 |

Anthony Brino

While only a bit more than half of Canadian primary care doctors have adopted EHRs so far, the benefits since adoption started growing in 2006 are estimated at close to $1.3 billion, from reduced administration and duplicate testing.

PCORI to fund national patient-powered research networks

April 23, 2013 |

Tom Sullivan

Two cooperative opportunities will drive a hybrid approach of comparative effectiveness research that includes a broad array of participants, including patients and researchers, that hold the potential to enable patients with actionable information.

HHS seeks input on HIPAA and gun background checks

April 23, 2013 |

Anthony Brino

Amid concerns over gun violence, HHS's Office of Civil Rights is trying to clarify HIPAA's role in reporting individuals with mental illness deemed potentially dangerous to the national background check system, while seeking input on current practices.

Bipartisan Policy Center urges payment reform toward patient-centered care

April 19, 2013 |

Tom Sullivan

A new report recommends myriad ways to reform payment, taxes, HIT and other programs essentially en route to more efficient and effective care delivery, with the goal of $560 billion worth of deficit reduction in the coming decade.

Why the CDC wants to modernize its pathogen, sequencing informatics

April 19, 2013 |

Anthony Brino

In its 2014 budget proposal, the CDC is seeking $40 million to modernize its infectious disease informatics and sequencing tools. As antibiotic-resistant bacteria grow and new pathogens like H7N9 evolve, the CDC sees the new systems as a long-term investment.

Big data's promise on stage at TEDMED

April 18, 2013 |

Diana Manos

Personalized medicine, better healthcare and what one presenter referred to as "real wisdom" will all require the collection and use of big data, speakers said at the conference.

Feds say big data rewards 3 years away

April 16, 2013 |

Tom Sullivan

IT obstacles remain and until those challenges are met, big data will be problematic for federal agencies and industry, according to a survey of leading thinkers in the realm.

Maryland set to expand Medicaid, fund HIX

April 15, 2013 |

Anthony Brino

Legislation expanding Medicaid in Maryland and establishing a funding framework for the state insurance exchange awaits the Governor's signature.

Commentary: Public health, disaster recovery and social media

April 15, 2013 |

Janice Jacobs

Janice Jacobs of HIMSS social media task force shares examples of how social media has been leveraged in the wake of natural disasters.

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Indiana Senate expands Medicaid telemedicine

March 8, 2013 |

Anthony Brino

The Indiana Senate has unanimously passed a bill expanding Medicaid reimbursement for telemedicine. Advocates hope expanded use of tele-consultations and more mobile medicine in general will help fill rural provider gaps.

Editor's Desk: T.W.I.G. Notes

February 22, 2013 |

Tom Sullivan

A new hashtag, VA CIO and CTO announce plans to leave, a Medicaid surprise in Florida, and tips for HIT recruitment and retention.

Blurry-eyed in Bangkok part II: The Bumrungrad story

February 19, 2013 |

David Lareau

In which David Lareau interviews Bumrungrad CTO Chang Foo about how his team of technologists cut patient wait times by nearly half. Hint: They did not look at the IT systems first.

Mobile HIX enrollment: A critical asset for ACA success

February 13, 2013 |

Lucy Streett

A large percentage of the Americans that the Affordable Care Act aims to bring into the insurance pool access the Web primarily through their smartphones. For the ACA to achieve its potential, federal and state governments must reach those citizens where it's most convenient for the consumer.

Top 5 initiatives to make a successful ICD-10 transition

February 11, 2013 |

Carl Natale

Looking beyond the timelines, there are steps healthcare organizations can take now to make the most of the code set conversion.

Editor's Desk: T.W.I.G. Notes

February 1, 2013 |

Tom Sullivan

This Week in Government Health IT ... HIE, HIT in a single act play, Vermont continues toward single-payer, reauthorized funding for public health, and the feds at HIMSS13.

3 ways Pew survey's health trackers collect data

January 29, 2013 |

Jeff Rowe

The Pew Research Center’s Internet and American Life Project found that among the ways patients track health data, they're not harnessing IT nearly as much as they could be.

HIT around the globe: A one-act play titled 'Blurry-eyed in Bangkok'

January 28, 2013 |

David Lareau

Wherein the author recounts the 16 minutes it took a colleague to register at Bumrungrad hospital, see a doctor, and walk out with prescription contact lenses.

An ACO of one: My responsibility as a patient in an accountable care model

January 8, 2013 |

Adam Bazer

As the majority stakeholder in the healthcare partnership with his physician, HIMSS' Adam Bazer resolves to "bring a sense of accountability and mindfulness" to his own wellness.

Scoping the politics of healthcare in 2013 and beyond

December 31, 2012 |

Tom Sullivan

We’re bidding Political Malpractice adieu while ramping up our coverage of the political wrangling around health reform in the year ahead. And there will be plenty.

Dorenfest Institute updates health IT data for government researchers