CMS rule reduces Meaningful Use burdens; CMA advocates for more change On June 15, the California Medical Association (CMA) submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on proposed rules modifying Stage 1 and Stage 2 Meaningful Use criteria of the federal electronic health records (EHR) incentive programs. Under the federal EHR incentive programs, qualifying Medicare and Medi-Cal providers are eligible to receive incentive payments for adopting and demonstrating “Meaningful Use” of certified health information technology. The proposed rule aligns Stage 1 and Stage 2 Meaningful Use objectives and measures for 2015 through 2017 with proposed Stage 3 ... June 26, 2015 Managed Care, Medi-Cal, Medicare CMS, EHR, Electronic Health Record, HIT, Meaningful Use 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA submits comments on Meaningful Use Stage 3 to CMS On May 29, the California Medical Association (CMA) submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology on the Meaningful Use Stage 3 notice of proposed rulemaking. Under the federal electronic health records (EHR) incentive programs, qualifying Medicare and Medi-Cal providers are eligible to receive incentive payments for adopting and demonstrating “meaningful use” of certified health information technology (HIT). The proposed rule, published in the Federal Register on March 30, specifies the final stage of meaningful use criteria that eligible ... June 5, 2015 General Electronic Health Record, Health Information Technology, HIT, EHR, Meaningful Use 0 0 Comment Read More »
CalHIPSO seeks physicians to sign up for free practice transformation assistance The California Health Information Partnership and Services Organization (CalHIPSO) is applying for a grant from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to give California physicians access to free health practice improvement tools and services that would normally be cost prohibitive. The California Medical Association was a founding member of CalHIPSO, which was established in 2009 as a federally designated Regional Extension Center to provide education, outreach and technical assistance to help physicians select and implement electronic health records. To win this grant, CalHIPSO must show commitment and interest ... January 22, 2015 Medi-Cal, Medicare Health Information Technology, CalHIPSO, HIT 0 0 Comment Read More »
Anthem and Blue Shield to partner in the creation of California's largest health information exchange Two of California's largest health insurers – Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of California are investing a total of $80 million to develop a not-for-profit health information exchange database called Cal INDEX, which is expected to go live in November. It is expected to house the medical records of 9 million patients, about a quarter of California’s population. The initial $80 million stake will get the exchange through the first three years, the insurers said. After that, they expect funding will come from participating health plans and providers who ... August 25, 2014 General Blue Shield, Health Information technology, HIT, Anthem Blue Cross 0 0 Comment Read More »
Deadline to submit meaningful use hardship exception is July 1 Beginning January 1, 2015, Medicare physicians who have not successfully attested to meaningful use of a certified electronic health record (EHR) system may incur payment penalties, as mandated by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act. These payment adjustments will be 1-2 percent of total Medicare charges in 2015, to 2 percent in 2016 and 3-5 percent in 2017 and beyond. The 2015 penalties are based on 2013 reporting data. Physicians who failed to successfully demonstrate meaningful use in 2013 can apply for a hardship exception ... June 25, 2014 Medicare EHR, Electronic Health Record, HIT, Medicare, Certified EHRs 0 0 Comment Read More »
HHS releases security risk assessment tool to help providers with HIPAA compliance The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has released a new tool to help guide health care providers in small to medium sized practices conduct information security risk assessments of their organizations. The tool, available at www.HealthIT.gov, is the result of a collaborative effort by the HHS Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) and Office for Civil Rights (OCR). It is designed to help practices conduct and document a risk assessment in a thorough, organized fashion at their own pace by allowing them to ... April 9, 2014 General HIPAA, HIT, Medical Records, Health Information Technology 0 0 Comment Read More »
HHS develops toolkit to help physicians prepare for online communication with patients The California Health and Human Services Agency (HHS) has developed a toolkit to help medical practices prepare for online patient communications through an electronic health record (EHR) portal, personal health record, mobile app, secure messaging or other electronic means. Data indicates that patients who use health information technologies may be more efficient users of health care resources, better managers of their health behaviors and feel more satisfied with the health care system. The free toolkit, "Preparing for Online Communication with Your Patients," provides checklists and worksheets to help offices collect and ... March 27, 2014 General Electronic Health Record, Health Information Technology, HIT, EHR, Mobile Health 0 0 Comment Read More »
