ANSI accepting applications

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is now accepting applications from EHR certification bodies for accreditation. It will continue taking applications until Oct. 7, and will announce the accredited entities starting Jan 1, 2012. (iHealthBeat)

VA/DOD EHR to be open source 

The joint electronic health record for the Veterans Affairs and Defense departments will be open source, reports Government Health IT. The VA is developing an open source track to modernize its VistA EHR and will incorporate the approach jointly with DOD. On Aug. 30, the VA launched its Open Source Electronic Health Record Agent, which will enable the two departments to move toward an open, modular architecture that uses non-proprietary standard open interfaces. The agencies have asked that vendors with proprietary standards move them into the public domain or assure they are publicly available. (Government Health IT)

Providers & Suppliers

HIMSS group: CMS should reconsider patient-level data mandate

The HIMSS Electronic Health Record Association has asked CMS to reconsider its proposal to require submission of patient-level data for electronic submissions of clinical quality measures, citing the burden it would impose on provider organizations and other considerations. "[W]e have serious concerns about the complexity and overhead of reporting discrete patient-level data for quality measures, rather than summary data, as is the case today," said GE Healthcare IT's Mark Segal, Ph.D., member of the EHR Association executive committee. (press release; comments on the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule; comments on the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System)

 

 

Study: HIE increases efficiency, lowers costs

A study by Humana and the Wisconsin Health Information Exchange found health information exchanges, when used in emergency departments, resulted in improved provider efficiencies and health plan cost savings. The paper, published in American Health & Drug Benefits, concludes that when clinicians use HIEs for "patients who present to the emergency department, the costs borne by a health plan providing coverage for these patients decrease. Although many factors can play a role in this finding, it is likely that HIEs obviate unnecessary service utilization through provision of historical medical information regarding specific patients at the point of care." (American Health & Drug Benefits)

 

MGMA, AAFP want changes to Part B fee schedule

CMS' proposed 2012 Medicare Part B Physician Fee Schedule needs revision to relieve IT-related administrative burdens on practices and adjust how primary care services are valued, according the Medical Group Management Association and the American Academy of Family Physicians. Each wrote to CMS to make its case. AAFP board Chairwoman Dr. Lori Heim wrote that CMS should establish a more timely review of "misvalued services," hold vendors accountable for successful data submission, and institute payment for telephone calls, online medical evaluation and team conferences.  She also called on CMS to work with the medical community to develop the PCMH. (Modern Healthcare; MGMA letter; AAFP letter)

Health system CMO outlines PCMH benefits

PCMHs can offer rich benefits to patients, and to physicians and hospitals--particularly if hospitals already own primary care practices, according to Melissa Gerdes, MD, chief medical officer of outpatient services and ACO strategy for Methodist Health System in Dallas. She identified five rewards for Becker's Hospital Review: Patients receive care at a lower cost; the PCMH is naturally physician-led; the model can alleviate primary care physician shortages; it can reduce hospital readmissions and length of stay; and it can enhance physician and employee satisfaction.  (Becker's Hospital Review)

Trend: Women- and family-centered maternity care homes 

Lamaze International's Science and Sensibility blog looks at an emerging trend: the woman- and family-centered maternity care home. North Carolina's Pregnancy Medical Home program provides incentives to Medicaid providers to better coordinate health and social services for pregnant women and provide evidence-based care to reduce preterm births and cesareans. The blog notes, "We expect to see more innovation in this area, especially as the economic crisis and Medicaid expansion force payers to focus on cost containment and value."  (Science & Sensibility)

The Expanding PCMH: News and Updates

The Health Resources and Service Administration announced awards of $5.1 million to provide training and technical assistance as part of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program. These funds will support AIDS Education and Training Centers in a number of ways, including helping pilot an HIV telehealth training initiative and providing assistance for medical home certification.  (Sacramento Bee)

Two Open Door Health Services (Muncie, Ind.) professionals received certificates in primary care behavioral health from the University of Massachusetts Medical School. The program provides enhanced training for behavioral health professionals who practice in primary care settings and has specifically been designed for practices that are working toward medical home recognition. Muncie's ODHS recently received funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration to begin this process and hopes to become recognized as a patient centered medical home within the next year. (Star Press)