In This Issue
Important Dates for MU
Can Apple's HealthKit Deliver Security?
New CMS Rule Allows Flexibility in Certified EHR Technology for 2014
FREE Webinars
Learn More About MU Stage 1 and 2 Patient Electronic Access Requirements
Snooping Staff Still Top Security Issue
MT Rural Health IT Network Offers Scholarships to Students
See All HTS Services
Health IT Resources
Join Our List

FOR EHR MEANINGFUL USE INCENTIVES

 

 

August 29, 2014

CMS issued final rule allowing providers more flexibility in how they use EHR technology

 

September 30, 2014

End of 2014 fiscal year and end of the 2014 reporting period for eligible hospitals

 

October 1, 2014
Last day for new eligible professional meaningful users to attest to 2014 data and avoid the 2015 payment adjustment
 
November 30, 2014
Attestation deadline for Medicare eligible hospitals for the 2014 program year
  
December 31, 2014
End of 2014 calendar year and end of the 2014 reporting period for eligible professionals
 

See Complete CMS MU Timeline 

 

 

 ********************

 

FOR ICD-10

 

October 1, 2015 

Transition date from ICD-9 to ICD-10 codes for diagnoses and inpatient procedures.

 

 

 

 Can Apple's HealthKit Deliver Security?

 Health IT News

September 8, 2014

 

Apple is expected to launch HealthKit on Tuesday along with a new iPhone and a much anticipated wearable device, called iWatch. 

But while the company is working hard to show that privacy rules for its new health platform offer adequate protections, recent high-profile security breaches call its efforts into question.

 

read more

Medical Errors and Health Reform
  
Although the primary focus of the Affordable Care Act (health reform legislation) signed into law in March 2010 is to provide access to affordable health insurance for all Americans, the legislation has a number of provisions that may improve patient safety.
 

Enjoy Fall from Health Technology Services

Deb Anderson 

Susan Clarke

Lisa Corino

Mary Erickson

Patty Kosednar

Sarah Leake

Sharon Milanos

Issue #24 

       September, 2014   
 EHR and Health IT Perspectives Newsletter   
          
 Welcome to the Montana/Wyoming Health Technology Service's (HTS) EHR and Health IT Perspectives Newsletter. 
  New CMS Rule Allows Flexibility in Certified EHR Technology for 2014 
  On August 29, 2014, The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published a final rule that allows health care providers more flexibility in how they use certified electronic health record (EHR) technology (CEHRT) to meet meaningful use for an EHR Incentive Program reporting period for 2014.
  
By providing this flexibility, more providers will be able to participate and meet important meaningful use objectives like drug interaction and drug allergy checks, providing clinical summaries to patients, electronic prescribing, reporting on key public health data and reporting on quality measures.

 

Eligible providers can use the 2011 Edition CEHRT or a combination of 2011 and 2014 Edition CEHRT for an EHR reporting period in 2014 for the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs; All eligible professionals, eligible hospitals, and CAHs are required to use the 2014 Edition CEHRT in 2015. 

  

Read the August 29th CMS Press Release and Final Rule

 

Please contact Health Technology Services for assistance

FREE Webinars

 Register for a free webinar!

 

Wednesday, September 17, 

11:30 am - 1 pm MDT 

MLN Connect-

PQRS: How to Avoid 2016 Negative Payment Adjustments for Medicare Quality Reporting Programs

 

This presentation will cover guidance and instructions on -

how eligible professionals (EPs) and group practices (GPs) can avoid the 2016 Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) negative Payment Adjustment,

 satisfy the clinical quality measure (CQM) component of the Electronic Health Records (EHR) Incentive Program, and

avoid the automatic calendar year (CY) 2016 Value-Based Modifier (VM) downward payment adjustment.

 

register here

Friday, September 19, 12 Noon-1 pm MDT

HIMSS-

Meeting the National Patient Safety Goal-Do You Know Your Number?  What Resources Can You Count On?

 

The Joint Commission approved a new National Patient Safety Goal (NPSG) on clinical alarm safety for 2014 for hospitals and critical access hospitals.

 

During this webinar, you will learn Best Practice for formulating an approach on the data collection and analysis for a successful audit and strong formulation for your alarm management plans. Specifically,

 

  • What audit data is needed and can you ensure its accuracy?
  • How will the data be pulled and what resources are needed?
    • What are baseline analytics?
    register here

     

    See our HTS webinar archive for a listing of past webinars

    Learn More About MU Stage 1 and 2 Patient Electronic Access Requirements

     If you are an eligible professional participating in the EHR Incentive Programs, you will be required to meet Patient Electronic Access measures. 
      

    In order to meet 2014 Stage 1 requirements, you must provide more than 50% of your unique patients with timely access to their health information within four business days of the information being available to you. If you are in Stage 2, you must also demonstrate that more than 5% of your unique patients view online, download, or transmit to a third party their health information. 

     

    Read more about the 2014 Stage 1 and Stage 2 objectives as well as Patient Electronic Access tipsheet

      

    Please contact Health Technology Services for assistance

         Snooping Staff Still Top
    Security Issue          
      

     

    Health IT News
    August 19, 2014 
      
    When it comes to data breaches, hacking and loss or theft of unencrypted devices are far from healthcare security professionals' only concerns. Employee snooping and insider misuse also prove to be among the biggest privacy threats in the healthcare sector today.  
     
    Just last week, a former Tufts Health Plan employee was convicted of disclosing patient information in a fraudulent tax refund scheme after stealing the personal data of more than 8,700 members.
     

       Montana Rural Health IT Network Offers Scholarships to Students

    Do you know a student who would like to enter the healthcare information technology workforce?
     
    Montana Rural Health IT Network has partnered with Montana Tech, Flathead Valley Community College, Great Falls College and the University of Montana to help students enter this growing field by offering scholarships for college tuition, fees and books. 
     
    Read more about the program and refer a student. 
      
    Additional HTS Services 

    Let Health Technology Services assist you with your HIT needs, from EHR selection/implementation to meaningful use and beyond.  Our HIT services also include: 

    • New 2014 MU HTS Tiered Service Offerings and Discounted Prices for all Current and Previous HTS Clients
    • New 2014 HTS Security Risk Analysis Service Level Offerings and Discounted Prices for all Current and Previous HTS Clients
    • HIT Consulting and Project Management
    • PQRS Reporting Assistance
    • HSMDirect Secure Messaging

     

     Contact your HTS REC Health Technology Consultant for help or 

    contact HealthTechnology Services 
    See more at about these services on our website

    Health IT Resources (Links)
    eHealth University
    eHealth University is a CMS tool to help providers find information and materials on each of the eHealth programs in one location.  
    Health Information Exchange
    Statewide, non-profit organization created to develop a system for the electronic exchange of healthcare information.   
    Montana Public Health MU Registration
    Registration link to submit Meaningful Use immunization electronic data for Montana.
    MT HIMSS
    MT Chapter of HIMSS is a local resource for peer networking, education, and information sharing to help navigate through the challenges in healthcare information technology with a focus in large rural areas.
    Thank you for reading our newsletter.  Please contact us if you have any questions or comments. We also welcome your feedback. 
    Thank You!                     

     

    Patty Kosednar

    Executive Director

    Health Technology Services, MT/WY Regional Extension Center

    ...a division of Mountain-Pacific Quality Health

    406-461-4410

    www.heathtechnologyservice.com