Kareo, provider of cloud-based software and services for independent medical practices, today announced the acquisition of DoctorBase, a practice marketing and patient communications solution. The deal complements Kareo’s existing offerings, which enable healthcare providers and their staff to successfully meet the business challenges associated with a rapidly changing healthcare market. Read the full press release
SA Ignite, Inc., a provider of a cloud-based software solution that automates, accelerates, and simplifies the Meaningful Use (MU) program processes for eligible healthcare providers, announced it has expanded its relationship with The NYC Regional Electronic Adoption Center for Health (NYC REACH) to offer its solution, MU ASSISTANT®, to 500 additional providers.NYC REACH is a collaboration between the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s Primary Care Information Project (PCIP) and the Fund for Public Health in New York, Inc., tasked with helping physicians to adopt technology and practices that measurably improve the health of New Yorkers. Read more
Consultancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers has confirmed industry rumors that it is out of the running for the $11-billion contract to modernize the Department of Defense’ EHR. The group had confirmed in January that Google was an acting as partner in its bid for the contract. The team’s solution was based on an open-source version of the Vista EHR used by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Other partners in the PwC group included General Dynamics Information Technology and MedSphere. Read more
Surescripts has further expanded the reach of its electronic prior authorization (ePA) solution to include NextGen Healthcare, a provider of healthcare information systems, services and connectivity solutions. The addition of NextGen Healthcare, among the nation’s largest electronic health record (EHR) vendors, will afford 250,000 prescribers nationwide the ability to fulfill prior authorization requests faster and more efficiently, using Surescripts CompletEPA. Read the full press release
Hospitals are being judged not just on the quality of care they provide, but also on their ability to reduce costs and improve care coordination. Analytics enables organizations to make data-driven business decisions that can do just that. Logicalis US, an international IT solutions and managed services provider has identified four tips for implementing and managing data analytics solutions that will give healthcare executives the ability to make informed decisions leading to improved patient care and greater efficiencies across clinical, operational and financial business units. “Analytics is actually tied to meaningful use mandates, particularly the future planned requirements of Meaningful Use, Stage 3,” says Ed Simcox, Healthcare Business Leader, Logicalis Healthcare Solutions. “Stage 1 was about data capture and patient access. Stage 2 is largely about care coordination and clinical processes. Stage 3 will be about improved clinical and financial outcomes.” Read more
Kryptiq, a market leader in population health management, today released the initial results of a benchmarking survey it fielded to gauge healthcare providers’ pursuit of newly-available payments for delivering chronic care management (CCM) services.Beginning January 1st, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services started reimbursing providers who actively manage care delivery for Medicare patients who have two or more chronic conditions. Providers are required to use a certified EHR, obtain and manage patient consent, deliver five core care management services, and provide at least 20 minutes of follow-up outside of the office (i.e. non-face time care) in conjunction with the CCM program. Read the full press release
As mental health legislation gains momentum in Congress, senior executives of Netsmart are meeting in Washington, D.C. this week with five members of the Kansas Congressional delegation. At issue is an oversight in the HITECH Act. The act in its current form excludes key behavioral health and addiction treatment providers from Meaningful Use incentive funding eligibility. Correcting the eligibility provisions would provide these providers, including community mental health centers, with much-needed capital to enhance quality of care.The meetings are with Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS), Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS), Rep. Tim Huelskamp (R-KS, 1st District), Rep. Kevin Yoder (R-KS, 3rd District) and Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-KS, 4th District). Netsmart also recently met with Rep. Lynn Jenkins (R-KS, 2nd District). Read More