Around the world social networking is slowly becoming a new avenue for improving care management, engaging patients, and communicating with other doctors, a Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC) report finds. Countries where social media in healthcare are moving fastest are the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, while The United States and Austria are in the mid-range of adoption, and Australia, Switzerland, and Germany are described as low adopters. Research show that large hospitals have been identifies as early adopters, with 42% facilities that have over 400 beds using social media. Most reported having a presence on Twitter (65%), Facebook (54%), and YouTube (50%), and a third (33%) indicated having a corporate blog.... [More]

In a press release from the Department of Health and Human Services today, HHS followed up on an announcement it made earlier this year by pushing back the ICD-10 compliance date exactly one year to October 1, 2014. Calls from provider groups to extend the deadline came on the heels of a related difficult transition to the ASC X12 Version 5010 standards for electronic health care transactions, a necessary technical precursor to the ICD-10 transition.... [More]

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) announced today that they will not begin enforcing 5010 transaction standards for an additional three months. The date has now been pushed back until June 30.

The original deadline for the switch to the 5010 standards was Jan. 1. In November, CMS announced that although it was not changing the actual deadline for complying with the standards, it would not initiate enforcement action until March 31.

On Thursday, CMS said no action will be taken against noncompliant medical practices, hospitals and other healthcare entities through June 30.... [More]

In what is believed to be the first enforcement action stemming from the HITECH Breach Notification Rule, HHS issued a press release announcing a settlement between regulators and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee (BCBST). Citing potential violations of the HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules, HHS settled the case with BCBST for $1,500,000 and BCBST’s assent to submit itself to a corrective action plan to address gaps in its HIPAA compliance program. The incident that triggered the lawsuit was a theft reported by BCBST of 57 PHI-containing computer hard drives from a leased facility in Tennessee.... [More]

This year HIMSS was all about interoperability. As healthcare goes through a massive overhaul, providers are more focused than ever on integrating technology solutions that will make their jobs easier, allow them to provide higher quality care, and save money. HIMSS saw its largest attendee rate ever with over 37,000 people gathering in Las Vegas to explore healthcares hottest topics.... [More]

Approximately 19 months after releasing Stage 1 Meaningful Use requirements, yesterday CMS at last proposed the long-awaited rule outlining Stage 2 requirements for the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs. Established under the HITECH Act of 2009, the program offers financial incentives to eligible providers (as well as levies financial penalties for non-adopters) who show “meaningful use” of EHR technologies in their practice. Thursday’s proposal marks the second of three stages in which CMS intends to outline an increasing threshold that providers are required to meet in order to receive the incentive payments..... [More]

Adoption of health information technology (HIT) is on the rise. This was confirmed today by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Secretary Kathleen Sebelius when she announced that the number of hospitals using health information technology (IT) has more than doubled in the last two years. Nearly 2,000 hospitals and more than 41,000 doctors have received over $3 billion in incentive payments for meeting meaningful use requirements.... [More]

Against the suggestion of the AHIMA, it looks like CMS will in fact revisit the ever pressing issue of ICD-10 implementation. The second look into the matter comes two weeks after the AMA confronted Congress with the stresses its members were experiencing in complying with the October 2013 deadline. And while this author apologizes for his erroneous prediction posted yesterday, the best practices for physicians struggling to meet the deadline still remains preparing for the worst and hoping for the best.... [More]

With the October 2013 implementation deadline steadily approaching, providers have undoubtedly felt the increased strain of ICD-10 compliance. This point was recently underscored when CMS announced that it would delay enforcement of the newly required 5010 standard, the technical precursor of ICD-10 implementation, for an additional three months to accommodate those scrambling to incorporate the new technology. In light of this and other developments, at the end of January the AMA sent House Speaker John Boehner an open letter asking Congress to stop the federally mandated ICD-10 implementation date.... [More]

The healthcare conference season is upon us once again, and what better way to kick off this year’s convention marathon than with one of the biggest and the best: HIMSS12. On Feb. 20-24, 2012, 32,000+ health IT professionals will gather at the Venetian Sands Expo Center, in Las Vegas, Nevada to discuss the latest trends in healthcare technology.

We all know that conferences can be overwhelming, especially for those who come unprepared. To survive HIMSS here are some convention essentials to help get you through.... [More]