Concern and cautious optimism from IT leaders on possible ICD-10 delay February 14, 2012 Members of the physician informatics community expressed surprise, elation and concern in reaction to the CMS' announcement that it will reconsider the Oct. 1, 2013 implementation deadline for the International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision family of diagnostic and procedural codes.
GE, Microsoft venture announces name, new execs February 14, 2012 General Electric Co. and Microsoft Corp. said the previously announced joint venture for their healthcare information technology businesses will be called Caradigm.
Short-term SGR fix could come soon, lawmaker says February 14, 2012 A GOP senator serving on the conference committee responsible for finding a solution to Medicare's sustainable growth-rate formula said an answer could come today—although it won't be a permanent one.
Study questions utility of satisfaction scores February 13, 2012 Despite growing reliance on satisfaction scores for evaluating doctor performance, “research suggests a tenuous link between patient satisfaction and healthcare quality,” a study finds.
New overpayment rules proposed February 14, 2012 The same day that federal officials unveiled record-breaking statistics on healthcare fraud enforcement, regulators announced the publication of new proposed rules designed to force doctors, hospitals and suppliers to voluntarily return overpayments within 60 days of discovering them.
Lumeris, health plans acquire NaviNet February 14, 2012 Lumeris, a St. Louis-based company that provides cloud-based services and software for accountable care delivery, has teamed up with three health plans to buy NaviNet, a healthcare communications network used by physicians, payers and hospitals. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
No remedy for docs in GOP's payroll tax-cut plan February 13, 2012 House Republican leaders said they will introduce a bill to extend a middle-class payroll tax holiday in legislation that won't include a solution to Medicare's sustainable growth-rate formula.
NQF OKs end-of-life care measures February 14, 2012 The National Quality Forum announced it has approved 14 palliative and end-of-life care measures covering areas such as patient and family experience, pain management and shortness of breath.
The best of times? February 11, 2012 Last week marked the 200th birthday of Charles Dickens. If there is any writer from the past who can speak to the economically troubled present, it's Dickens.
Rite Aid announces tender offer February 14, 2012 Rite Aid Corp., Camp Hill, Pa., has made a cash tender offer for $459 million in outstanding senior notes.
Obama's budget plan to cut more than $360 billion from healthcare February 12, 2012 President Barack Obama's 2013 budget proposal will cut more than $360 billion from Medicare, Medicaid and other healthcare programs over the next 10 years, according to a summary of the plan.
Planning crucial for ICD-10 readiness February 13, 2012 The light at the end of the tunnel is not an oncoming train but ICD-10, according to one of our health information management leaders.
Saunders leaves Virtua Health after son is injured in accident February 13, 2012 Ninfa Saunders, president and chief operating officer of Virtua Health, has stepped down in order to help her son recover from injuries he suffered in a car accident, the system said in an e-mailed statement.
New Modern Healthcare index tracks medical technology prices February 12, 2012 Spending on medical technology, supplies and devices is a key driver of escalating healthcare costs in the U.S. To assist healthcare executives in monitoring how much they're spending on these items, Modern Healthcare has partnered with the ECRI Institute to develop the Modern Healthcare/ECRI...
We're looking for the Best Places to Work February 11, 2012 Modern Healthcare's fifth annual Best Places to Work in Healthcare recognition program is now under way. The program, co-sponsored by the Studer Group, honors workplaces in healthcare that enable employees to perform at their optimum level to provide patients and customers with the best possible...
Joint Commission tool targets wrong-site surgery February 14, 2012 The Joint Commission has unveiled a tool hospitals can use to prevent incidences of wrong-site surgery. Developed by the Center for Transforming Healthcare, the Joint Commission's quality-improvement arm, the tool joins another one already available to providers for improving hand-hygiene...
Parental controls February 11, 2012 The struggling community of Ottumwa, Iowa, has found a way to drum up tens of millions of dollars for urban redevelopment, college scholarships, a business incubator and dozens of smaller projects.
Reform funding remains priority in Obama budget February 13, 2012 President Barack Obama released his fiscal 2013 budget that includes about $5 billion in Medicare payment cuts for that year and aims to save about $364 billion in total federal healthcare spending over the next decade.
AMA: No smooth sailing for docs on 5010 February 09, 2012 The American Medical Association is pulling up just short of an outright call for a second extension to an enforcement deadline for adoption of ASC X12 Version 5010 standards for transmission of electronic claims and other administrative transactions.
It's time to stop postponing ICD-10 February 14, 2012 Obviously many have speculated that ICD-10 implementation would be, yet again, postponed. I feel that it has been put off long enough and now it is time to stick to the timelines.
R.I. hospital agrees to $5.3 million settlement February 13, 2012 Rhode Island Hospital in Providence has agreed to pay the federal government $5.3 million to resolve allegations that the medical center improperly kept about 260 patients in overnight stays after stereotactic radiosurgery, otherwise known as Gamma Knife treatments, according to an announcement...
Docs helping docs embrace IT February 11, 2012 At last year's meeting of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, held in February in Orlando, Fla., a small group of well-known health information technology leaders from the public and private sectors met to discuss the need to create a resource for physicians who were...
Obama budget brings quick, critical response from industry February 13, 2012 Healthcare industry groups were quick to criticize the Obama administration's fiscal 2013 budget, referring to the plan as both shortsighted and unfair to providers.
Association condemns critical-access cuts February 13, 2012 The Obama administration's proposed Medicare cuts of $2 billion over 10 years to critical-access hospitals were criticized by the National Rural Health Association as being unrealistic and not easily workable.
Shift on birth-control coverage gets mixed reaction February 10, 2012 News that the Obama administration would accommodate faith-based employers who object to paying for health insurance that covers contraceptive services was welcomed by the head of the Catholic Health Association, while the insurance industry trade group greeted the announcement with caution.
2012 Trustees of the Year: Terri Christoffersen—large hospital February 11, 2012 While her children were growing up, Terri Christoffersen was often asked to raise money to support a variety of activities, such as the school band. Christoffersen discovered that she loved it.
GHX buys Implanet device-tracking technology February 14, 2012 GHX, a Louisville, Colo.-based healthcare technology company focused on supply-chain management, has acquired an implantable medical-device tracking technology from Implanet, a French device manufacturer.
Report offers recommendations for IT infrastructure of ACOs February 12, 2012 Healthcare IT infrastructure for accountable care organizations should be flexible, secure and able to support analysis and care coordination, an eHealth Initiative report says.
They serve behind the scenes February 11, 2012 Another election year brings even greater scrutiny on the nation's hospitals and health systems. Candidates invariably focus on healthcare—offering widely divergent opinions on an issue of deep personal interest to American families.
N.Y. hospitals fail to follow charity-care law February 13, 2012 Half of New York hospitals that receive subsidies for low-income patients fail to comply with the state's financial assistance policy disclosure law, according to a new report.
Birth-control fight is First Amendment issue February 13, 2012 No. 1, this is a First Amendment rights issue and not a woman's choice or woman's healthcare issue. This is the government interfering with religious rights and religious freedoms.
AMA presses Sebelius to halt ICD-10 February 03, 2012 The American Medical Association is taking second aim in its call to federal officials to halt the planned and federally mandated 2013 rollout of the International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision family of procedural and diagnostic codes.
2012 Trustees of the Year: David Price—small hospital February 11, 2012 David Price, a lawyer, joined the board of directors of Community Hospital in January 2006 just as the organization was careening toward failure.
The ACO journey February 11, 2012 Much has been written and will continue to be written about accountable care organizations, whether they are labeled Pioneer, Shared Savings or offered through commercial carriers. There are many respected healthcare leaders who think that ACOs will bring great benefit to patients and providers...
Introducing the tech index February 11, 2012 Spending on medical technology, supplies and devices is a key driver of escalating healthcare costs in the U.S. To assist healthcare executives in monitoring how much they’re spending on these items, Modern Healthcare has partnered with the ECRI Institute to develop the Modern Healthcare/ECRI...
For more detailed information on Modern Healthcare Online's access levels, please click here.
