Healthcare IT News For VARs — February 1, 2014
In the news, the AMA asks EHR vendors to take a “readiness survey,” a poll shows only about half of healthcare providers have estimated the cash flow impact ICD-10 coding will have, and the new national coordinator for health IT says its critical for federal regulations to address the development and use of EHRs.
AMA Asks ICD-10 Vendors To Respond To Survey
Government Health IT reports the American Medical Association (AMA) has expressed concerns that vendors won’t have ICD-10 software ready “until well into 2014.” The AMA is asking vendors to participate in a brief survey to help them gauge software vendor readiness and to “support AMA advocacy on this matter.”
Half Of Healthcare Providers Haven’t Estimated Cash Flow Impact Of ICD-10
A poll by KPMG LLP shows about half of healthcare organizations haven’t yet estimated the impact transitioning to ICD-10 coding will have on their cash flow. Of those responding to the survey, 73 percent believe the transition could have a moderate to severe effect on the bottom line. About half (45 percent) believe denial/variance management would be the most affected, besides coding and documentation.
New National Coordinator Says Federal Regulation For EHR Development Is Critical
A Medpage Today article reports new national coordinator for health information technology Karen DeSalvo, in her comments at the annual meeting of the Office of the National Coordinator, said it is critical that federal regulations address development and use of EHRs. The article details DeSalvo’s past work with EHRs, with most of her health IT work in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina when she helped rebuild damaged health information infrastructure.
ICD-10 Coding Basics Video Available
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) are offering an ICD-10 Coding Basics video. Sue Bowman from the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) provides basic information for your customers, including the seventh character, the placeholder “x,” excludes notes, unspecified codes, and external cause codes.
Global E-Prescribing Market, Wearable Technology Markets, Forecast
Research and Markets has released “Global E-Prescribing Market (Electronic Prescription/Erx) Report 2013-2017.” The report states increased adoption of eRx systems will drive the market at a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 26 percent from 2012 to 2017. The global e-prescription market was $170 million in 2011.
Also, TechNavio analysts forecast that the global wearable medical technology market will grow at a CAGR of 49.94 percent from 2012 to 2016.
Healthcare IT Talking Points
A Health IT Outcomes article highlights how mobile computing is improving end-of-life care. For example, iPads for communication boards for patients who are unable to speak and making computers available to patients for their own emailing and web surfing.
Health IT Outcomes also offers a HIMSS 14 preview, suggesting that attendees make time in their schedules for the Connected Patient Learning Gallery, the Intelligent Hospital Pavilion, the Interoperability Showcase, and focused Knowledge Centers. Health IT Outcomes also provides a HIMSS 14 Resource Center.
For more news and insights, visit BSMinfo’s Healthcare IT Resource Center.