46 percent of docs aren’t aware of Medicare billing code for remote care

This code allows physicians to get reimbursed for non-face-to-face care if the patient has two or more chronic conditions that are expected to last more than one year. Other requirements include: the chronic conditions place the patient at significant risk of death, and that providers create, revise, or monitor a comprehensive care plan. Read More

ONC Releases Final Version of Five-Year Health IT Strategic Plan

	The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT's final Federal Health IT Strategic Plan for 2015 to 2020 focuses on patient-centered data and care, rather than providers and electronic health record adoption. Industry groups expressed support for the plan but noted the importance of improving interoperability. Modern Healthcare et al. Read More

Patients with smartphones more likely to use online patient portals

RSi Communications Sep 25, 2015

Patients who own smartphones are five times as likely to use online patient portals. Indeed, 27% of smartphone owners access patient portals, whereas only 5% of those who lack smartphones do.
As many as 50% of U.S. households use patient portals infrequently, and 23% do not use these portals at all, according to a report by Parks Associates, presented in September at the second-annual Connected Health Summit: Engaging Consumers, which was held in in San Diego.  Read More

Study Finds Consumers Providers Differ on Preferred Uses of Health IT

A new study finds that while both consumers and providers view new health IT tools favorably, they differ in how patients should use such tools and who owns patients' electronic health records. For example, providers were less likely than consumers to be comfortable with patients using health IT tools for self-diagnosis and more likely to believe they owned patients' EHRs. FierceHealthIT, Journal of Medical Internet Research. Read More

Oncology Group Urges Congress To Bolster EHR Interoperability

The American Society for Clinical Oncology is calling on Congress to pass legislation that would ban information blocking and bolster interoperability of electronic health records. The group says cancer researchers often face barriers to sharing clinical trial data. Modern Healthcare, ASCO release. Read More

Nursing Group Touts Importance of Behavioral, Social Data in EHRs

The American Academy of Nursing is calling for the health care industry to adopt the Institute of Medicine's recommendations for incorporating behavioral and social health data into electronic health records. The group says health care stakeholders must work together to overcome barriers to including such data. Heath IT Analytics, Nursing Outlook.

Telemedicine Adoption Rates Up From Last Year

A new HIMSS Analytics study finds that the rate of telemedicine adoption among health care providers increased from 54.5% in 2014 to 57.7% in 2015. The most common use of telemedicine services was to fill gaps in care. FierceHealthIT, HIMSS Analytics study. Read More

VA To Launch New Vets.gov Portal To Integrate Department Websites

On Nov. 11, 2015, the Department of Veterans Affairs plans to launch an integrated online portal -- called Vets.gov -- that will consolidate VA's more than 1,000 veteran-related websites into a centralized hub to streamline users' access to the department's various services. Officials say it will take about one year for the site to be fully operational. FierceHealthIT et al. Read More

Health IT Tools Are Burdensome for Chronically Ill, Older Patients

A new study identifies several barriers keeping individuals with multiple chronic conditions from adopting health IT tools to track their data. The researchers say developers should focus on creating tools that "clearly reduce patient inconvenience and burden" and cut the workload associated with tracking health data. FierceMobileHealthcare, Journal of Medical Internet Research.

mHealth Text Messages Promote Medication Adherence

Nine of 13 articles show improvement in adherence rates with mobile health text messages

MONDAY, Aug. 3, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- Mobile health (mHealth) short message service text messages can improve medication adherence, according to a review published online July 27 in the Journal of Clinical Nursing.
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Texas Law Will Bring Telemedicine Care to Children at School

Under a new law going into effect on Sept. 1, children enrolled in Texas' Medicaid program will be able to access virtual doctor visits at school while being supervised by a school nurse. However, some stakeholders are concerned that the services could put patient safety at risk. Texas Tribune. Read More

Updated Online Tool Aims To Help Users Find Info on Providers

An updated tool released by the Federation of State Medical Boards enables users to look up information on licensing and state medical board disciplinary actions for more than 900,000 providers. The tool, DocInfo, searches regularly updated data from 70 state medical and osteopathic boards. MedPage Today, FSMB release. Read More

33% of CVS MinuteClinic Telehealth Users Favor Remote Care

A new survey published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine finds that one-third of telehealth users at CVS' MinuteClinic preferred the remote video visit to an in-person visit. According to the survey, more than 95% of respondents were highly satisfied with the telehealth visit. FierceHealthIT, MobiHealthNews. Read More

Patient Portal Messages Not Yet Sufficient for Clinical Decisions

A Mayo Clinic study finds that patients and physicians say the use of secure portals to discuss blood pressure management is helpful. However, the information shared via portal messages rarely is sufficient for a physician to write a prescription. MobiHealthNews, Telemedicine and e-Health. Read More

Varying State Definitions of Telehealth Cause Confusion

Variations in state definitions of telehealth and telemedicine create "confusing environments" for users, according to a report by the Center for Connected Health Policy, FierceHealthIT reports.  ccording to the report, 48 states and Washington, D.C., have definitions of telehealth or telemedicine written into state law or their respective Medicaid programs (Bowman, FierceHealthIT, 8/4). Rhode Island and New Jersey are the only states that lack a definition for either term.

Meanwhile, the report found that states that do define the terms often alternate between telehealth and telemedicine. While there are some similarities, no two definitions are the same (CCHP report, July 2015).

The report also found that:

• Nine states reimburse for store-and-forward services, which enable electronic transmission of medical information;
• 16 states reimburse for remote patient monitoring (FierceHealthIT, 8/4); and
• Email, phone and fax are rarely accepted as reimbursable forms of telehealth services, unless combined with another method.

Findings on Licensure

In terms of licensing, the report found that:

• Eight state medical boards issue telehealth licenses that could allow providers to offer telehealth services in other states; and
• 11 states have joined the Federation of State Medical Boards' Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, which allows for an expedited licensure process for providers to apply for licenses in other states.

The report also found that more than 200 telehealth-related measures were introduced across 42 states during the 2015 legislative session (CCHP report, July 2015).  Read More

Telehealth Can Help Special-Needs Kids Access Care

A new report suggests that telehealth can help address the barriers to care that special-needs children in California face, such as provider shortages and inadequate access to specialists. The report also offers recommendations to reduce challenges to implementing telehealth technologies. mHealth Intelligence, California Healthline's "Capitol Desk." Read More

Using Social Data to Build Our Evidence Base

RWJF- Jul 16, 2015, 2:22 PM, Posted by Alonzo L. Plough, Lori Melichar

Social media offers an exciting opportunity to innovate in health research—but the social data sandbox could use more players to conduct research, share datasets, and generate ideas about what we should be studying.  Read More

Researchers Examine Rural Pediatricians' Experiences With Telehealth

A new study published in the journal Telemedicine and e-Health looks at rural pediatricians' experiences and preferences when using telehealth for subspecialty care. The researchers identify several telehealth strategies that can be used to improve access to subspecialty pediatric care, including scheduling flexibility for providers. FierceHealthIT, Telemedicine and e-Health.  Read More

3 ways to improve communication and care coordination--from the patient and family's perspective

It's easy to write about the importance of effective provider-patient communication and care coordination. How fragmented care causes patients frustration, fear and can lead to readmissions. But it's another matter entirely to attempt to navigate the healthcare system and experience the lack (or at least perceived lack) of care coordination first-hand.  Read More

Robust EHRs, inpatient physical rehab and staff levels minimize 'weekend effect'

Loyola University Health System researchers have come up with strategies for reducing the so-called "weekend effect."
Their study focused on factors that reduced the length of hospital stay, which affects outcomes, following urgent surgeries performed on weekends.
The researchers found that having electronic health record systems, inpatient physical rehab and more nurses per patient helped reduce the length of stay. Robust wound and pain management programs and home healthcare also played a part, according to an article in PM 360.

Home health programs and full EHR adoption are the key factors, according to an opinion piece in Becker's Infection Control & Clinical Quality. Read More

Measuring What Matters: Using Data To Drive Action

We must focus on measuring what matters. Data that only serve to illustrate that a problem exists—or even that progress is being made—are not enough. At the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), we are working to catalyze a social movement to help build a “Culture of Health.” To accomplish this goal, we need data that illustrates for people and organizations—across a wide range of sectors—the roles they can play, the actions they can take, and the relevance to their communities.  Read More

Telemedicine: A Solution To Address The Problems Of Cost, Access, And Quality

Telemedicine Increases Access To Care

According to a recent global survey by Cisco, 74 percent of patients prioritize access to health care services over in-person interactions with health care providers, and 70 percent said they were comfortable communicating with providers via text, email, or video, in lieu of an in-office visit. Furthermore, nearly 60 percent of doctors are willing to conduct a video visit with their patients, according to a nationwide survey of more than 2,000 primary care physicians released by American Well.  Read More

'Uber-Like' Health Apps Aim To Bring Back House Calls

Several companies have launched "Uber-like" doctor-on-demand applications that could make house calls popular again. However, the services are not yet covered by insurance, and some physicians have raised concerns about the quality of care patients receive through such apps. AP/Philadelphia Inquirer. Read More

HIEs Can Help Significantly Reduce Unnecessary ED Tests

A new study finds that leveraging data from health information exchanges can significantly reduce unnecessary laboratory tests and radiology exams at emergency departments. The study's principal researcher notes clinical liaisons, or scribes, could be key to realizing the benefits of HIEs. Modern Healthcare et al.  Read More

Online Patient Platforms Can Improve Epilepsy Management

A new study published in the journal Neurology finds that online patient platforms can help individuals with epilepsy better understand and self-manage their conditions. The study examined veterans' experience with the PatientsLikeMe platform. Medscape. Read More

CMS Launches Rating System on Home Health Compare Website

CMS for the first time has unveiled star ratings for home health agencies on its Home Health Compare website. The agency awarded five stars to just 239 out of 12,261 eligible home health agencies, while 201 agencies received one or 1.5 stars Health Data Management, Kaiser Health News. Read More

AARP: Older adults willing to use mHealth, but tools must be simpler, easier to wear

Consumers age 50 and older are willing to embrace activity and sleep trackers, but not without some changes to the devices, reveals a new collaborative report by AARP Project Catalyst initiative and Georgia Tech HomeLab.  The overall feedback from the research is that effectiveness and usability are key elements to consumer use and trust... Read More

HIT Implementations Negatively Impact Clinical Workflow

A new study conducted across six ambulatory care practices from two participating healthcare organizations found health IT-caused interruptions to clinical workflow across all study clinics and work roles. The study, funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, examined the impacts of HIT implementation on healthcare workers’ workflow in a diverse set of ambulatory care practices. A total of 120 clinicians and clinic staff participated in the study.  Read More

Patients Dubious About Telemedicine

According to the survey, which included more than 500 U.S. adults over age 18, nearly 65 percent of respondents said they would be somewhat or very unlikely to choose a virtual appointment, while only 35.4 percent stated the opposite. Read More

Forbes: Standing Between You And All The Benefits Of Telemedicine: The AMA And The Federal Government

Forbes/Opinion Jul 9, 2015 @ 11:44 AM

The same organization that thinks you shouldn’t be able to get a prescription from a Teladoc doctor you have never met, thinks it’s perfectly okay for you to get a prescription from an “on call” doctor who you have also never met, who is subbing in for your regular doctor and who probably isn’t looking at your medical records when he orders the prescription.  Read More