The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) is a staff division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and they are focused on implementing an interoperable and secure nationwide health information system. The EHR/HIE Interoperability Workgroup (IWG) is a New York-led group of 19 states and 47 EHR and HIE vendors.
November 21, 2014 | By Lawrence G |
Recently the American Medical Association (AMA) released a letter to the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) Karen B. DeSalvo and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator, Marilyn B. Tavenner. The 30 page letter states, “After three-and-a-half years of provider participation, we are at a critical crossroad where we believe it is important and necessary to pause and fully assess what is working and what needs improvement before moving ahead to Stage 3 of the program.” They have released a blueprint to improve the Meaningful Use program giving 4 steps they feel need to be considered:
The AMA further states that while over 78% of office-based physicians are using an EHR,
November 17, 2014 | By Lawrence G |
Expect EHR audits in 2015. The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) has requested a $400 million budget for 2015. Part of this budget will be spent on 284 new full time employees to help bolster their audits and reviews with much scrutiny on IT security and electronic health records. Daniel Levinson,
November 10, 2014 | By Lawrence G |
In my opinion, (and without taking sides of the political table), the jury is still out on whether or not ObamaCare is a good thing or not. From a consumer standpoint, the rise in costs is certainly not a good thing. While I understand that health plans now have to cover more conditions/illnesses than they did before since ObamaCare eliminates pre-existing conditions and that might be why the cost is going up,
November 7, 2014 | By Lawrence G |
Patients of Dr. Nisar A. Quraishi, an internist in with a private practice in Jersey City, NJ may have had their medical records stolen and are now potential victims of identity theft. Patients who have seem Dr. Quraishi between 1982 and 2009 have had their records stored in a shed behind the office and just last week this shed was broken into and records stolen.
October 30, 2014 | By Lawrence G |
