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- July 14, 2011
New FAQs posted to the CMS EHR Website
By Michelle Mills on July 14, 2011Read moreCMS wants to keep you updated with the latest information about the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs. New FAQs on meaningful use, payment information for eligible hospitals, eligibility, and additional information for eligible hospitals have been added to our website. Take a minute and review...
00 - July 14, 2011
County Health Comparisons-Rural Losing Ground
By Alicia Haywood on July 14, 2011Read moreA recent analysis of the County Health Rankings found that Americans residing in major cities live longer, healthier lives overall than rural Americans—a reversal from decades past. Rural residents face higher rates of health issues including diabetes, stroke, heart attack, and high blood pressure. Limited access to care is...
- July 12, 2011
Comments on USDA Rural Development Needed
By Alicia Haywood on July 12, 2011Read moreThe USDA Rural Development is accepting written comments from stakeholders about rural development priorities for President Obama’s 2013 budget and 2012 Farm Bill principles. USDA Rural Development funds programs that are critical to rural counties such as rural water/wastewater infrastructure, community facilities, hospitals and clinics, broadband expansion, housing, renewable...
- July 12, 2011
CO-OP Health Plans & Rural Health Insurance Markets
By Alicia Haywood on July 12, 2011Read moreA recent report assesses the opportunities and challenges of using the Consumer Operated and Oriented Plan (CO-OP) program in federal health reform to address the limitations of the rural private health insurance market. Download the report.
- July 11, 2011
Flex Monitoring Team Responds to JAMA Article on Quality of Care at CAHs
By Alicia Haywood on July 11, 2011Read moreThe Flex Monitoring Team, the nation’s leading experts on rural health care quality, has prepared a detailed analysis of last week’s article in JAMA on quality of care at critical access hospitals (CAH). The JAMA article concluded that compared with non-Critical Access Hospitals (CAH), CAH’s had fewer clinical capabilities,...
- July 11, 2011
Hear the Experts Talk about the EHR Incentive Programs
By Michelle Mills on July 11, 2011Read moreRegister Now : National Provider Call on Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program Basics for Eligible Professionals (EPs) Date: Thursday, July 14Time : 1:30-3:00pm ET The call will cover the following topics:• Are you eligible?• How much are the incentives and how are they calculated?• How...
- July 11, 2011
Meaningful Use Stage 2 Delay Backed by National Health IT Coordinator Mostashari
By Michelle Mills on July 11, 2011Read moreFarzad Mostashari, MD, the national health IT coordinator, said he agreed with the suggestion of the Health IT Policy Committee to delay Stage 2 meaningful use until 2014, essentially signaling to the industry that federal policymakers will follow the advisory group’s recommendation. To read the entire article, click here.
- July 11, 2011
Due Diligence When Selecting an EHR or Other HIT Webinar
By Michelle Mills on July 11, 2011Read moreThursday, July 14, 12-1:30pm MDT The Vendor Selection and Due Diligence Process: Electronic Health Record (EHR) acquisition requires a stringent due diligence plan – hear from successful Health Information Technology organizations about what to expect during the selection and contract negotiation process, and gain insights from lessons learned through...
- July 11, 2011
National Library of Medicine launches MedlinePlus Connect
By Michelle Mills on July 11, 2011Read moreThe National Library of Medicine, the world’s largest medical library and a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has formally launched MedlinePlus Connect. This free service allows health organizations and health information technology (HIT) providers to link patient portals and electronic health record (EHR) systems to MedlinePlus.gov,...
- July 11, 2011
Call to Action: Contact Your Member of Congress & U.S. Senators Today
By Alicia Haywood on July 11, 2011Read moreAs has been mentioned in previous posts, political leaders in Washington are discussing options for raising the nation’s debt ceiling limit by August 2nd and cutting federal spending to address the deficit. Medicare and Medicaid are under consideration for substantial spending cuts, including reducing the federal Medicaid matching rate to...