Innovative Transaction Fee Model Designed for Multiple Payors to Create Recurring Revenues and Funding for Future Zixcorp Pocketscript(R) e-Prescribing Deployments

It looks like there is growing momentum behind paying per e-precription.
If anyone knows the name of the other vendor, please let us know. SV

Zix Corporation (ZixCorp(R)), (Nasdaq:ZIXI), the leader in hosted services for email encryption and e-prescribing, today announced a contract for a new 500-physician e-prescribing program, to be split evenly between ZixCorp and another vendor. In addition to a full sponsorship for each prescriber's deployment and first year of service, the contract also contains a $1 per qualified e-script transaction fee beginning in the first year and going forward, the majority of which will go to ZixCorp to cover on-going annual prescriber licenses and other costs associated with providing the service. The remainder of these transaction fees will be used to fund future deployments of additional prescribers, creating a self-perpetuating expansion model. The total dollar value of these script fees will be a function of the number of payors who ultimately choose to participate in the program.

Zixcorp

Zix Corporation Announces First e-Prescribing Premium Payor Services Contract with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts


It is good to see a forward thinking Payor recognizing the Financial value of e-prescriptions as well as the Patient Safety value. SV


Zix Corporation (ZixCorp(R)), (Nasdaq:ZIXI), the leader in hosted services for email encryption and e-prescribing, today announced it has reached an agreement with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (BCBSMA) for the industry's first Premium Payor Services agreement. ZixCorp's Premium Payor Services provide access to future value-added services and deliver enhanced reporting for both payors and providers, aiding in analysis for incentive program initiatives.

The Premium Payor Services funding model, which is in addition to the annual subscription fee per prescriber, is typically one dollar per qualified script processed or, as in this case, a flat fee license based on historical usage patterns calibrated to yield a similar amount.

Zixcorp

IPOD compatable PHR (Personal Health Record) using HealthFrame 2.1

Here's another reason to send Steve Jobs a thank you or just buy an IPOD. SV

Here are some features:

Calendar Use the calendar for a time-based view of your medical record: tests, treatments, visits or other relevant occurrences.

• Charts Graphical charts provide visual feedback on your key medical indicators: weight, cholesterol, blood pressure, etc.

• Expense Tracking HealthFrame can record and report on expenses related to any aspect of your medical care (visits, medications, etc).

• Forms & Reports HealthFrame generates common forms based on your health records: family history, summer camp, medical history, etc.

• Journals Journals are a collection of notes (journal entries) around a particular health or wellness-related topic.
• Library Access to relevant, accredited information about your health (conditions, medications, immunizations, tests).

• Medical History This powerful, easy to read, and easy to customize report succinctly summarizes your entire medical history.

• Related Links HealthFrame™ lets you add or link to any related information you want.

• Sync with iPod With a click, transfer emergency contact information, provider and medication lists, known allergies, etc. to your iPod.


RecordsForLiving

J. Joseph Garrahy appointed Chairperson of Patient Portal Technologies Healthcare Industry Technology Advisory Board

Patient Portal Technologies, Inc. (Other OTC:PPRG.PK - News) announced today the appointment of J. Joseph Garrahy, former four-term governor of Rhode Island, as chairperson of the Company's newly formed Healthcare Industry Technology Advisory Board. As a former chairman of the National Governors' Association Subcommittee on Healthcare Policy, Governor Garrahy was a key spokesman for state leaders on health matters.

Patient Portal Technologies, Inc. is a leading provider of process improvements and efficiencies for healthcare institutions. The Company's products and services utilize a state-of-the-art proprietary software platform that optimizes patient flow, reduces administrative costs, and maximizes reimbursement.

Patient Portal

Massachusetts eHealth Collaborative Selects Wellogic to Build Health Information Exchange Infrastructure

This will serve as a great test bed for all of us interested in RHIOs. Cudos to Massachuessetts' MAeHC. SV


The Massachusetts eHealth Collaborative (MAeHC) has selected Wellogic as its technology vendor to build a health information exchange connecting three hospitals and more than 100 physician practices, as well as reference labs, imaging centers, pharmacies, and other healthcare service providers and trading partners. Development of this exchange utility marks the second phase of MAeHC's charter to bring together the state's major healthcare stakeholders for the purpose of establishing an interoperable electronic health record (EHR) system that will enhance the quality, efficiency and safety of care in Massachusetts.

The MAeHC was formed in 2004 with a $50 million commitment from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. Three pilot communities were selected from a group of 35 applicants to study and demonstrate the effectiveness and practicality of implementing EHRs in community settings. The Wellogic exchange will connect all participants in the two largest of the three communities, Brockton and Newburyport. Physicians in the third community, North Adams, unanimously selected the EHR system of one vendor, making it unnecessary for an independent information exchange to be created. It is anticipated that the communities will become a model for health information exchange for the rest of the Commonwealth, as well as for the nation.

The third vendor was eClinicalWorks.

Please share your experiences.SV

Wellogic

eClinicalWorks

CMS PVRP Quality Measures Specifications and Statements: 1.5% Bonus for 2007

Can your EHR facilitate collecting and reporting these measures?
Let us know. SV



PVRP Quality Measures Specifications

PVRP Quality Statements List

Quality Net registration

Texas Gov. Rick Perry has appointed 15 people to The Texas Health Care System Integrity Partnership: topics include Medical Records and Health Insurance

Gov. Rick Perry has appointed 15 people to create a health partnership between the public and private sectors that will work on medical records and health insurance.

The Texas Health Care System Integrity Authority, which Perry announced in October, aims to create an electronic medical records system, help consumers comparison shop for health care and give small employers more health insurance choices.

Austin Business Journal

Project HealthDesign Selects Nine Teams to Design and Test Innovative, Consumer-Centered PHR Applications


There some very interesting proposals. Stay tuned. SV

Princeton, N.J. – The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) today kicked off a landmark program to design and test bold ideas for how consumers can use information technology to better manage their health and navigate the health care system.

Project HealthDesign: Rethinking the Power and Potential of Personal Health Records, a $3.5 million initiative, has selected nine multidisciplinary teams that will build new tools that advance the field of personal health record (PHR) systems. The teams were chosen from a pool of more than 165 applicants and each has been selected to receive an 18-month, $300,000 grant. Primary funding for Project HealthDesign is provided by RWJF’s Pioneer Portfolio, which supports innovative projects that may lead to breakthrough improvements in health and health care. RWJF is pleased to collaborate with The California HealthCare Foundation, which contributed an additional $900,000 to the initiative. The program is directed by Patricia Flatley Brennan, R.N., Ph.D., professor of Nursing and Industrial Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Project HealthDesign

Germany Starts Testing Electronic Health Records on Smart Cards

This is very impressive technology. Other than the cost, two issues come to mind:

1) what if the patient forgets his/her card?,
2) what if there is a disaster and there is no electricity? SV

Germany started testing electronic health insurance cards which will eventually contain the patients' complete health history in digital format. The high-tech card is Germany's largest IT project.

"From today, 10,000 insurance holders will be receiving the new electronic card, whose functions will be gradually tested in doctors' offices, pharmacies and hospitals over the next few months," said Marion Caspers-Merk of the German Ministry of Health on Monday.



The new electronic health insurance card, which should be released for general use in 2008, is meant to reduce administrative costs in the health industry and simplify information access for medical workers.



In addition to containing the carrier's photo, which is expected to reduce the abuse of health insurance privileges, the card has an electronic chip that will eventually contain the patient's complete health record.


What's your opinion?

DW-World

Lessons learned from pilot site implementation of an ambulatory electronic health record: GE Centricity and Kryptiq

As ambulatory care practices face increasing pressure to implement electronic health records (EHRs), there is a growing need to determine the essential elements of a successful implementation strategy. HealthTexas Provider Network is in the process of implementing an EHR system comprising GE Centricity Physician Office-EMR 2005, Clinical Content Consultants (now part of GE), and Kryptiq Secure Messaging throughout all 88 practices in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and is hoping to extend the system to other practices affiliated with Baylor Health Care System as well.

Baylor Health System

Medical Economics Magazine Article: CME (Continuing Medical Education) Online and at the Point of Care

Medical Economics Magazine

Five large employers including Walmart participate in PHR (Personal Health Record):DOSSIA

This is yet another major PHR initiative and promises to be portable. SV

Dossia is an internet-based software platform that will provide complete, lifelong electronic medical records — at first, to employees of the founders group of companies.

These records will belong to employees, and will be portable if the employee changes jobs or insurance companies, or retires. Employers and insurance companies will have no access to any information in any employee’s health record.

After the initial development period, the Dossia technology platform will be freely available to software developers so they can create applications that encourage the adoption of electronic personal health records far beyond the original employee groups. It will be an open system created to ultimately benefit every patient and health care provider, and to improve the quality of care across the entire health care system.

The Dossia founders group includes BP America, Inc., Intel Corporation, Pitney Bowes, Toyota and Wal-Mart. They have joined together to fund Dossia as a new kind of health care benefit to their employees, dependants and retirees. Any other companies who are interested in empowering their employees, and who desire to help to reduce inefficiency and errors in the health care system, are welcome to participate.

Dossia is being developed by Omnimedix Institute, a non-profit health care research and information technology development organization based in Portland, Oregon.

DOSSIA.ORG

OMNIMEDIX INSTITUTE

Group Health Cooperative's internet based communication tool gains "Momentum"


Group Health Cooperative uses Momentum to provide Risk Assessments while connecting patients with doctors and health care "Lifestyle Coaches". This is a great proactive tool. SV


GHC

NASCIO has just published: Profiles of Progress: State Health IT Initiatives


Check it out. SV

(November 2006)
A product of NASCIO’s Health IT Committee, this compendium provides a state-by-state “snapshot” of progress that each state has made in the health information technology (HIT) implementation process. Each individual state profile highlights the steps that states are taking in regards to HIT issues, from Executive Orders and legislative-driven initiatives to public/private or public/non-profit partnerships. Most importantly, the compendium examines the roles and responsibilities the state CIO has in these efforts.

National Association of State Chief Information Officers