New York State’s Proposed All-Payer Database: APD

The New York State Department of Health (DOH) is developing an all-payer database (APD) for New York State. The database will serve as a repository of claims data drawn from all major public and private payers which may also be combined with clinical and public health data sources. APDs support state-level health care reform efforts by providing powerful tools to evaluate critical issues such as regional variations in utilization, quality, and cost. In addition, APDs are used to examine the impact of reimbursement methodologies, public health interventions, and health care resources on utilization, quality, outcomes, and/or costs. When this data is publicly available, consumers will have the tools they need to compare price and quality for important health care decisions. APDs may be a valuable tool in assessing the impact of various delivery system reforms and payment innovations encouraged by federal health care reform.

To date, nine states have created APDs: Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Tennessee, Vermont, and Utah. Three additional states are in the process of implementation, and fourteen states have either taken initial steps toward creating an APD, or established a voluntary system.

Recently, New York enacted legislation for the creation of an APD. New York’s APD legislation builds on the existing Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System (SPARCS), which collects clinical and demographic data concerning hospital discharges, emergency department visits, and certain ambulatory surgery and clinic visits. The new APD system may be developed within SPARCS or as a separate entity. It will include claims data related to inpatient, outpatient, emergency department, laboratory, pharmacy, and other health care services. The legislation authorizes New York to participate in a similar system operated by a regional or national entity or another jurisdiction. The bill is widely supported by members in both houses of the legislature and has been included in the 2011-2012 New York State Budget.

Currently, the project is in the initial planning phase. On Tuesday, June 7, 2011, the New York State Health Foundation, in collaboration with Commissioner Nirav Shah and the New York State Department of Health, hosted a working discussion regarding the establishment of the database. Various healthcare stakeholders throughout the state participated and provided valuable ideas about how to proceed. The Office for Health IT Transformation prepared an inventory of the existing data resources in New York that utilize payer data which was discussed at the meeting as well. These databases include SPARCS, FAIR Health, New York Quality Alliance (NYQA), and a state funded project in the Adirondacks.

The group began to discuss the governance, policies, and technical requirements of the system. Based on their input, DOH will reach out to a larger group of stakeholders to create a roadmap for implementation and potential funding sources and requirements, as well as a framework for an overall architecture model. In addition, a cross-cutting group within DOH will begin work on the regulations described in the legislation which will address the collection and use of the data as well as provisions to protect patient privacy.

SAVE THE DATE: 2011 NYeC Digital Health Conference

The New York eHealth Collaborative (NYeC) will host its first annual Digital Health Conference on December 1st and 2nd in New York City at Pier Sixty, Chelsea Piers. This conference will bring together health information technology (HIT) stakeholders from the public and private sectors—including providers, hospital administrators, insurers, IT vendors, as well as other members of private industry and government representatives.

The two-day educational conference will include numerous panel discussions with experts in several areas: chronic care management, advances in the delivery of primary care, innovations in inpatient settings and health and wellness. An exhibit area will also showcase the latest technologies and tools that are available to help improve the quality of healthcare and reduce costs. A separate evening gala and awards ceremony will recognize key individuals who have made special contributions to HIT.

To participate in this conference as an attendee, speaker, exhibitor or sponsor please visit www.digitalhealthconference.com

or contact Tom Tagariello, NYeC Events Manager, TTagariello@NYeHealth.org, for more information.

CMS Attestation Website : EHRincentives

As we approach the Fourth of July Weekend, you may want to set aside some time during the festivities to "Attest". Have a Happy and Safe Holiday. sv


Here are the instructions for registering on the CMS website:
1. Go to https://ehrincentives.cms.gov/hitech/login.action

2. Click continue to get to the log-in page and enter your user ID and password

• Medicaid professionals will only need their NPI number
• Medicare professionals and Eligible hospitals will need their (1) NPI number and (2) PECOS or NPPES user ID and password (If you do not have an active PECOS or NPPES username and password, please request one here: https://nppes.cms.hhs.gov/NPPES/IASecurityCheck.do )

3. Click the registration tab on the new page and select “register” under “Registration Selection”

4. Click “Start Registration” at the bottom of the page and proceed to complete the registration pages

5. Once registered, you will see a successful submission screen
Please be sure to select the incentive program that you wish to participate in when registering. You may only select one. Before 2015, you may switch programs only once after your first payment has started.

Flexiant providing Cloud Platform for e-Health Pilot in England

Definitely a pilot worth following, sv

Scottish cloud software and services provider Flexiant is providing a cloud platform for a research project that promises NHS patients complete control over their medical records and the power to decide who has access to their data.The E-Health Cloud, using Flexiant’s pioneering cloud platform Extility, will be the first large scale deployment of the cloud in e-health.

A pilot underway at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, is using cloud computing to make communication between patient, consultant and GP faster and more efficient. Researchers at Chelsea and Westminster are working with Edinburgh Napier University and Flexiant to show how the current paper-based system could be replaced with a next-generation e-health platform. After 18 months in development, with the cloud integration work provided by Flexiant, the E-Health Cloud is now ready to be tested and a demonstrator will go live on Flexiant’s Extility platform next month. The demonstrator will be the first large scale deployment of the cloud in e-health.

NYC DOH PCIP/NYC REACH PCMH/Meaningful Use Webinars

June 24 2011, 10 AM-11 AM, EST


Together we will explore:
Healthcare challenges facing physicians
Benefits of EHR
The path to EHR EHR/EMR
Implementation Thoughts & Considerations.
Patient Centered Medical Home
Federal Incentives under ARRA
Meaningful use

This is now a weekly series of events.

Registration is required. Upon registration, you will receive an email with code need to join.

Dial In Code: 888-622-5357
Participant Code: 586020

Meeting information
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Topic: Dr. Sal Volpe's Webinar
Date: Friday, June 24, 2011
Time: 10:00 am, Eastern Daylight Time (New York, GMT-04:00)


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To start or join the online meeting
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Go to https://healthnycgov.webex.com/healthnycgov/j.php?ED=154822162&UID=482061732&PW=NYWI2YWI5OTgx&RT=MiMxMQ%3D%3D

Physician Quality Reporting System & Electronic Prescribing Incentive Program National Provider Teleconference Presentation-June 21, 2011 is now available



The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is pleased to announce that presentation that will be used during the June 21st, 2011 Physician Quality Reporting System & Electronic Prescribing Incentive Program national provider teleconference is now available on the CMS website.


This presentation will provide an overview of the proposed rule CMS released on May 26th, 2011 which addresses the proposed changes to the Medicare Electronic Prescribing (eRx) Incentive Program.



To access the presentation, go to http://www.cms.gov/PQRS, and select the CMS Sponsored Calls tab on the left side of the page. Next, scroll down to the section under the heading Downloads and select - June 21, 2011 National Provider Call Materials.

Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs: What Hospitals Need to Know


On July 13, the New York State Department of Health, in conjunction with GNYHA, the Healthcare Association of New York State (HANYS), NYSTEC, the New York eHealth Collaborative (NYeC), and NYC REACH, New York City’s Regional Extension Center, will be hosting an informational session, “Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs: What Hospitals Need to Know.” The event will feature presenters from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC). Topics to be covered include registration, attestation, meaningful use, and EHR certification; a question-and-answer session will follow the presentations.

The details of the briefing are as follows:

DATE:
Wednesday, July 13, 2011

TIME:
9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.

LOCATION:http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
GNYHA Conference Center

555 West 57th Street, 15th Floor

REGISTRATION:
https://www.regonline.com/nyincentiveprogramevent


Participants can also register to attend this event via Webcast. Please see the attached invitation for more details and the program agenda. If you have any questions about this event, please contact Zeynep Sumer (zsumer@gnyha.org) or Sara Kaplan-Levenson (skaplan-levenson@gnyha.org).

Reminder: NYC DOH PCIP EHR Open House, This Wednesday!


REMINDER! The NYC Health Department’s Primary Care Information Project is hosting a free Open House to educate physicians about electronic health records. Learn about how we can help you adopt an electronic health record and earn federal Meaningful Use incentive payments. The Primary Care Information Project has funding to offer you discounted software and subsidized training services.

Join us Wednesday evening for a Meaningful Use overview and EHR software demos from our three preferred vendors: eClinicalWorks, Greenway, and MDLand.

Date/Time: Wednesday, June 15, 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM
Location: 42-09 28th Street (Room 12-22, 12th floor) in Long Island City

If you or any colleagues would like to attend, simply RSVP to http://nycreachopenhouse.eventbrite.com/.

We look forward to seeing you!

Primary Care Information Project
42-09 28th Street, 12th Floor, CN-52
Long Island City, NY 11101
pcip@health.nyc.gov