NY RECS Expands Meaningful Use to Support NYS Medicaid Specialists

This is great new for the NYS specialist in need of the guidance these two RECs are equipped to provide. SV

A new REC (Regional Extension Center) program to service and support Medicaid Specialists in the adoption, implementation, and use of EHRs ac ross New York State is being introduced by the two NYS RECs: The New York eHealth Collaborative (NYeC) which services the entire state, with the exception of New York City, and New York City Regional Electronic Adoption Center for Health (NYC REACH), which provides services to the five counties within the city. Providers previously ineligible to receive support from the RECs for earlier Meaningful Use initiatives (offered and funded via the Office of the National Coordinator) are encouraged to enroll in this MU extension program. Specialists who may have previously been referred to as being ‘out-of-scope’ in the original ONC RECs provision will be supported by this proposal. For more information, or to learn if you qualify for this program please contact:

Peggy Frizzell, HIT Implementation Project Manager, for NYeC at pfrizzell@nyehealth.org or by phone at (646) 619-6562.

Rebecca Stauffer at rstauffer@health.nyc.gov

NYCREACH

NYeHealthCollaborative

Dr Amanda Parsons NYC PCIP NYCREACH Recognizing Extraordinary Providers in HIT

Retrospective review NYC PCIP/NYCREACH 2007-2012

Recorded program available for viewing

NYCREACH

Dr Farzad Mostashari NYC PCIP NYCREACH Recognizing Extraordinary Providers in HIT

Retrospective review NYC PCIP/NYCREACH 2007-2012

Recorded program available for viewing

NYCREACH

Mayor Bloomberg NYC PCIP NYCREACH Recognizing Extraordinary Providers in HIT

Recorded program available for viewing

Mayor Bloomberg

NYCREACH

NYC PCIP NYCREACH Recognizing Extraordinary Providers in HIT

2005-2012

Mayor Blomberg reviews successes

Recorded program available for viewing

 Optum, Mayo Clinic Partner to Launch Optum Labs 

Optum, Mayo Clinic Partner to Launch Optum Labs: An Open, Collaborative Research and Innovation Facility Focused on Better Care for Patients

Other participants from health care, science and academia expected to share insights and pursue solutions that improve health outcomes for people
Optum and Mayo Clinic to combine extensive, de-identified clinical and claims data to help care providers create the most effective approaches to care
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., and ROCHESTER, Minn., Jan. 15, 2013 — Optum and Mayo Clinic today jointly launched Optum Labs, an open, collaborative research and development facility with a singular goal: improving patient care. Based in Cambridge, Mass., Optum Labs provides an environment where the health care industry can come together to combine information and ideas that benefit patients today while also driving long-term improvements in the delivery and quality of care.
Optum and Mayo Clinic will make their information assets, technologies, knowledge tools and scientific expertise available to organizations interested in pursuing practical new solutions to patient care challenges. As the first and largest integrated, not-for-profit medical group practice in the world, Mayo Clinic will also contribute valuable insights directly from patient experiences. Mayo Clinic’s extensive clinical expertise will be instrumental in guiding Optum Labs’ research agenda and applying research results and insights directly to the patient care environment. Combining Mayo Clinic’s extensive clinical insights with Optum’s health care claims information will help doctors better understand all aspects of the patient care experience and refine approaches to care that consistently help patients achieve the best outcomes. Other Optum Labs participants will include academic institutions, life sciences companies, commercial and government payers, and other care providers.

OptumInsight

Patient Portal for New Yorkers Design Challenge

Let us know if you submitted a design.

Good Luck. SV

Calling all Developers and Designers:

NYeC and Health 2.0 Launch Patient Portal for New Yorkers Design Challenge Designs will be reviewed via public voting. Submissions due April 11, 2013. January 15, 2013 (New York, NY) - The New York eHealth Collaborative (NYeC), in partnership with leading health technology catalyst Health 2.0, invites designers and developers to participate in the Patient Portal for New Yorkers Design Challenge with $25,000 in prizes. Starting today, designers and developers can submit prototypes for a statewide Patient Portal for New Yorkers—a website for patients to access their medical records online. The top portal interface designs will be chosen and voted upon by New Yorkers after the April 11th deadline.   Developers will have 11 weeks to work on and then submit a design for the Patient Portal Challenge. To guarantee patient privacy during the design challenge, developers and designers will be given a test patient data set to build their applications. They will not have access to actual health records. Once all of the submissions are received on April 11th, the New York public will be invited to vote on their favorite designs from April 11-21. The designs with the strongest responses will be invited to present their project at two different demo days—one in New York City in April and another at a location upstate in early May. A winner will be announced shortly thereafter.   After the Challenge, NYeC will work with a vendor to build the portal and run it on behalf of the state on its health information exchange network.   “This is a chance for developers and designers to advance healthcare for all 20 million New Yorkers. A portal of this size and scope has never before existed,” said David Whitlinger, Executive Director of NYeC. “Through our Design Challenge, we hope to inspire applicants to develop truly creative and user-friendly applications. We look forward to seeing all submissions, and eventually building this portal so patients throughout the state have full access to their health records.”   The patient portal prototypes are required to include features that will allow patients to log on with a username and password to see their health records online safely and securely. Once logged in, patients will see a full layout of their health records, and also have access to a list of medical professionals, such as their family doctor, who have accessed their health records. The Patient Portal for New Yorkers will also provide an extensive overview of patient privacy rights, and address privacy concerns a patient might have about Electronic Medical Records and Health IT in general.   “Health 2.0 is excited to be partnering with NYeC on this innovative challenge to design the first statewide patient portal for New York,” said Jean-Luc Neptune, Senior Vice President of Health 2.0. “The winners will not only make a tremendous contribution to the development of a patient portal that reaches nearly 20 million people, but also gain significant exposure and recognition for their achievement through participation in the challenge.”   NYeC has proudly taken the “Blue Button Pledge,” a pledge through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that “empowers individuals to be partners in their health through health IT” and builds off of the Blue Button program’s success in improving care coordination for veterans by giving them easy access to their health data. For more information on the Patient Portal for New Yorkers Design Challenge, and to submit a prototype by April 11th, visit health2con.com/devchallenge/new-york-state-patient-portal-challenge

Deadline to request exemption from ePrescribing penalty is Jan. 31 2013

Physicians who were unable to file for a Medicare ePrescribing hardship exemption by the original deadline have until Jan. 31, 2013 to avoid the 1.5 percent payment penalty in 2013.

 

Acting upon AMA requests, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has re-opened the Communications Support Web page to allow physicians who missed the June 30, 2012 deadline to file for an exemption.

 

Physicians may request a waiver of the 2013 penalty under any of the following categories:

 

• The physician is unable to ePrescribe as a result of local, state or federal law or regulation.
• The physician wrote fewer than 100 prescriptions during the period of Jan. 1–June 30, 2012.
• The physician practices in a rural area that doesn't have sufficient high-speed Internet access.
• The physician practices in an area that doesn't have enough pharmacies that can do ePrescribing.

 

CMS also added two hardship categories for those participating in Medicare’s electronic health record meaningful use program. Physicians do not need to apply for an exemption related to these meaningful use hardship categories; CMS will automatically determine whether physicians meet those requirements.

 

Visit the CMS ePrescribing Web page to learn more. Physicians can contact CMS’s QualityNet Help Desk at (866) 288-8912 or via email with questions or for assistance submitting their hardship exemption requests. Support is available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time Monday through Friday.

 

Physicians who use Apple computers may experience technical problems; CMS encourages them to contact the Help Desk for assistance.

 

Hardship exemption requests for the 2014 payment penalty will be accepted during a separate period this year.

 

For more information on the Medicare ePrescribing Program, please visit the AMA’s website (http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/physician-resources/health-information-technology/incentive-programs/cms-eprescribing-incentive-program.page).

 

Save the Date: April 26, 2013 Annual HIMSS NYS Conference: Health IT - When Disaster Strikes

The annual HIMSS New York State conference is one of the premier gatherings for those interested in health information technology in our state.

This year's focus will be the role of Health IT in disaster preparation.

New for this year are separate afternoon tracks for nurses, pharmacists, and physicians.

Stay tuned for the official call for speakers and sponsors.

HIMSSNYS

CMS Created a New Tipsheet to Help Specialists Meet Meaningful Use

CMS recognizes that not every meaningful use measure applies to every provider participating in the Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs. To help specialty providers successfully meet meaningful use measure requirements and navigate the EHR Incentive Programs, CMS created the Meaningful Use for Specialists Tipsheet.  

Tipsheet topics include:

• Reporting measure exclusions;
• Using other providers' data;
• Determining office visits for applicable measures; and
• Applying for a hardship exemption.

The tipsheet also includes links to resources that can help specialists successfully participate in the EHR Incentive Programs. For helpful materials you can also visit the Educational Resources page on the EHR Incentive Programs website.

Want more information about the EHR Incentive Programs?
Make sure to visit the EHR Incentive Programs website for the latest news and updates on the EHR Incentive Programs.

Dual Identity (Not just for superheroes) Available for phones

One device that can be used at home and at work while keeping both sides secure.
Is there an advantage to having one less device hanging off your belt? Would it help your company's bottom line?
Please participate in our Reader Poll on the subject. SV

Bloomberg News

More doctors adopting EHRs to improve patient care and safety

Since 2009, the percentage of doctors using EHRs has increased by 50% and the number e-Prescribing has more than doubled!

Congratulations to the practices that have and are in the process of participating in the transformation of Healthcare Delivery in the US. 

For the remaining practices, we need to address the barriers to change whether financial, technical
or procedural. SV



Physician adoption of electronic health record (EHR) and other computerized tools to help improve care, safety and coordination of health care for patients across the county continue to rise, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) reports in a new data brief.

Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) reported that the percentage of doctors adopting electronic health records has increased from 48 percent in 2009 to 72 percent in 2012. The ONC report shows that since 2009, the percent of physicians with computerized capabilities to e-prescribe has more than doubled, from 33 percent to 73 percent. Within the past year, more physicians (56 percent) have the computerized capabilities to engage with patients and their families by providing patients with summaries after visits, an increase of 46 percent.

The data brief, Physician Adoption of Electronic Health Record Technology to Meet Meaningful Use Objectives, found that since the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act was enacted in 2009, the percentage of doctors that are meeting five meaningful use core objectives has increased by at least 66 percent. The HITECH Act authorized incentive payments under the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Program to eligible professionals and hospitals for the adoption and meaningful use of certified EHR technology. To participate in incentive programs, professionals are required to demonstrate computerized capabilities that meet defined meaningful use objectives. The data are reported from the 2012 mail survey of physicians in the National Electronic Health Record Survey conducted by NCHS.

“The increase in the number of physicians that are adopting EHRs and other computerized capabilities to meet meaningful use objectives related to quality, patient safety and efficiency is encouraging,” said Farzad Mostashari, national coordinator. “Patients are the primary beneficiaries as more and more doctors adopt the use of electronic tools like EHRs.”

The new data brief also shows:
In the past year, the percent of doctors using EHRs meeting nine meaningful use measures increased by at least 21 percent.
As of 2012, two thirds or more of physicians have computerized capability to improve patient safety through electronic tools such as drug interaction checks and electronic medication lists.
Half or more of physicians reported they have adopted computerized tools to meet twelve meaningful use core objectives, and at least two thirds have adopted computerized tools to meet nine measures out of 13. In 2012 there are 15 required measures; the data brief reports on 13 of those measures.

“The the number of doctors adopting EHRs increasing, and more of them are using the technology to meet the objectives that will help them improve care for their patients,” said Dr. Mostashari. “But there is still more work to do before the full promise of health information technology is met.”


HHS

Hurricane Sandy:Helplines Available to Provide Emotional Support to People

Helplines Available to Provide Emotional Support to People Affected by Hurricane Sandy:

NYC residents can access free, confidential crisis counseling through

LifeNet (800-543-3638 and TTY at 212-982-5284),
Spanish LifeNet (800-AYUDESE) and
Asian LifeNet (800-990-8585).

LifeNet, the city’s only accredited,multi-lingual,free and confidential crisis hotline,is run by the Mental Health Association of NYC and supported by the NYCDOHMH.

Residents of any state affected can access free counseling at 800-985-5990 or txt 'TalkWithUs' to 66746 (Spanish-speakers can text 'Hablanos' to 66746).

Special thanks to Mr Frank Winter for the lead.

Look at CMS' 2014 CQM Page and New CQM Resources

Last week, CMS announced the release of the 2014 clinical quality measures (CQMs) for providers in the Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs.

Along with posting the specific measures on the 2014 CQMs page, CMS has created additional resources to help providers understand the 2014 CQMs, as well as the specifications for electronic reporting.

Resources include:

• Recommended Core Set webpage— provides recommended core sets of 2014 CQMs, including PDFs for adults and children with details on each core measure
• eSpecifications for 2014 eCQMs for Eligible Professionals— .zip file contains the electronic specifications in a machine readable (xml) and human readable (html) format for the 2014 eCQMs for eligible professionals
• eSpecifications Navigator 2014 eCQMs for Eligible Hospitals— provides access to the electronic specifications in a machine readable (xml) and human readable (html) format for the 2014 eCQMs for eligible hospitals
• Clinical Quality Measures through 2013 webpage— explains CQM reporting requirements before 2014

A full list of all of the available CQM webpages and resources is available in the2014 Clinical Quality Measures (CQMS) & eCQM Resources document.

Questions about CQMs?
CMS' FAQ system provides helpful questions and answers on many topics in the EHR Incentive Programs. There are several existing CQM FAQs that may help answer your questions.

Want more information about the EHR Incentive Programs?
Make sure to visit the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs website for the latest news and updates on the EHR Incentive Programs.

Hurricane Sandy: SI Update 11/06/2012: Helpful links

More homes are coming back on line with power and phones, but many families are still in need.

Here is an updated list of helpful links.

FEMA Disaster Assistance Site

FEMA site mobile edition for smartphones etc

FEMA Disaster preparation site, helps you set up a plan in advance

NYS Governor Cuomo's site

NYC OEM Office of Emergency Management 

Staten Island Borough President Molinaro Office

NJ Office of Emergency Managment

Crisis Commons techie volunteers

Twitter feeds

#sandy
#sandysafety

Hurricane Sandy: Staten Island:Marathon Runners Provide Help

Hundreds of Marathon Runners have come to Staten Island to lend a hand.

 https://www.facebook.com/NewYorkRunnersInSupportOfStatenIsland

Thank you Dr Maria Basile for the notice.

Hurricane Sandy: Staten Island Update November 4, 2012

Yesterday, my wife, volunteers and I delivered supplies collected at the Staten Island Heart Society.
We saw multiple congregations of people throughout the affected areas sharing food, supplies and moral support. There were many moving stories of people who did not previously know each other doing what we do best: help those in need. It was very touching to talk to those whose homes were filled with sea water and had most of their belongings destroyed express sympathy for even less fortunate than themselves.

The Staten Island Heart Society is a local drop off site for relief items for the Staten Island Victims of Hurricane Sandy.

We will be open to accept items daily from 10 AM - 2:00 PM.

 Please contact us via  Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Staten-Island-Heart-Society/91570863813 or through our web site at www.siheart.org  or phone 718.351.3115
if you need to arrange a different time.

Items needed : Clothing, blankets, flashlights, batteries, water, prepared foods, baby foods and pet foods.
Our collection efforts are in conjunction with the SI Boro President's Office and the Stephen Siller Foundation.

Our hearts and prayers are with all of our families and friend's that have been effected by Hurricane Sandy and its aftermath.

Salvatore Volpe MD
Member of the Board of Directors of the Staten Island Heart Society

Additional Links

Crisis Commons
Disaster Assistance
NYC OEM Office of Emergency Management

Staten Island Borough President Molinaro Office

CrisisCommons needs volunteers for Sandy and more

Here is a great organization that can focus your creativity and ingenuity to help respond to problems associated with Natural Disasters like Sandy. SV

CrisisCommons is a global community of volunteers from technology, crisis response organizations, government agencies, and citizens that are working together to build and use technology tools to help respond to disasters and improve resiliency and response before a crisis.

CrisisCommons.org

Thanks to Dr Wen Dombowski for this lead.

https://twitter.com/HealthcareWen/status/264775050945757184

Hurricane Sandy: FEMA link and phone number

My prayers go out to all that have been affected by this and other such cataclysmic events.

It is inspirational to see all the spontaneous volunteer efforts that have started in addition to the Government and established NGOs.

Here is the link and phone number to FEMA resources both local and national.

Share your stories of kindness and generosity with us. 
We could all use a little good news. SV

www.disasterassistance.gov or 1800-621-3362 to register with FEMA, for relief. Those with power outages can register to get a $300 food stamp card to replace lost food.

More helpful links


http://www.governor.ny.gov/storm-resources
www.mfema.gov

Twitter:

#sandy
#sandysafety

EclinicalTouch is available in AppStore !!!!