MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'health and human services'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:04:55 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5118613&cid=t_373438_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FR7dzspykaNU%2F By Michael F. CannonThe debt deal was none too kind to ObamaCare. Here’s more bad news for this misguided law: Kansas becomes the second state (after Oklahoma) to return to the federal government one of ObamaCare’s lavish “Early Innovator Grants.” Coming from Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius’s home state, that’s gotta hurt. The latest ObamaCare eruption shows the law could cost $50 billion more per year than advertised. If anyone but the government sold you something like this, we’d put them in jail. Many of the same Democrats who said it wasn’t a benefit cut when ObamaCare ratcheted down the price controls that government uses to pay health care providers now say it is a benefit cut when states do that. Kansas Retur... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5118613 Tue, 09 Aug 2011 20:21:48 +0100 5118613 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5077688&cid=t_373438_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fcan-pharmacogenomic-tests-help-to-improve-public-health%2F2011.07.29 Adverse drug events are a serious public health problem. Consider the following facts: an estimated 82% of American adults take at least one medication and 29% take five or more; 700,000 emergency department visits and 120,000 hospitalizations are due to adverse drug events annually; $3.5 billion is spent on extra medical costs of adverse drug events annually; at least 40% of costs associated with adverse drug events occurring outside hospitals can be prevented. How can genomics help? Pharmacogenomics is the study of genetic variation as a factor in drug response, affecting both safety and effectiveness. The intended applications of pharmacogenomics research include identifying responders and non-responders to medications, avoiding adverse events, optimizing drug dose and avoiding unnece... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5077688 Fri, 29 Jul 2011 12:00:10 +0100 5077688 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5077678&cid=t_373438_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2F5hHFowu-r40%2F On June 9, 2011, sanofi-aventis U.S. announced the “sanofi-aventis U.S. Innovation Challenge: Data, Design, Diabetes” at the National Institute of Health’s Health Data Initiative Forum. The challenge, which launched on July 1, integrates open data with a human-centered view into diabetes, and will award $220,000 in total prize money. The challenge is designed for fast learning, so that innovators can create the needed service solutions for people living with diabetes. It brings together the richness of open data sets made available on healthdata.gov, the values of human-centered design, and the leading edge methodology of the top innovation accelerators. Until July 31st, innovators can submit their concepts on www.datadesigndiabetes.com.  In early August, an independent panel of exp... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5077678 Thu, 28 Jul 2011 13:30:17 +0100 5077678 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4975829&cid=t_373438_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FRiV-GAJmBbo%2F By Michael F. CannonHere we have the spectacle of a former Republican Health and Human Services secretary getting rich by helping states implement ObamaCare. Leavitt Partners (among other consultants) is helping states create the law’s health insurance “Exchanges.” Or the non-ObamaCare-compliant health insurance Exchanges that will by law become ObamaCare-compliant Exchanges.  Via Politico: More than $300 million in exchange grants has already flowed into the states since the Affordable Care Act passed. That number will grow exponentially in the coming months, as states move from the initial steps of passing exchange legislation to the more lucrative task of setting them up. For health consultants and information technology vendors, it’s already shaping up to be a gold mine&#8... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4975829 Tue, 28 Jun 2011 15:41:55 +0100 4975829 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4820843&cid=t_373438_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2FiNiaIFEqVdE%2F National Women’s Health Week is a weeklong health observance coordinated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health. It brings together communities, businesses, government, health organizations, and other groups in an effort to promote women’s health. The theme for 2011 is “It’s Your Time.” National Women’s Health Week empowers women to make their health a top priority. It also encourages them to take steps to improve their physical and mental health and lower their risks of certain diseases. Those steps include: Getting at least 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate physical activity, 1 hour and 15 minutes of vigorous physical activity, or a combination of both, each week Eating a nutritious diet Visiting a h... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4820843 Fri, 13 May 2011 13:20:01 +0100 4820843 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4813255&cid=t_373438_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FQDY0pPdVFzs%2F By Michael F. CannonUSA Today reports on a new Obama administration study: On average, uninsured families can pay only about 12% of their hospital bills in full. Families with incomes above 400% of the poverty level, or about $88,000 a year for a family of four, pay about 37% of their hospital bills in full, according to the Department of Health and Human Services study. Oy, where to begin? This is pre-existing conditions all over again.  In the hope of saving ObamaCare from the gallows, the Obama administration is blowing a real but relatively small problem way out of proportion. The best data indicate that the problem of the uninsured not being able to pay their medical bills is real but relatively small.  “Uncompensated care” for the uninsured accounts for just 2.8 percent of he... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4813255 Tue, 10 May 2011 21:59:25 +0100 4813255 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4642588&cid=t_373438_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2FeM2gzPgZi_c%2F Women experience differences in their health care services and outcomes. The fact sheet, Healthcare Quality and Disparities in Women: Selected Findings, summarizes key findings from the National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Reports related to health care for women. Related posts:Update From Haiti: Despair Sets In And Women Consider Suicide The Society for Women’s Health Research: A Case Study of Advocacy for Women Disruptive Women on the Radio…with Real Women on Health (Source: Disruptive Women in Health Care) Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4642588 Mon, 28 Mar 2011 13:42:36 +0100 4642588 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4570545&cid=t_373438_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fa-helpful-vitamin-chart%2F2011.03.10 Lately I’ve been worrying about Kevin’s refusal to eat broccoli, and wondering what exactly is so good about those green bunches of roughage. In browsing the Web for more detailed information on the matter, I found a helpful vitamin chart. This table comes from the HHS–sponsored National Women’s Health Information Center — a good spot to know of if you’re a woman looking online for reliable sources. It’s a bit simple for my taste. In the intro, we’re told there are 13 essential vitamins our bodies need. After some basics on Vitamin A — good for the eyes and skin, as you probably knew already — the chart picks up with a quick review of the essential B vitamins 1, 2 ,3 ,5 ,6 , 9 and 12 (my favorite), followed by a rundown on Vitamins C, D, E, H (that would be biotin) and ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4570545 Thu, 10 Mar 2011 20:00:54 +0100 4570545 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4570531&cid=t_373438_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FBIcjiB8MLAc%2F By Tad DeHavenSpending at the U.S. Department of Agriculture will be an estimated inflation-adjusted 43 percent higher this year compared to just a decade ago. The following chart shows the dramatic rise in USDA spending from fiscal 1970 to the president’s projection for fiscal 2011: Most folks probably think of farm subsidies when they think of the USDA. However, farm programs only account for 19 percent of total USDA outlays. The vast majority of USDA spending, 69 percent, goes to food subsidies: food stamps, school breakfast and lunch programs, and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). In fact, spending on food stamps alone this year will account for roughly half of total USDA spending. Why aren’t these programs housed at the Department ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4570531 Thu, 10 Mar 2011 17:04:19 +0100 4570531 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4512378&cid=t_373438_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FhMJkfU3uRBc%2F By Jim HarperA fascinating enforcement action under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) shows what really matters in the world of privacy regulation. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has imposed a $4.3 million civil penalty against Maryland-based Cignet Health for violations of its regulations. HHS's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) found that Cignet violated 41 patients’ HIPAA rights by denying them access to their medical records, which they requested between September 2008 and October 2009. The penalty for these violations is $1.3 million. But Cigna's real crime was willful disobedience of the government. Who knows why, but according to the government: During the investigations, Cignet refused to respond to OCR’s demands to produce the record... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4512378 Thu, 24 Feb 2011 01:22:02 +0100 4512378 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4013136&cid=t_373438_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FlvM01BF-uZ4%2F By Tad DeHavenIt’s been a tough week for the Department of Health and Human Services. As I discussed earlier, the Government Accountability Office reported on fraud problems with the Child Care and Development Fund program. Another new report from the GAO finds fraud problems with HHS’s Head Start program. GAO investigators attempted to register children from fictitious families in Head Start programs in six states and the District of Columbia. The GAO created 13 fictitious families that earned too much income or possessed other characteristics that would disqualify the children from participating in Head Start. The result is embarrassing: In 8 out of 13 eligibility tests, our families were told they were eligible for the program and instructed to attend class. In all 8 of these cases,... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4013136 Wed, 29 Sep 2010 21:42:26 +0100 4013136 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4013299&cid=t_373438_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Fmilestone-vocabulary-resources The Vocabulary Task Force of the HIT Standards Committee is hard at work specifying the vocabularies and codesets that should be publicly available to accelerate certification and meaningful use efforts. (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4013299 Wed, 29 Sep 2010 19:42:42 +0100 4013299 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3872636&cid=t_373438_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Fprivate-sector-shows-support-meaningful-use Health IT is a team effort. The whole point is to increase communication and coordination among the different players in the health care system. You just can’t go it alone in this field. The good news is that, when you have a solid plan and a worthy objective, lots of talented people want to join the team and contribute to the effort. (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3872636 Mon, 16 Aug 2010 12:59:33 +0100 3872636 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3812975&cid=t_373438_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fdoes-healthcare-reform-involve-research-on-human-subjects%2F2010.08.02 Every time an experiment on human subjects in proposed in our hospital (or any hospital in the United States for that matter), there is an exquisitely sensitive tuning fork that exists to protect human subjects: the investigational review board or “IRB.” Any researcher who has ever brought a research proposal before an IRB knows that any hint of potential harm to a human subject that exists in a research project will kill the proposal faster than you can say “boo.” An IRB submission is required for all research projects using human subjects in accordance with the Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Rights 45 CFR 46, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations 21 CFR 50, 56 , and with the Federalwide Assurance granted by the H.H.S. Office of Human Resea... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3812975 Mon, 02 Aug 2010 22:00:00 +0100 3812975 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3690934&cid=t_373438_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Fare-you-ready-data-breach The handling of data breach incidents has become a way of life for healthcare providers and with other HIPAA covered entities. With the passage of the HITECH Act last year, there are now substantial penalties that can be levied, up to $1.5 million. This fact, combined with a requirement to notify the Department of Health and Human Services as well as the media for data breach incidents that affect over 500 individuals has, for the first time, resulted in public records being kept for such incidents. (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3690934 Wed, 23 Jun 2010 18:49:33 +0100 3690934 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3671840&cid=t_373438_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Fthree-things-you-may-not-know-about-hitech-act-should There has been much discussion around the HITECH Act and what it means since the enactment of ARRA last year.  It is now widely known that the Department of Health and Human Services has issued regulations for breach notification by covered entities under HIPAA. Yet unlike the poor enforcement record of HIPAA regulations, the new HITECH Act provides for substantial financial penalties for failing to comply with these rules.  And we are seeing these penalties are actually starting to be enforced. (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3671840 Wed, 16 Jun 2010 17:21:49 +0100 3671840 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3573685&cid=t_373438_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2FGoydcQ_e7dM%2F By Lynn Shapiro Snyder. Reproduced with permission from BNA’s Health Care Policy Report, 18 HCPR 680 (May 3, 2010). Copyright 2010 by The Bureau of National Affairs, Inc. (800-372-1033) http://www.bna.com Health reform is a process, not an outcome. The health care industry needs to treat Phase II of health reform—–implementation by the Executive Branch—with the same focus and zeal as they did with Phase I—deliberation and passage by the Legislative Branch. It may not be as sexy as Capitol Hill but industry participation in shaping implementation through the Executive Branch could have an even greater impact for industry efforts. Phase II is when the rubber of ‘‘the law’’ meets the road of ‘‘the real world.’’ We are one month into implementation so now is the t... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3573685 Tue, 18 May 2010 11:57:20 +0100 3573685 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3448959&cid=t_373438_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Fpreparing-professionals-nationwide-health-care-transformation I know that health care providers are concerned about implementing new health information technology and finding professionals who can operate and maintain such systems. I know many clinicians are unsure how they will develop or strengthen their skill set to incorporate using health IT efficiently and effectively without jeopardizing their communication with patients during a clinical visit. It seems like a daunting transformation to clinicians themselves and, indeed, for our health care system overall. (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3448959 Wed, 07 Apr 2010 20:36:33 +0100 3448959 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3335297&cid=t_373438_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2Fbbb6egcjhZs%2F Yesterday we encouraged our readers to take part in the live video chat presented by the White House, during which HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Health Reform Director Nancy-Ann DeParle took questions about President Obama’s recent health care reform proposal. Did you watch yesterday’s live chat? If so, what are your thoughts and reactions on what was said? What additional questions do you have for the President as well as the HHS Secretary and the Health Reform Director? Related posts:Watch, Discuss and Engage: HHS Secretary Sebelius & Health Reform Director Nancy-Ann DeParle Reactions from the Web: Tom Daschle for HHS and Health Reform Bailing out Health Care: My Top 10 Priority List for the Next Secretary of HHS (Source: Disruptive Women in Health Care) Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3335297 Fri, 05 Mar 2010 14:15:11 +0100 3335297 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3335298&cid=t_373438_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2FrXGyVX_Jz4A%2F The following post originally appeared on The White House Blog. The Disruptive Women in Health Care blog encourages its readers to take part in the live video chat described below, which will take place today at 3:40 EST. The President has now laid out a path forward for health reform that  puts families and businesses in control of their own health care, reduces costs and the deficit, and incorporates new Republican ideas while still instituting fundamental protections again insurance company abuses.  He opened his remarks saying, “I want to especially recognize two people who have been working tirelessly on that — on this effort, my Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius — as well as our quarterback for health reform out of the White House, Nancy-A... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3335298 Thu, 04 Mar 2010 19:14:46 +0100 3335298 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3327068&cid=t_373438_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Fproposed-rule-establishment-certification-programs-health-information-technology Today the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) outlining the proposed approach for establishing a certification program to test and certify electronic health records (EHRs). The HITECH Act mandates the development of a certification program which will give purchasers and users of EHR technology assurances that the technology and products have the necessary functionality and security to help meet meaningful use criteria. (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3327068 Tue, 02 Mar 2010 21:49:37 +0100 3327068 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3327069&cid=t_373438_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Fproposed-health-it-certification-programs Today the Department of Health and Human Services released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for the Establishment of Certification Programs for Health Information Technology (Health IT). The rule first proposes the creation of a temporary certification program for Electronic Health Records (EHRs) and EHR modules. (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3327069 Tue, 02 Mar 2010 20:45:57 +0100 3327069 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3223323&cid=t_373438_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F01%2F29%2Fobama-rules-for-mental-health-parity-issued%2F Remember the federal legislation passed in late 2008 that requires insurance companies to bring their mental health coverage in parity with their health coverage? Well, technically that law took effect 29 days ago, but the Obama administration got around today to publishing the rules that put the law into effect. The U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor and the Treasury today jointly issued new rules providing parity for consumers enrolled in group health plans who need treatment for mental health or substance use disorders. The rules are a part of the governmental process that implements the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA). First, to be clear, what the new federal law does not cover: Employers with less than ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3223323 Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:54:25 +0100 3223323 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2999778&cid=t_373438_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Flimiting-breast-cancer-screening-is-an-assault-against-women%2F There is no question more women than ever before are surviving breast cancer. This is happening because of early screening and better and more aggressive treatment. So I was absolutely shocked today to hear that the United States Preventive Services Task Force (a committee appointed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) is now recommending that women do not get regular mammograms until their fifties and even then limit screening to every other year. In addition they are suggesting that breast self exams not be taught. ARE THEY CRAZY? There is no way to completely express my feelings about this. I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer at the age of 44, and the tumor was discovered through self breast exam and confirmed through a mammogram. This was only 18 months since a p... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2999778 Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:25:20 +0100 2999778 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2613820&cid=t_373438_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2FtFN8J64JQs0%2F Yesterday I had the opportunity to moderate a fascinating panel: Drug & Food Safety in the Age of Social Media and Transparency. The panel was part of the Driving the Adoption of Health IT Through Innovations in Social Media conference in Washington DC. There were three panels in all. Mine was the second panel. After opening remarks by Craig Stoltz, Founder of Web 2.Oh…Really (and Former Editorial Director, Revolution Health and Former Editor of the Washington Post Health section), we heard from experts on H1N1 Influenza: How Social Media Improves Communication & Collaboration For Public Health. After my panel, we heard from experts (including Disruptive Woman’s March Man of the Month, Dr. Ted Eytan of Kaiser Permanente) on Electronic Health Records: Using Social Media To Driv... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2613820 Fri, 17 Jul 2009 20:26:30 +0100 2613820 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2398872&cid=t_373438_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Fhealth-it-stimulus-and-fqhcs-dont-forget-about-us There is a critical element in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) that targets funds for Federally-Qualified Community Health Centers (FQHCs).  (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2398872 Fri, 08 May 2009 15:48:31 +0100 2398872 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2376318&cid=t_373438_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FEmrAndHipaa%2F%7E3%2F4nUXUUVgnGA%2F Today I came across what someone called a new Health and Human Services (HHS) health information technology (HIT) website. Unfortunately, they didn’t get the same graphic designer and web developer that have been doing such a fine job with the various websites that Obama has been putting up. I find the first page interesting since it has HHS asserting the following: Health information technology (Health IT) allows comprehensive management of medical information and its secure exchange between health care consumers and providers. Broad use of health IT will: Improve health care quality Prevent medical errors Reduce health care costs Increase administrative efficiencies Decrease paperwork Expand access to affordable care Interoperable health IT will improve individual patient ca... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2376318 Tue, 28 Apr 2009 06:50:39 +0100 2376318 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2365187&cid=t_373438_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Fncvhs-examine-meaningful-use As the Department of Health and Human Services attempts to make sense of the stimulus legislation and create a health IT incentive program, the National Council on Vital and Health Statistics is holding a hearing next week on "meaningful use" of health information technology. Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, HHS must define that term before the end of 2009. (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2365187 Fri, 24 Apr 2009 14:54:15 +0100 2365187 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2227097&cid=t_373438_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FEmrAndHipaa%2F%7E3%2FLoatRl0HsSQ%2F An AP report is announcing that Kathleen Sebelius will be announced as Barack Obams’s new nominee for HHS secretary tomorrow. The article says the following about Kathleen Sebelius as HHS secretary: Sebelius, 60, is seen as a steady hand, an experienced public official who knows how to work across political lines. As a former state insurance commissioner, she is unfazed by the complexities of health care and insurance issues. Of course, Sebelius will still have to gain confirmation from the Senate which could be interesting because Sebelius has clashed with abortion opponents in Kansas and the fight might head to Washington. Another delay in the nomination of the HHS secretary could mean even more delays in the HITECH act and EHR adoption. I for one hope that health care doesn’... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2227097 Mon, 02 Mar 2009 09:32:45 +0100 2227097 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2218814&cid=t_373438_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Felephant-middle-room-need-national-patient-identifier The healthcare delivery system is complex in many ways that cannot be simplified.  Human beings present a limitless number of variations to busy clinicians who work under financial constraints to deliver high quality care with technologies and therapies that are constantly changing.  One aspect of healthcare delivery that can be simplified, however, is patient identification.  (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2218814 Thu, 26 Feb 2009 14:38:26 +0100 2218814 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2200357&cid=t_373438_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.emrandhipaa.com%2Femr-and-hipaa%2F2009%2F02%2F20%2Fhitech-act-gives-hhs-2-billion-of-discretionary-funds%2F The HITECH Act gives Health and Human Services (HHS) 90 days to develop a plan to allocate $2 Billion of discretionary funds. Talk about a nice infusion of funding for HHS. HHS does have a set of core areas of focus for the money (per an Allscripts presentation on HITECH). The area of focus that interests me most is the “Regional Health IT Resource Centers.” Seriously, what is a regional health IT resource center? Can any of you imagine a doctor visiting a health IT resource center? I don’t understand how this will work at all. I have a better idea. Why not take a cool million and give it to me? I’ll create a killer online platform for sharing of health care IT resources where people can share information nationally or within their region. Could be a killer applicat... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2200357 Fri, 20 Feb 2009 08:51:52 +0100 2200357 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2200623&cid=t_373438_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2F3PfAqxjTbi8%2F The current Obama administration is putting plenty of attention on HEALTH, and I’m not talking about health care and insurance, although hopefully we’ll have good news on those fronts in the next four years. What I’m talking about are money and heads of offices – two factors that dictate how U.S. research in genetics and health will be conducted and approached in the next four years. This week, when President Obama signed the Economic Recovery Act, the NIH got $10 billion in funds for research, medical education and patient care. Another $19 billion went to a health information technology initiative for creating electronic medical records. In the political front, who is going to replace Daschle as candidate for the Health and Human Services Secretary? The Wall Street Journal writ... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2200623 Fri, 20 Feb 2009 05:49:00 +0100 2200623 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2200360&cid=t_373438_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.emrandhipaa.com%2Femr-and-hipaa%2F2009%2F02%2F19%2Fbig-winners-from-obama-ehr-stimulus-hitech%2F Discussion of Obama EHR Stimulus Today the following videos came across my Twitter feed and...Economic Stimulus Bill Simplified Today, “The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009” was...Effect of Stimulus Package on EHR Adoption The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act’s... (Source: EMR and HIPAA) EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2200360 Thu, 19 Feb 2009 15:19:56 +0100 2200360 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2194743&cid=t_373438_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FEmrAndHipaa%2F%7E3%2FJzSEq35uRhI%2F I predict that “meaningful EHR user” will become the most overused term in EHR and Healthcare IT adoption over the next year.  Since the term seems to be the cornerstone of receiving a part of the $20 billion EMR stimulus package, then I thought it might be a good idea to understand how HHS might define what a “meaningful EHR user” will need to do. Luckily Patricia King, a health care attorney in Illinois, posted the criteria for being a meaningful EHR user on NetDoc as follows. To be a “meaningful EHR user”, the physician must satisfy three criteria: The physician must use “certified EHR technology” in a meaningful manner, including electronic prescribing. The law calls for creation of a health information technology (HIT) Policy Committee... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2194743 Wed, 18 Feb 2009 17:16:07 +0100 2194743 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2178788&cid=t_373438_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Fblog-shared-roadmap-and-vision-health-it Today’s economic crisis has highlighted our need for breakthrough improvements in the quality, safety and efficiency of health care. The nation’s business competitiveness is threatened by growing health care costs, while at the same time our citizens risk losing access to care because of unemployment and the decreasing affordability of coverage. Meanwhile, the quality variations and safety shortfalls in our care system have been well documented. (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2178788 Wed, 11 Feb 2009 12:06:17 +0100 2178788 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2173739&cid=t_373438_113_f&fid=36504&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FMedicalRecordShow%2F%7E3%2FbLlWBlD0xRM%2F He had experience in Washington, and was aggressively lobbying for health care reform. He was clearly pro-medical IT. Most impressive, he emphasized the central role of primary care medicine in repairing our upside down physician reimbursement system. Naturally, he was destined to fail. It’s unclear that it’s time to stop shopping at the “political” store, as Barbara Duck put it, and start shopping at the “smart” store. It’s also not entirely clear why Daschle withdrew, other than having a modicum of fiscal impropriety, less than many. He seemed a pretty “smart” choice to me. I certainly hope that the NY Times is wrong, and that this doesn’t halt the momentum towards healthcare reform we’ve seen these past several weeks. As ... The EMR/EHR Show: Making Your Electronic Medical Records Really Work blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2173739 Sun, 08 Feb 2009 10:43:29 +0100 2173739 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1980900&cid=t_373438_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F_FoQ2GXr8XM%2F I’m on the train to Washington D.C., to attend a meeting of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee, which coordinates efforts concerning autism within the US Department of Health and Human Research. There’s a list of the federal and non-federal members of the IACC here; the committee has been overseeing the writing of the Strategic Plan for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) Research. Over the past year, there have been numerous calls for input from “stakeholders”—from anyone concerned about autism—and other meetings of the IACC and of workgroups concerning various parts of the plan. I went to an IACC meeting just about a year ago and read this statement. While I wrote up and sent in a statement for today’s meeting, there apparently is not spac... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1980900 Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:37:24 +0100 1980900 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1689065&cid=t_373438_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FkbEbbL-9wK0%2F Tomorrow, August 7th, from 11 am to 3 pm EST, there will be a meeting of the Meeting of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) Autism Strategic Plan Implementation Workgroup. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss budgetary requirements for the IACC Strategic Plan for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) Research; workgroup findings will be forwarded to the IACC for consideration and discussion at the next committee meeting on November 21, 2008. You can listen in to the workgroup meeting through a conference call phone number and a web presentation tool on the Internet. Click this link to join the Webinar: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/921061447 [(Please note this information has been corrected, thanks to Regan] Or, call this conference call phone number: (888) 455-2920 ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1689065 Thu, 07 Aug 2008 11:23:41 +0100 1689065 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1607018&cid=t_373438_118_f&fid=36984&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FHealthManagementRx%2F%7E3%2F330860404%2Fis-it-all-in-genes-part-i-us-dhhs.html *Blogger's notes:1. Commentary crossposted @nexthealth.nl.2. This is a long post. To skip the running panel transcript, scroll down the page for thoughts on the current state of consumer-direct genomics and where the sector may be headed. Matthew Holt is up next at the Ronald Reagan International Center in DC (July 6, 2008), where the US DHHS has arranged today’s “Understanding the Needs of Consumers in the Use of Genome-based Health Information Services” workshop. Michael Cowan, Bearing Point and former Navy Surgeon General – opens the panel with a bang, comparing the healthcare sea change taking place courtesy of genomic advances to the recent release of Manhattan Project data. This area of medical investigation is high-impact, no doubt about it. To Matthew’s left on... Health Management Rx blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1607018 Wed, 09 Jul 2008 14:53:00 +0100 1607018 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1469547&cid=t_373438_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.emrandhipaa.com%2Femr-and-hipaa%2F2008%2F05%2F26%2Fhhs-secretary-mike-leavitt-blogs-about-ehr-adoption%2F Today I came across the HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt’s blog. To be honest, I saw Mike Leavitt’s picture on the blog and I felt like I was meeting an old friend. No, I don’t really know Mike Leavitt from the next person on the street. We have never met before and the closest I’ve been to him is probably when I watched him pass by in numerous 24th of July parades in Utah. However, he was the governor of Utah for many of the years I lived in Utah and so I feel like I kind of know the man. Reminiscing aside, I find Mike Leavitt’s blog completely captivating. He currently has been writing about his trip to China. For some reason I’ve always had an inner itch whenever I heard about China. I don’t know what it is, but I find the place completely fascinating... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1469547 Tue, 27 May 2008 07:20:28 +0100 1469547 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=979242&cid=t_373438_134_f&fid=35152&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsstrumello.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F10%2Finsulin-vials-topped-with-rubber.html What do you all think of this ad?It's powerful, but don't expect to see it run, as this ad was shelved in favor of a less effective ad that ran for a very short time (see below for that ad).Apparently this was a concept ad that was proposed to the Department of Health and Human Services in an attempt to raise the nation's historically low rate of breast-feeding. A few years ago, federal health officials commissioned an attention-grabbing ad campaign to try and convince mothers that their babies faced genuine health risks if they did not breast-feed. The campaign featured striking photos of not only insulin vials and syringes, but also asthma inhalers topped with rubber nipples (see BrandWeekNRx.com for all of the pictures).But this ad, along with several others, were apparently caught up i... Scott's Web Log blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=979242 Thu, 25 Oct 2007 18:30:00 +0100 979242 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=612149&cid=t_373438_133_f&fid=35452&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.graphictruth.com%2F2007%2F05%2Fusual-hiring-practices.html Another phony crony is revealed;The former head of the federal agency overseeing family planning programs misled the public about his qualifications and background, a RAW STORY investigation has found. Appointed by President George W. Bush in late 2006 as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Population Affairs at the Department of Health and Human Services, Dr. Eric J. Keroack resigned unexpectedly in March of this year after Massachusetts officials launched a formal investigation into allegations of Medicaid fraud during his tenure in private practice. The Raw Story | Heckuva job? Bush Administration vaunted bogus credentials for birth control czar, records showAnother HHS spokesperson, Rebecca Ayer, said that HHS had never had an official biography for Dr. Keroack, but provided assurances ... Graphictruth blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=612149 Wed, 16 May 2007 04:00:00 +0100 612149