The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced final regulations meant to support physician adoption of electronic prescribing and electronic health records technology. The rules create new exceptions and safe harbors from two key federal fraud and abuse laws governing the donation of electronic health information technology and services. Read more »
Every American will have health care coverage by 2012 if Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., gets his way, the senator said in a speech. Through his plan, medical coverage would first be expanded to all children; the federal government would defray high-cost health care, helping to keep premiums low; and every American would have access to health care similar to that provided to members of Congress, using tax credits to help make health care affordable for small businesses, the middle class, and people between jobs. Read more »
The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association announced creation of a database of claims filed on behalf of 79 million enrollees—a treasure trove of information that employers working with health plans can use to extract greater value for their health care dollars. Called "Blue Health Intelligence," the database is more than twice the size of the next largest database in the United States, the association said in a press release. Read more »
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that two types of changes to improve the accuracy of Medicare inpatient payments will be launched this fall—contrary to a request by the hospital and medical device industries. CMS said it will phase in the changes, making payments more closely reflect the costs of care and severity of illness, to prevent sharp swings in payment. Read more »
Hispanic and black adults are up to three times as likely to be uninsured as their white counterparts, according to a new report by The Commonwealth Fund. The report finds an estimated 15 million Hispanic adults, or 62 percent, ages 19 to 64 were uninsured at some point during 2005—three times the rate among whites. More than six million, or 33 percent, of blacks experienced a health care gap or were uninsured during 2005. Read more »
The U.S. health care system lags behind other industrialized nations despite providing some of the best health care in the world, but implementing policies to increase quality and access to care could reverse the trend, according to a new report by The Commonwealth Fund. Read more »