Headlines about "Technology"

Gathered from the web by the editors at BenefitsLink.com.
[Official Guidance] Text of IRS/DOL/HHS Request for Information on Sections 101 - 104 of Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008
December 9 deadline for comments. Excerpt: "1. To what extent do group health plans and health insurance issuers currently use genetic information, such as family medical history, and for what purposes? For example, is genetic information currently used for group rating purposes, or for purposes of a wellness program that otherwise complies with HIPAA's nondiscrimination requirements? 2. How do plans and issuers currently obtain genetic information (for example, through health risk assessments, the Medical Information Bureau, or other entities under common control)? 3. Under what circumstances do plans or issuers currently request or require an individual to take a genetic test? 4. Under what circumstances do plans or issuers currently ask for the results of a genetic test in order to make a determination regarding payment of benefits? What is the minimum amount of information necessary for a plan or issuer to make a determination under such circumstances? 5. What types of research do plans or issuers currently conduct or support using genetic tests?" (Internal Revenue Service; Employee Benefits Security Administration; Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services)

Debit Cards Advance Cash for Health Bills
Excerpt: "Financial investment firm Edward Jones helps employees pay unexpected medical bills by advancing cash interest-free from future paychecks. The plan helps calm employees' fears of not being able to pay for high deductibles." (Workforce Management; free registration required)

Commission Certifies 10 EHR Products Based on New 2008 Criteria
Excerpt: "This week, the Certification Commission for Health IT certified 10 ambulatory care electronic health record products based on its new 2008 criteria, Health Data Management reports. . . . CCHIT officials said criteria and testing were updated to provide better assurance to physicians that the products will meet their functionality, interoperability and security needs (Manos, Healthcare IT News, 9/30)." (California HealthCare Foundation)

Wal-Mart Offers Employees Personal Health Records
Excerpt: "Wal-Mart is offering some of its employees personal health records using technology from WebMD Health and Dossia, an employer coalition, Health Data Management reports. Wal-Mart is one of eight companies involved in Dossia. Employees who qualify through health insurance through Wal-Mart are eligible for the program." (California HealthCare Foundation)

Report Anticipates Cost Savings from Online Health Care Services
Excerpt: "Replacing some medical encounters with online services could yield $6.95 in monthly savings per Medicare beneficiary and $3.36 per member of commercial health plans, according to a study released on Thursday by the actuarial firm Milliman, Government Technology reports." (California HealthCare Foundation)

States Should Seek To Encourage Adoption of Health Care Information Technology, Report Recommends
Excerpt: "States should coordinate with health care providers, industry and the federal government to expand adoption of health care information technology, according to a report released on Tuesday by the State Alliance for E-Health, a panel established by the National Governors Association, CongressDaily reports." (Kaiser Family Foundation)

Announcement of the 21st Meeting of the American Health Information Community Quality Workgroup
Excerpt: "The Workgroup will continue its discussion on how health information technology can provide the data needed for the development of quality measures that are useful to patients and others in the health care industry, automate the measurement and reporting of a comprehensive current and future set of quality measures, and accelerate the use of clinical decision support that can improve performance on those quality measures." (Federal Register Online via GPO Access)

Announcement of the 22nd meeting of the American Health Information Community Confidentiality, Privacy, & Security Workgroup
Excerpt: "The Workgroup Members will continue discussing and evaluating the confidentiality, privacy, and security protections and requirements for participants in electronic health information exchange environments. The meeting will be available via Web cast. For additional information, go to: http://www.hhs.gov/healthit/ahic/cps_instruct.html." (Federal Register Online via GPO Access)

Trends and Innovations in Health Information Technology: An Update from America's Health Insurance Plans (PDF)
16 pages. Excerpt: "In the process of building an interconnected health care system, health plans are implementing online health tools that are increasingly interactive and tailored to the needs of consumers and physicians. To explore these trends in health IT, AHIP conducted phone interviews with chief information officers and other health IT leaders at eight member health plans. In addition, we gathered information from member companies that participated in an AHIP health innovations event . . . ." (America's Health Insurance Plans)

Research Teams Unveil Personal Health Record Application Prototypes
Excerpt: "[A] $5 million Robert Wood Johnson Foundation program unveiled nine prototype applications for personal health records . . . . The research teams participating in the Project HealthDesign initiative will publish details about their findings and work to implement their PHR applications in the clinical practices connected to their institutions." (California HealthCare Foundation)

[Guidance Overview] Proposed Updates to HIPAA Electronic Data Interchange Rules
Excerpt: "The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has proposed updates1 to the electronic data interchange (EDI) transaction standards and medical data code set rules of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA),2 which were last modified in 2003. Health plans engaging in HIPAA standard transactions have been required to use the current standards and code sets since October 2003. This Capital Checkup discusses the proposed updates. Comments on the proposal are due to HHS no later than October 21, 2008." (The Segal Group, Inc.)

Google Health Presentation on Electronic Medical Records (PDF)
23 pages. Power point slides that explain what technology can do to increase value in the health care market. (Councial for Affordable Health Insurance)

Health Information Technology: HHS Has Taken Important Steps to Address Privacy Principles and Challenges, Although More Work Remains (PDF)
27 pages. Excerpt: "[In January 2007] GAO recommended that HHS define and implement an overall privacy approach for protecting [personal health information exchanged within a nationwide health information network]. For this report, GAO was asked to provide an update on HHS's efforts to address the January 2007 recommendation. To do so, GAO analyzed relevant HHS documents that described the department's privacy-related health IT activities." (U.S. Government Accountability Office)

Tennessee Insurer Launches Online Doctor Comparison Tool
Excerpt: "On Monday, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee launched an online tool that will provide about two million Tennessee members with physician cost and quality information . . . . The Web site, based on physicians' insurance claims data, offers consumers information on doctors' compliance with eight performance measures, such as regular eye screenings for patients with diabetes and annual Pap tests for women. The online tool also includes physician cost information (Bregel, Chattanooga Times Free Press, 9/16)." (California HealthCare Foundation)

Credible Tools Lacking for Health Care Cost and Quality 'Transparency'
Excerpt: "[R]esearchers studied health care plans' progress in providing information on hospital and physician cost and quality to consumers to help them make cost-effective provider choices. As plan sponsors push consumers to assume greater responsibility for health care treatment costs through higher deductibles, coinsurance, and other out-of-pocket dollars, cost and quality transparency has become another major competitive tool for health care plans." (Wolters Kluwer)

[Guidance Overview] PBGC E-Filing Webcasts Are Scheduled
Excerpt: "As a result of the Pension Protection Act of 2006 and changes in PBGC regulations, all plans are required to make their premium filings electronically unless an exemption is obtained. For plan years beginning in 2008, previous Form 1-EZ, Form 1 and Schedule A are replaced with a new Comprehensive Filing. The earliest Comprehensive Filing due date for 2008 calendar year plans is October 15. PBGC has scheduled two Webcasts – on September 23 & 25 – to provide instruction on the e-filing process. Registration is available on the PBGC website (www.pbgc.gov)." (Deloitte via BenefitsLink.com)

Rep. Stark Introduces Electronic Health Records Bill That Includes Incentives, Penalties for Providers
Excerpt: "House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee Chair Pete Stark (D-Calif.) on Monday introduced a bill (HR 6898) that would use Medicare payments to encourage health care providers to adopt health information technology systems, CQ Today reports. The bill would offer payment incentives to physicians who are early adopters of health IT, such as electronic health records, and impose penalties on providers that delay implementation or fail to switch to the technology (Armstrong, CQ Today, 9/15)." (Kaiser Family Foundation)

[Guidance Overview] IRS Delays Effective Date of Guidance on Using Smartcards or Debit Cards for Mass Transit Benefits until January 1, 2010
Excerpt: "The IRS cited ongoing 'technology barriers to achieving compatibility with the requirements for vouchers' as its reason for extending the effective date a second time." (Deloitte via BenefitsLink.com)

SEC Issues 401(k) Debit Card Precautions
Excerpt: "The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has posted on its website a brief list of precautions regarding 401(k) debit cards." (Wolters Kluwer)

Rep. Stark Prepared to Introduce Legislation This Week to Spur Nationwide Adoption of Electronic Health Records
Excerpt: "House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee Chair Pete Stark (D-Calif.) this week plans to introduce a bill intended to encourage nationwide adoption of electronic health record technology that will include a provision to impose penalties on health care providers who fail to do so, CQ Today reports." (Kaiser Family Foundation)

Trade Groups Comment on Fee Disclosure Proposal
Excerpt: "The ERISA Industry Committee (ERIC), Investiment Company Institute (ICI), and the SPARK Institute all gave the Department of Labor (DoL) opinions on its recent fee disclosure proposal." (planadvisor)

[Opinion] Investment Company Institute Comment Letter on Participant Fee Disclosure Proposal
Excerpt: "The Department should enhance the ability of plans to use electronic delivery and web-based disclosure. Although the proposal contemplates the use of a website for layered disclosure, it otherwise simply incorporates the Department's current electronic disclosure rules. Benefits of the layered approach to disclosure in the proposal can best be realized if the Department updates its electronic disclosure rules." (Investment Company Institute)

[Guidance Overview] SEC Warns Investors About Pitfalls of Using 401(k) Debit Cards
Excerpt: "EBIA Comment: While SEC guidance generally is outside the scope of the EBIA Weekly, we are covering this alert because of the important information it provides for plan sponsors and advisors that might be considering 401(k) debit cards for plan participants. We note that these debit cards could dramatically increase both the demand for and the actual number of plan loans. We are not aware of any recent IRS or DOL actions or guidance on debit cards . . . ." (Employee Benefits Institute of America)

IRS's Notice Delaying Effective Date of Smartcard Guidance for Transportation Benefits
Excerpt: "The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has released Notice 2008-74, delaying the effective date of Revenue Ruling 2006-57 which provides guidance to employers on the use of smartcards, debit, or credit cards, or other electronic media to provide qualified transportation fringes under sections 132(a)(5) and (f) of the Code." (International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans)

[Guidance Overview] Privacy of Genetic Information and GINA in an Electronic Health Information Age: Issues for Employers
Excerpt: "[The Genetic Information Non-discrimination Act] does not go into effect until November 2009. This gives employers plenty of time to review their policies and procedures to make sure they are ready and in compliance. In most cases, this will not be a difficult or burdensome process. Employers should use the [check list on the target page] to ensure GINA compliance . . . ." (Nixon Peabody LLP)

HIPAA Update: HHS Proposes Adoption of ICD-10 Code Sets and Updated Electronic Transaction Standards
Excerpt: "The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has released a long-awaited proposed regulation that would replace the ICD-9-CM code sets now used to report health care diagnoses and procedures with greatly expanded ICD-10 code sets, effective Oct. 1, 2011. In a separate proposed regulation, HHS has proposed adopting the updated X12 standard, Version 5010, and the National Council for Prescription Drug Programs standard, Version D.0, for electronic transactions, such as health care claims. Version 5010 is essential to use of the ICD-10 codes." (International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans)

[Official Guidance] Text of IRS Notice 2008-74: Extension of Time for Transit Systems to Comply with Voucher Requirements (PDF)
2 pages. Excerpt: "The purpose of this notice is to delay the effective date of Revenue Ruling 2006-57 [which] provides guidance to employers on the use of smartcards, debit or credit cards, or other electronic media to provide qualified transportation fringes under Internal Revenue Code §§ 132(a)(5) and 132(f). . . . [T]he ruling's effective date is . . . delayed until January 1, 2010. Nevertheless, employers and employees may rely on Revenue Ruling 2006-57 with respect to transactions occurring prior to January 1, 2010." (Internal Revenue Service)

[Guidance Overview] HHS Proposes That Electronic Transaction Standards and Updated Code Sets Be in Place Between 2010 and 2011
Excerpt: "EBIA Comment: The electronic transaction standards and code sets, part of HIPAA's administrative simplification provisions, contain rules that must be followed when health plans, other covered entities, and their business associates conduct HIPAA-covered electronic transactions. It can be expected that updates and additions to these transaction standards and code sets will occur periodically as they (and related computer technology) are improved or modified to accommodate changes in the health care and health plan areas." (Employee Benefits Institute of America)

[Guidance Overview] CMS Taking Steps to Implement New Medicare Secondary Payer Reporting Requirements
Excerpt: "The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has set up a Web site to facilitate implementation of new mandatory reporting requirements relating to the Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) rules for group health plans. The CMS Web site can be accessed at www.cms.hhs.gov/MandatoryInsRep. The new reporting requirements will be implemented on January 1, 2009, and the CMS's Web site will be a 'one-stop shop' for all relevant implementation and compliance materials." (Deloitte)

[Guidance Overview] CMS Publishes Summary of Proposed Mandatory Insurer Reporting Requirements
Excerpt: "The MMSEA . . . created new Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) data–reporting requirements. Starting January 1, 2009, the new MSP data–reporting requirements will require insurers, TPAs and a plan administrator or fiduciary of a self–insured/self–administered group health plan to: [i] Collect from the plan sponsor and plan participants information to identify situations where the group health plan is primary to Medicare, and [ii] Submit such information to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in a form and manner specified by HHS." (Sibson)

Colorado to Create Largest Telehealth Network Nationwide
Excerpt: "The Colorado Hospital Association will use a Federal Communications Commission grant worth up to $4.6 million over three years to develop a telehealth network throughout Colorado, Healthcare IT News reports. The Colorado telehealth network, which is set to be the largest health care information network in the U.S., aims to curb health care costs, increase consumers' convenience and reduce potential medical errors." (California HealthCare Foundation)

Health Information Technology: Standards Alone Will Not Lead to Adoption, Let Alone Transform Health Care (PDF)
8 pages. Excerpt: "Proponents of health IT must resist 'magical thinking,' such as the notion that technology will transform our broken system, absent integrated work on policy or incentives. The alternative route to transforming the system sets all of its sights on the destination." (Health Affairs)

WellNet Launches Online Social Networking Program for Health Care Coordination
Excerpt: "WellNet Healthcare this month will launch a test version of Point to Point Healthcare, a social network linking users' physicians, pharmacists and insurance benefit managers, the Washington Post reports. The online tool will allow employees of companies who use the program to connect their health care providers to facilitate treatments." (Kaiser Family Foundation)

Online Avators Enhance Benefits Communication
Excerpt: "No longer just for video games, avatars -- computer-generated characters -- now can be integrated into employers' benefits communications programs to ensure consistent, user-friendly messaging 24/7. Sound like an alternate reality? It is -- virtual reality." (Employee Benefit News; free registration required)

[Guidance Overview] IRS Issues New Guidance on HSAs (Part III of Guidance Overview)
Excerpt: "The IRS recently issued Notice 2008-59 and proposed regulations to address a variety of open questions about health savings accounts, or 'HSAs.' This is the third in a series of articles on aspects of the guidance which are of particular interest to employers. The focus of this article is on permitting HSA account owners to access their funds with debit cards that permit payments only for health care." (Employee Benefits Institute of America (EBIA))

Wired for Health Care Quality Act (S. 1693), Senate Floor Version (PDF)
93 pages. Excerpt: "To enhance the adoption of a nationwide interoperable health information technology system and to improve the quality and reduce the costs of health care in the United States." (U.S. Senate via American Benefits Council)

Minnesota Gov. Discusses Plan to Improve Consumers' Access to Health Information
Excerpt: "Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) on Tuesday unveiled a plan to allow all Minnesotans to access their personal health records and compare prescription and procedure costs online, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports . . . ." (Kaiser Family Foundation)

Hearing on Promoting the Adoption and Use of Health Information Technology, Thursday, July 24, 2008
The target page presents the witness list with links to their testimony. (U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Health)

Testimony: Evidence on the Costs and Benefits of Health Information Technology (PDF)
40 pages. CBO July 24, 2008, Testimony before the Subcommittee on Health, Committee on Ways and Means, U.S. House of Representatives. This statement reprises the Congressional Budget Office's May 2008 report 'Evidence on the Costs and Benefits of Health Information Technology." (U.S. Congressional Budget Office)

Health Officials Back the Move Away from Handwritten Doctors' Prescriptions
Excerpt: "The widespread adoption of electronic prescribing is expected to save taxpayers as much as $156 million over the next five years and save lives, Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt said Monday." (AP via Chicago Tribune)

Testimony: The Potential Benefits and Costs of Increased Adoption of Health Information Technology (PDF)
9 pages. Testimony presented before the Senate Finance Committee on July 17, 2008. Excerpt: "In this testimony, I will use HIT to include an electronic medical record that replaces the paper medical record and includes such associated functions as clinical decision support for facilitating evidence-based medicine, patient tracking and reminders for preventative services, computerized physician order entry to facilitate prescribing and other physician orders, and electronic connectivity of providers (and, in some cases, among providers and patients)." (RAND Corporation)

CMS Officials Provide Informal Views on HIPAA Security Issues
Excerpt: "The Joint Committee on Employee Benefits (JCEB) of the American Bar Association has reported on its May 5, 2008 Q&A session with officials from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)." (Employee Benefits Institute of America)

PHR Vendors Begin Marketing to Employers and Insurers, According to Study
Excerpt: "Personal health record vendors have begun marketing their products to employers and insurers, rather than consumers, in the hopes of expanding PHR adoption, according to a recent study by Chilmark Research, an industry analyst, the American Medical News reports." (California HealthCare Foundation)

''Patient-Controlled Health IT Act'' (PDF)
Excerpt: "To establish a demonstration program to provide financial incentives to encourage the adoption and use of interactive personal health records and to encourage health information exchange networks to link clinical data to such personal health records.'''Patient-Controlled (U.S. House of Representatives via American Benefits Council)

Federal Thrift Savings Plan Moves Forward on Spousal Benefits and IT Modernization
Excerpt: "The Thrift Savings Plan is on track to undergo a major technology modernization and is moving forward with efforts to allow spousal beneficiaries to keep funds in the TSP. But changes to the plan's offerings and the enrollment process were the subject of debate at the first joint meeting of the Employee Thrift Advisory Council and the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board on Monday." (GovernmentExecutive.com)

Medication Managers and Drug Stores Merge Networks
Excerpt: "The drug store and pharmacy benefit management industries on Tuesday will announce a combination of their information systems in order to boost electronic prescribing by physicians." (AP via The New York Times; free registration required)

New York Times Letters to the Editor Discuss Editorial Supporting Nationwide Adoption of Electronic Health Records
Excerpt: "The New York Times on Monday published several letters to the editor responding to a June 24 editorial about the need for nationwide adoption of electronic health records." (Kaiser Family Foundation)

New Standards for Digital Medical Record Released
Excerpt: "A coalition of employers, health insurers and health care providers released a set of policy and technical guidelines that they say makes storing personal health records online easier and more secure." (Workforce Management; free registration required)

Baltimore Sun Examines Google, Microsoft Personal Health Record Systems
Excerpt: "The Baltimore Sun on Thursday examined 'two of the most-likely-to-be-huge' personal health records services: Google Health and Microsoft's Health Vault. According to the Sun, some experts believe that within four years PHRs 'will be ubiquitous,' and people will be able to 'store information in one digital location, and then share it with whomever [they] choose.'" (Kaiser Family Foundation)

Microsoft, Google and Others Agree to Electronic Health Records Standard
Excerpt: "In a move designed to prompt more people to store their medical records online, Microsoft ( NSDQ: MSFT), Google ( NSDQ: GOOG) and several others have agreed on privacy standards to protect patients' information. The list includes WebMD ( NSDQ: WBMD), MedicAlert, AARP,Consumer Reportspublisher Consumers Union, BlueCross BlueShield, and other insurers." (paidContent.org via The Washington Post; free registration required)

Summary of the Protecting Records, Optimizing Treatment, and Easing Communication through Healthcare Technology Act of 2008 (PDF)
6 pages. Excerpt: "To amend the Public Health Service Act to promote the adoption of health information technology, and for other purposes." (American Benefits Council)

Reps. Barton, Dingell To Introduce Legislation That Aims To Spur Nationwide Adoption of Electronic Health Records
Excerpt: "According to CongressDaily, the lawmakers last month released a draft of the legislation that 'generated a torrent of comments from the health care, high-tech and consumer advocacy communities,' many of which focused on patient privacy concerns. In response to those concerns, the lawmakers clarified the definition of a security 'breach' and increased patient privacy protections in the bill." (Kaiser Family Foundation)

[Opinion] Our Pen-and-Paper Doctors
Excerpt: "With electronic health records seen widely as a way to make medical care better and possibly cheaper, it is disturbing how slowly they are being adopted by American physicians. If this country does not accelerate the conversion from paper to modern technologies, many of the gauzy promises of health care reform made by politicians and health planners will become irrelevant." (The New York Times; free registration required)

USA Today Examines Online Second-Opinion Services
Excerpt: "'A limiting factor' in the use of online second-opinion services is that most health insurers do not cover such consultations, USA Today reports. However, Cigna Medical Director Lyndon Laminack in April announced that the company will become the first major insurance provider to cover the service. In July, Cigna will begin a two-year trial offering remote second opinions to select patients through e-Cleveland Clinic . . . ." (Kaiser Family Foundation)

CBO Director Says Health IT Holds Promise, But No Panacea for Health Care Costs
Excerpt: "Health information technology could improve health care quality, but it is not the cure-all solution to reducing U.S. health care costs, Congressional Budget Office Director Peter Orszag said at a forum on Friday, CQ HealthBeat reports." (Kaiser Family Foundation)

High Costs Keep Doctors from Switching to Electronic Records, According to Survey
Excerpt: "The survey, appearing in Wednesday's online edition of the New England Journal of Medicine, found that only 4% of U.S. physicians use comprehensive systems of electronic health records. These include key patient safety features, such as prompts when a medication may react badly with another drug the patient is already taking." (USA TODAY)

[Opinion] 'I Think I See a Few Dollars on That X-Ray: We'll have to Operate'
Excerpt: "As a primary care doctor, I live with one foot in the horse and buggy era and one in the silicon age. I spend most of my time talking to patients and wielding a stethoscope, and I also use the latest high tech gadgets. But the gadgetry is getting out of hand; its overuse threatens patients and is blowing the lid off health care costs." (David Himmelstein via Physicians for a National Health Program)

Insurer Partners With Google on Health Records
Excerpt: "Google and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts are partnering to allow plan members to create online personal health records with Google Health. The Boston-based health insurer's members will be able to download claims data into a personal health record hosted by Google Health." (Workforce Management; free registration required)

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts To Become First Insurer To Participate in Google Health
Excerpt: "Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts on Thursday announced that it will be the first insurer to participate in Google Health, an online personal health record service, the AP/Boston Herald reports. The insurer said it expects to begin offering the no-cost service to its three million members this fall." (Kaiser Family Foundation)

Use of Electronic Personal Health Records Could Increase Substantially
Excerpt: "Many employers have been skeptical about the value of personal health records, saying employees are concerned about privacy and likely won't take the time to maintain the records. But with companies such as Google rolling out its Google Health PHR and Microsoft Corp. launching a similar product, which so far is limited to its business partners, experts say the concept may take off." (Workforce Management; free registration required)

The links shown above have been gathered from the web by the editors at BenefitsLink.com. Each article's publisher is shown above in parentheses. Opinions expressed in each article are those of the article's publisher, not necessarily those of BenefitsLink.com, Inc. or any web site that displays these headlines in a "frame." You should contact the listed publisher for copyright information about any particular article or to inquire into the right to use the article in any manner.