payers news from FierceHealthIT

When it comes to EMRs, big healthcare organizations have a big, nasty problem on their hands. The problem? While they pretty much have to invest in an EMR system to stay competitive, by most IT Read more...

It looks like momentum is growing for Medicare to require physicians to use e-prescribing. The most recent push in that direction came from public-private advisory group American Health Information Read more...

Since launching three and a half years ago, more than 10.8 million e-prescriptions have been transmitted over Massachusetts' payer-backed e-network. During the past six months alone, says eRX Read more...

Minnesota providers and insurers will soon become the first in the United States required to file all claims electronically. A new law, which takes effect in 2009, includes all business-to-business transactions, as well as transactions between providers, insurers and the state.

The law also impacts worker's comp claims, chiropractic, dental and pharmacy claims and medical care claims filed through auto insurance plans. Insurers and providers will be required to follow a standard …

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In theory, payers include smart use of technology in their standards for handing out pay-for-performance bonuses. In reality, however, they aren't paying that much attention to IT adoption, according to a new study by analyst firm Health Industry Insights. The study, which surveyed 57 U.S. health plans with P4P programs planned or underway, found that when provided with a list of seven factors needed for P4P success, payers ranked physician IT adoption near the bottom, at …

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All U.S. physicians should have free online access to electronic prescribing technology before the end of the month, courtesy of a new initiative from various tech firms, health insurers and major physician groups. The $100 million National E-Prescribing Patient Safety Initiative (NEPSI) launched last week with a Washington press conference attended by what one speaker called a "who's who of technology across the United States."

Electronic health records vendor Allscripts is …

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With all the hype surrounding pay-for-performance and other value-based reimbursement, nobody has come up with a fail-safe means for healthcare purchasers and payers to quantify the benefits. The Leapfrog Group, the group of large employers hoping to raise healthcare quality through greater accountability, figured it was time to take a stab. The result is the ROI Estimator, an online companion to the Leapfrog Hospital Rewards Program that is meant to figure clinical and financial return …

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Like it or not, if you've got a role in healthcare IT, you also probably have a hand in your organization's Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliance responsibilities. Been ducking those responsibilities? You're not alone.

The deadline for complying with HIPAA security regulations was April 1, and 74 percent of payer-respondents in a recent survey …

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