CIOs must work magic when dealing with enterprise PACS
CIOs don't have to be miracle workers to master enterprise PACS for their institutions,...Read more on AuntMinnie.comRelated Reading: 5 healthcare trends to watch in 2016 The Case for Deconstructed PACS: Proprietary PACS, basic VNAs will be extinct The Case for Reconstructed PACS: It's the functionality that matters CMS chief's comments hint meaningful use may be on life support Data analytics may help prevent patient no-shows for imagingComments: 2/5/2016 7:21:15 AMDoctorDalai Excellent analysis as always, Mike.   I would emphasize that the CIO needs to listen to the needs of the radiologists. Simply...
Source: AuntMinnie.com Headlines - February 5, 2016 Category: Radiology Source Type: news

Avoid meaningful use penalties: Apply for exemption by March 15
Physicians have until March 15 to apply for a hardship exemption from the electronic health record (EHR) meaningful use financial penalties for the 2015 program year. Those who don’t apply could face up to a 3 percent cut in their Medicare payments in 2017 since the meaningful use program operates on a two-year look-back period. The good news is that exemptions will be granted broadly this year.   Everyone should apply The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has stated that it will broadly grant hardship exemptions as a result of the delayed publication of the Stage 2 meaningful use modifications rule, wh...
Source: AMA Wire - February 2, 2016 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Amy Farouk Source Type: news

What EHRs need: Physicians offer solutions at town hall
How can electronic health records (EHR) and regulations be designed to positively affect you in your practice? With the meaningful use program reportedly on the cusp of change, physicians gathered in Seattle for a town hall meeting to discuss both the difficulties and benefits of EHRs while also citing ways that they can be improved. Find out what your colleagues on the West Coast had to say. The meaningful use program has been successful in “forcing the adoption of EHRs … but they weren’t ready for prime time,” said AMA President Steven J. Stack, MD, Tuesday night during the town hall meeting on EHRs at the Swed...
Source: AMA Wire - January 29, 2016 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Troy Parks Source Type: news

Congress OKs Hardship Exemption for Meaningful Use
For doctors unable to meet meaningful use requirements for 2015, Congress has approved a blanket process for those applying for a hardship exemption to avoid having a penalty applied to their Medicare payments in 2017. (Source: Caring for the Ages)
Source: Caring for the Ages - January 29, 2016 Category: Health Management Authors: Gregory Twachtman Source Type: news

Electronic health records market to reach $24B by 2020
The global market for electronic health records will reach $24 billion by the...Read more on AuntMinnie.comRelated Reading: CMS, ONC officials preview new EHR incentive program Ambulatory EHR market continues expansion CMS chief's comments hint meaningful use may be on life support CMS pushes back deadline for imaging decision support Report: Global healthcare IT market poised for growth (Source: AuntMinnie.com Headlines)
Source: AuntMinnie.com Headlines - January 28, 2016 Category: Radiology Source Type: news

The Uncertain Future of Meaningful Use
AAFP Alliance for eHealth Innovation Director Steven Waldren, M.D., says that although CMS plans to end meaningful use, the program's requirements remain in place. (Source: AAFP News)
Source: AAFP News - January 28, 2016 Category: Primary Care Source Type: news

HIT Resource Scarcity Hobbles Rural Providers
Describes a recent study that found rural providers who have not yet met meaningful use standards put their organization and the patients they serve at a disadvantage. Interviews the author of the study who explains the findings. (Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center - January 27, 2016 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

MU Hardship Exception Application Process, Round Two
CMS recently announced approval of a simplified application process for physicians to apply for meaningful use hardship exemptions. (Source: AAFP News)
Source: AAFP News - January 26, 2016 Category: Primary Care Source Type: news

Medicare Program Officials Affirm Meaningful Use Stage Three to Continue Even As the Agency Moves to Implement MACRA’s Value-Based Payment Law
Clarification comes just a week after one CMS official had discussed the end of Meaningful Use at a conference in San Francisco Talk about mixed messages! Is the federal Meaningful Use (MU) program about to end? Or is it going to continue and evolve in significant new ways? Alert pathologists and clinical laboratory executives may […] (Source: Dark Daily)
Source: Dark Daily - January 25, 2016 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: jude Tags: Compliance, Legal, and Malpractice Laboratory Management and Operations Laboratory News Laboratory Operations Laboratory Pathology Laboratory Testing Management & Operations American Hospital Association american medical association Andy Source Type: news

CMS Releases Details on Meaningful Use Hardship Exceptions CMS Releases Details on Meaningful Use Hardship Exceptions
New rules pursuant to a recently enacted law allow physician groups and hospitals with employed physicians to submit single applications for 2017 exceptions. Medscape Medical News (Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines)
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines - January 22, 2016 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Family Medicine/Primary Care News Source Type: news

CMS releases applications, instructions for 2015 meaningful use hardship exemptions
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has released the applications for meaningful use hardship exemptions for 2015. Physicians who qualify for a hardship exemption must apply by March 15; hospitals must apply by April 1 to avoid being penalized in 2017. Exemptions may be granted for... (Source: Skin and Allergy News)
Source: Skin and Allergy News - January 22, 2016 Category: Dermatology Source Type: news

Variation In Rural Health Information Technology Adoption And Use
Examines differences in adoption rates and use of health information technology (HIT) among rural hospitals and providers and shows which physician and practice characteristics were most associated with rural HIT use. Includes statistics on percentages of providers who had achieved meaningful use during 2011-2014, with breakdowns by urban-rural status and by status as participants in Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Records Incentive Programs. (Source: Rural publications via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: Rural publications via the Rural Assistance Center - January 21, 2016 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

A Guide to the MIPS for Practices
The Merit-Based Incentive Payment System will go into effect in about a year. Here is what you have to know. (Source: Physicians Practice)
Source: Physicians Practice - January 21, 2016 Category: Practice Management Authors: Tom S. Lee, Ph.D. Tags: Blog Healthcare Reform Compliance Meaningful Use Source Type: news

Physicians are Happy Meaningful Use is Almost Dead
Meaningful use is not dead, as some have been suggesting. However, it is nearing its end and that fact has many physicians excited. (Source: Physicians Practice)
Source: Physicians Practice - January 21, 2016 Category: Practice Management Authors: Gabriel Perna Tags: Health IT EHR Compliance Meaningful Use Source Type: news

CMS, ONC officials preview new EHR incentive program
Though existing meaningful use regulations still remain in effect, the U.S....Read more on AuntMinnie.comRelated Reading: CMS chief's comments hint meaningful use may be on life support CMS posts meaningful use payment fact sheet AMA recommends changes to meaningful use Medical groups rebel against meaningful use HIT program U.S. government finalizes meaningful use regulations (Source: AuntMinnie.com Headlines)
Source: AuntMinnie.com Headlines - January 21, 2016 Category: Radiology Source Type: news