As 2018 comes to a close, we are looking at how CAST members can succeed in value-based payment models, at a focus on interoperability at the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) annual meeting, and at a new ONC data brief on electronic health records (EHR) adoption at home health agencies and skilled nursing facilities. We tell you how to comment on draft guidance intended to streamline the use of EHRs and other health IT and about technology that keeping older adults safe and independent. Read on, and enjoy your holiday season!
CAST Commissioners Discuss Success Factors for Value-Based Payment
Those who attended the bi-annual CAST Commissioners meeting learned about eight factors that help value-based payment models succeed, as well as an excellent case study in Oklahoma.
Keynote speaker David Kendrick, MD, MPH, FACP, founder and CEO of MyHealth Access Network, Inc., explained how this nonprofit network of payers and providers formed, how it provides trusted third-party quality measures, and how it offers promise for LTPAC providers. A health information exchange, it connects clinical and claims information from more than 300 organizations—within and outside of Oklahoma—into one master chart for the patient.
We also shared recent CAST accomplishments and 2019 goals for LeadingAge and CAST at the meeting, held on Oct. 27, 2018, in conjunction with the 2018 LeadingAge Annual Meeting & EXPO in Philadelphia, PA.
At the end of the meeting, CAST proposed to focus its efforts in 2019 on developing a portfolio of tools to help LeadingAge members and other care providers select health information exchange entities, networks, and service providers based on location, service area, services, integrations with electronic health records (EHRs) and application program interfaces (APIs) for EHRs. If you’re interested in participating in the workgroup, please contact Scott Code. Alternatively, if you have suggestion for a new or different CAST tool, please review CAST’s Safety Technology Selection Tool, and complete the five-minute survey to share your feedback and suggestions.
Please see our CAST Commissioners meeting summary for more information.
ONC Meeting Centers on Interoperability
Health information technology (IT) interoperability was a theme at the ONC’s annual meeting. The ONC has released the first version of the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement, to bridge the gap between provider and patient information systems and enable interoperability across disparate health information networks. It also is preparing a notice of proposed rulemaking related to information blocking, application programming interfaces “without special effort,” and conditions for health IT certification. Several speakers addressed the roles they believe the public and private sectors should play in advancing interoperability, as well as current initiatives.
At the meeting, EHRIntelligence.com spoke with Executive Director of the Office of Technology Steve Posnack about how federal entities and private sector stakeholders are working to promote health data exchange and EHR use in behavioral and mental healthcare settings.
ONC Report Examines Use of EHRs
More home health agencies than skilled nursing facilities have adopted EHRs, says a new ONC data brief. Both types of organizations were found more likely to engage in other interoperability domains than to integrate the patient health information they received from outside facilities. The data brief outlined two important building blocks to advancing health information exchange:
- Implementing federal policies such as the IMPACT Act and
- Making interoperability standards for standardized patient assessment data available through resources such as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Data Element Library 1.
HHS Releases Draft Guidance to Ease Use of EHRs
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is seeking comments on draft guidance intended to streamline the use of EHRs and other health IT. The recommendations in Strategy on Reducing Regulatory and Administrative Burden Relating to the Use of Health IT and EHRs are intended to allow physicians and other clinicians to provide effective patient care, with a renewed sense of satisfaction. You may comment on the draft through Jan. 28, 2019. LeadingAge and CAST plan to submit comments.
Cybersecurity Is Health IT Executives’ Top Concern for 2019
Cybersecurity, telehealth, and interoperability top the list of healthcare IT executives’ concerns for 2019, new research has found. Top of Mind for Top Health Systems 2019 surveyed C-suite IT executives in 38 health systems.
Among the findings: Most executives plan to increase cybersecurity spending in 2019, say a lack of reimbursement is the greatest barrier to telehealth adoption, and are concerned about Big Tech companies such as Apple, Amazon, and Google entering the healthcare space.
New Tech Supports Safety and Freedom
A recent article in McKnight’s Senior Living discusses how technology is giving older adults both independence and security. I shared thoughts on the topic and on our new CAST Safety Technology Selection Tool.
The article also included valuable insights from LeadingAge CAST Supporter Philips Aging & Caregiving and CAST Business Associates STANLEY Healthcare and Status Solutions, naming the technologies they see transforming residents’ lives.
CAST Member News
This month in member news, CAST Business Associate CareWorks announces a merger, and American HealthTech, CareWorx, MatrixCare, Netsmart, and PointClickCare are featured in an article discussing skilled nursing partnerships.
Feel Free to Contact Me
If you have news to share with CAST or if I can be of assistance in any way, please don’t hesitate to contact me. In the meantime, I wish you a Merry Christmas, and a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous 2019.