Why It’s Okay That EHR Adoption Will Fall Behind 2011 Goals
2011 will be a disappointing year for CMS as few doctors and hospitals are expected to meet the objectives set for the “meaningful use” of certified EHR technology. But, according to a guest columnist, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Mostashari Supports Delay for Next Stage of Meaningful Use
At a Health IT Policy Committee meeting on Wednesday, July 6, National Coordinator for Health IT Farzad Mostashari said he supports delaying by one year Stage 2 of the meaningful use program for health care providers attesting to meeting Stage 1 criteria this year.
CMS Proposes Policy Changes and Payment Updates for Dialysis Facilities in 2012
CMS today issued a proposed rule that would update Medicare policies and payment rates for 5,304 dialysis facilities paid under a new bundled Prospective Payment System (PPS) that was implemented in 2011. The updates include requirements that would strengthen incentives to improve ESRD treatment outcomes.
Beyond the Breathalyzer: Seeking Telltale Signs of Disease
Considering that there are clear signatures in the breath for kidney disease, liver disease, heart disease and diseases of the lungs, breath analysis could see widespread use as a noninvasive tool in medical diagnosis and treatment in the near future.
OPTN/UNOS Board Approves Assessment of Organ Procurement Organization Performance, New Living Donor Data Requirements
The OPTN/UNOS Board of Directors, at its semi-annual meeting June 28, approved an addition to the OPTN bylaws to promote organ procurement organization (OPO) performance improvement by identifying and analyzing key measures.
AGH Announces Robotic Advancement in Kidney Transplantation
Allegheny General Hospital officials today said they performed the region’s first robotic nephrectomy last week, a technique so minimally invasive that the living donor went home within a day of his kidney removal.
Welcome Back Peritoneal Dialysis! Are We Ready?
Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is an attractive option for patients with end-stage renal disease but there has been a decline in its utilization. One reason is that nearly half of recent nephrology graduates don’t feel adequately trained in PD. How can nephrologists get up to speed?
CMS Proposes Policy, Payment Rate Changes for the Physician Fee Schedule in 2012
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued a proposed rule on Friday that would update payment policies and rates for physicians and nonphysician practitioners for services paid under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) in 2012.
Managed Care Enters the Exam Room as Insurers Buy Doctor Groups
The barrier between companies that provide health coverage and those that actually provide care to patients is crumbling. By managing doctors directly, insurers believe they can reshape the practice of medicine – and protect their profits.
Invasive Strategies Tied to Lower NSTEMI Mortality in CKD
The management of non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction with invasive strategies (early invasive and deferred invasive) in patients with chronic kidney disease is associated with significantly decreased mortality compared to a conservative strategy, except for patients with severe chronic kidney disease, according to a study published in the July 15 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
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