Support HRS’ Advocacy Efforts- Participate in the Virtual Fly-in February 23, 2012
Posted by Kathleen Blake, MD, MPH, FHRS in Atrial Fibrillation (AF), Health Policy.Tags: AF Resolution, Afib, American Heart Month, Atrial fibrillation, Members of Congress
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The Heart Rhythm Society, in collaboration with other stakeholders, is educating Members of Congress, their staff and the public about heart rhythm disorders. During the American Heart Month, HRS is organizing a virtual fly-in on February 23. We ask HRS members and non-members to email their House Representatives and urge them to co-sponsor the AF Resolution (H. Res. 295). (more…)
Courage May Be The Solution February 18, 2012
Posted by Kathleen Blake, MD, MPH, FHRS in Health Policy.Tags: Congressional hearing, Healthcare, Medicare, Physician Payment System, Quality & outcomes
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Last week, the Ways and Means Committee of the House of the Representatives held a congressional hearing to examine programs that reward physicians for delivering high quality and efficient care. Health insurers and physicians spoke about their individual efforts to improve quality and efficiency: insurers through new payment models and financial incentives, and physicians through practice transformations. (more…)
Five Reasons Why Patients with Implantable Defibrillators Deserve Their Data February 17, 2012
Posted by David Scher, MD, FHRS in Health Policy, Allied Health Professionals, Industry, EP Physicians.Tags: Arrhythmia, Electronic Health Records, HEREHR, HITECH Act, ICD, Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator, pacemaker
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The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, enacted as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, was signed into law on February 17, 2009. The objective of Measure 12/15 of Meaningful Use regulations of the HITECH Act, which refers to electronic health records, states that eligible professionals “Provide patients with an electronic copy of their health information (including diagnostic test results, problem lists, medication lists, medication allergies) upon request.”
A patient’s implantable defibrillator consists of a diagnostic test of the patient’s rhythm as well as of the implanted device itself. I do not see a distinction between data derived from these devices and other diagnostic tests. In this post I will explain why, in addition to conforming to the above regulatory requirement, the furnishing of this data will benefit patients. (more…)
GAO Report Finds Lack of Transparency in Implantable Medical Device Prices February 14, 2012
Posted by Kathleen Blake, MD, MPH, FHRS in Health Policy, Industry.Tags: GAO, Government Accountability Office, ICD, Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator, Medicare
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In response to a request from Max Baucus (D-MT), Chairman of the powerful U.S. Senate Finance Committee, on February 3 the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report outlining the difference in prices that hospitals pay for implantable medical devices (e.g. defibrillators and hip replacements). (more…)
FDA User Fee Bills: Why You Should Care February 13, 2012
Posted by Kathleen Blake, MD, MPH, FHRS in Health Policy.Tags: FDA, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, PPACA, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, UFA, User Fee Act
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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) relies upon user fees from manufacturers in order to perform product reviews in a timely fashion. The statutes that authorize collection of these fees are reauthorized every five years. The Medical Device User Fee Act (MDUFA) is up for reauthorization no later than September 30, 2012. The FDA has been actively engaged in discussions with manufacturers in anticipation of renewal. An article this week suggests that an agreement has been reached between the FDA and the device manufacturers that will increase the total fees paid over five years to FDA from $295M to an estimated $595M. The fees collected will allow the FDA to hire more evaluation staff during the term of the renewal. Although Members of Congress seem to agree on very little of late, renewal is expected by all parties because the FDA and the manufacturers both depend on the fees allowed by the Act to get products reviewed and approved. (more…)
CMS RAC Demonstration Project Postponed Until June February 6, 2012
Posted by Kathleen Blake, MD, MPH, FHRS in Health Policy.Tags: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, CMS, RAC
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The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Recovery Audit Prepayment Review (RAC) Demonstration project was scheduled to begin on January 1, 2012 and was delayed in December by the Agency for further review.
Thinking About Patient-Centered Care February 1, 2012
Posted by Kathleen Blake, MD, MPH, FHRS in Health Policy, Allied Health Professionals, EP Physicians.Tags: Patient care, National Quality Forum, NQF
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Last week, the National Quality Forum (NQF) hosted a meeting of the Partnership for Patients-National Priorities Partnership. The Partnership for Patients was convened last spring by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to “dramatically improve patient safety across the country.” (more…)
Health Information Technology: Building Safer Systems for Patient Care January 26, 2012
Posted by Kathleen Blake, MD, MPH, FHRS in Health Policy.Tags: EHR, Electronic medical records, Health information technology, HIT, Institute of Medicine, IOM
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The Institute of Medicine (IOM) recently released a report which evaluates health information technology safety concerns and recommends way that both government and the private sector can make patient care safer using health information technology (HIT). (more…)
Five Reasons Why Physicians Will Love mHealth January 18, 2012
Posted by David Scher, MD, FHRS in Allied Health Professionals, Education, EP Physicians, Health Policy.Tags: Electronic Health Records, Healthcare reform, Medicare, mHealth, mobile health technology, Practice management, Remote monitoring
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1. Mobile health technology will increase patient engagement. Most patients do not take the responsibility they should for their own health. They are likely preoccupied with all the stresses of everyday life and might therefore take the ‘I feel good, so I must be’ approach. They possibly mutter these words after wiping their faces, hurriedly walking out of McDonald’s for lunch. Or is it because of mistrust of their physician who they get to see for a big 15 minutes that the electronic record time slot permits? Or that they are caregivers to others and sacrifice their own well-being for that higher purpose? (more…)
Business Models of Mobile mHealth January 12, 2012
Posted by David Scher, MD, FHRS in Allied Health Professionals, Education, EP Physicians, Health Policy.Tags: CMS, Electronic medical records, Healthcare reform, Medicare, mHealth, mobile health technology, Practice management, Remote monitoring
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PriceWaterhouse Coopers’ Health Research Institute released a comprehensive report (free registration required) describing business models and opportunities for the mobile health industry.
In the operational/business model, providers see mHealth as more efficient and beneficial to the patient. According to the study, one-third of physicians make decisions based on incomplete information and mHealth can result in better care by providing more robust and timely information from the patient or device. (more…)
Heart Rhythm Society
Laurie Racenet, RN, MSN, ANP
Michael Giudici, MD, FACC, FACP, FHRS
Heather M. Ross, DNP, ANP-BC, CCDS, CEPS, FHRS
Anne Dubin, MD, FHRS
John D. Day, MD, FHRS
Andrea M. Russo, MD, FACC, FHRS
Joshua M. Cooper, MD, FACC
Amit J. Shanker, MD, FHRS, FACC
Bruce Stambler, MD
David Wiggins, RN, BS BME, CEPS
Fred M. Kusumoto, MD, FHRS
Leonard Ganz, MD, FHRS
christinechiuman
Craig Delaughter, MD, PhD
Ariana Del Negro, Heart Rhythm 2010 Quality
Peng-Sheng Chen, MD, FHRS
MSKremers MD,FHRS
Ann C. Garlitski, MD, FACC, FHRS
Alan Cheng, MD, FHRS
Ulrika Birgersdotter-Green, MD
Christopher Clyne, MD, FHRS
Kathleen Blake, MD, MPH, FHRS
David Scher, MD, FHRS
Sanjay Deshpande, MD, FHRS
