APMA News Brief

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) released a health IT strategic plan this week that focuses on the next five years. Click here to continue reading.

Editor’s note: Don’t miss APMA’s Health IT resources on APMA.org.

An important thing to know about Jonathan Gruber: He is not the 'architect' of the Affordable Care Act.

Visit http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-skocpol-obamacare-gruber-20141210-story.html to view the full article online.

Medical scribes offer hospitals and health systems a low-cost method to bolster productivity and boost physician efficiency and morale, particularly after an EHR implementation.

Visit http://www.healthleadersmedia.com/content/HR-311113/Medical-Scribes-May-Ease-EHR-ICD10-Aches to view the full article online.

According to a new report from the Office of the Actuary at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the healthcare spending rate increased by 3.6 percent last year, one-half percentage point lower than in 2012. CMS reports that the annual growth rate has hovered between 3.6 and 4.1 percent for the last five years.

Visit http://medicaleconomics.modernmedicine.com/medical-economics/news/health-spending-slows-heels-aca-implementation to view the full article online.

The Affordable Care Act (also known as the ACA) was signed into effect in 2010, but 2014 marked the first year most Americans were required to have health insurance. As the year comes to a close, what does this mean for you?

Visit http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lisa-lewis/how-health-care-reform-will-affect-your-2014-taxes_b_6290842.html to view the full article online.

H&R Block is seeing dollar signs as one in four of its customers "will directly confront" the Affordable Care Act when sitting down to do their taxes in the coming months.

Visit http://www.kansascity.com/news/business/article4384455.html to view the full article online.

Many doctors offer patients online access to certain parts of their electronic medical records, including immunization records, lab results, safe and correct use of medications and reminders for visits and screenings.

Visit http://www.thenewsstar.com/story/life/2014/12/07/seniors-check-medical-records-online/19958923/ to view the full article online.

Even if you’re young, you’re not invincible. Accidents can happen to anyone. Be prepared. Get health insurance.

Visit http://highlandstoday.com/hi/local-news/top-10-reasons-to-sign-up-for-health-insurance-20141207/ to view the full article online.

Technology can ease some of the burden of managing diabetes, possibly getting blood sugar levels within safe ranges more often, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says.

Visit http://consumer.healthday.com/diabetes-information-10/diabetes-management-news-180/technology-helps-manage-diabetes-694247.html to view the full article online.

While much shopping takes place online, many people still head to stores, and those folks will be logging a lot of hours on their feet.

Visit http://www.hutchnews.com/online_features/seasonal/hidden-holiday-hazard-don-t-let-foot-pain-dampen-holiday/article_1a644438-6856-5456-ac99-2df8812bff8f.html to view the full article online.

Center for Health Information and Decision Systems director works to promote the technology use.

Visit http://www.diamondbackonline.com/news/article_f5935e48-7e7a-11e4-9e7a-efbd27c41bd7.html to view the full article online.

Federal regulators are sending a powerful message about the importance of applying software patches by slapping an Alaska mental health services providers with a $150,000 HIPAA sanction.

Visit http://www.govinfosecurity.com/150k-hipaa-fine-for-unpatched-software-a-7656 to view the full article online.

Despite a decline in participation and some lingering issues, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Provider Billing Group Director Diane Kovach said that she was pleased with the results from the second of four scheduled acknowledgement testing weeks. Click here to continue reading.

Editor’s note: APMA’s ICD-10 Resources will help you prepare for the transition to happen Oct. 1, 2015.

One criticism of the Affordable Care Act is that it imposes a costly, one-size-fits-all standard, drastically increasing premiums by requiring everyone to buy health insurance that covers the same mandated benefits. This is not so.

Visit http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/09/upshot/health-care-law-is-not-one-size-fits-all-and-heres-why.html?abt=0002&abg=1 to view the full article online.

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology has adopted a new strategic plan that seeks to keep up the momentum of health IT adoption while taking steps to improve the penetration of information technology beyond hospitals and physician practices.

Visit http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20141208/NEWS/312089928/hhs-will-push-broader-reach-for-information-technology to view the full article online.

A new study shows a wide variation in how much primary care physicians are paid for basic service. The information could play a key role in the development of a comprehensive payment reform system in the future.

Visit http://digital.vpr.net/post/study-shows-disparity-physician-pay-could-boost-reform-efforts to view the full article online.

The House Appropriations Committee posted the $1.1 trillion spending bill Tuesday night. According to the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) there is no language tucked into the bill that would delay the implementation of ICD-10.

Visit http://icd10monitor.com/enews/special-bulletin/item/1326-icd-10-dodged-a-bullet-this-time to view the full article online.

Proposed rules for Medicare accountable care organizations (ACOs) offer concessions to try to avert a threatened exodus of ACOs from the federal program. The ACOs, however, say the changes don't go far enough and are asking for more concessions in the final rules. Click here to continue reading.

Editor’s note: Don’t miss APMA’s resources on ACOs.

Large numbers of doctors who are listed as serving Medicaid patients are not available to treat them, federal investigators said in a new report. Click here to continue reading.

Editor’s note: Don’t miss APMA’s HELLPP Act resources on APMA.org.