ACO Top Content

1. Medicare ACO Lessons For Medicaid 6/30/2014

   Aligning approaches to Accountable Care across Medicare and Medicaid. By Christine Kern, contributing writer

2. TELE-MED Act Aims To Eliminate Licensure Hurdles 9/19/2013

   Proposed bill would allow doctors to electronically treat patients across state lines without multiple licenses By Katie Wike, contributing writer

3. Physicians Using HIT “Optimistic” 11/26/2013

   Doctors using HIT are optimistic about it once it is fully integrated according to one new study By Katie Wike, contributing writer

4. CMS Reports Pioneer ACO Saving Money Despite Rough Start 2/6/2014

   Overcoming the loss of nine participants last year, CMS reports the Pioneer ACO Program saved nearly $150 million, provided high-quality care By Steve Richards, contributing writer

5. Study: Health IT Vital For ACOs 7/24/2014

   Establishing an accountable care organization requires health technology, especially when the ACO is created by an academic medical center. By Katie Wike, contributing writer

6. Two Of Three Hospitals MU Ready 9/25/2013

   A HIMSS Analytics report says about 68 percent of hospitals now have the tools to meet Stage 2 Meaningful Use requirements, but some are still calling for an extension of the timeline By Katie Wike, contributing writer

7. Patient Portals: Privacy Vs. Convenience 2/13/2014

   Patient portals promise efficiency and convenience, a solid way for healthcare professional to communicate, and a gateway for patients to follow their own medical history. Patient portals have become much more commonplace under the Meaningful Use Incentive Program, which breaks patient engagement into two stages. Stage 1 requires providers offer electronic copies of test results, discharge summaries, and the like when the patient requests it. Stage 2 goes further by requiring physicians offer online access of medical records to more than 50 percent of unique patients seen by clinicians. The most efficient way to do this is through the patient portal. But even as the convenience of patient portals makes it clear that they are a step forward for patient and physician, privacy concerns threaten to overshadow the convenience that the portals provide. By Shannon Lee

8. Washington Hospitals, Boeing Strike ACO Deal 6/23/2014

   Providence Health and Swedish Health sign new contract for direct care with Boeing. By Christine Kern, contributing writer

9. ICD-10 Testing Pilot Was “Scary” 10/22/2013

   After two rounds of end-to-end ICD-10 testing, one provider group is alarmed at the levels of inaccuracy and the decrease in productivity By Greg Bengel, contributing writer

10. EHNAC Launches ACO, Practice Management Accreditation Programs 7/29/2014

    The programs are designed to certify entities for meeting best practices. By Christine Kern, contributing writer