News 2/20/19

Top News

CVS shares fall 8 percent on the news of mixed Q4 results and lower-than-expected annual revenue of $54.42 billion. The company estimates it will need to spend up to $550 million this year on integrating the Aetna assets it purchased last November for $70 billion.

It will be interesting to see how well it does keeping up with the likes of Amazon and Walmart, both of which are attempting to turn more of their virtual and physical square footage over to healthcare products and services, many of which promise to incorporate some sort of health IT. Retail healthcare players definitely seem to be encroaching on the turf of traditional primary care, which is in danger of becoming disconnected from today’s evolving care continuum.

Webinars

March 6 (Wednesday) 1:00 ET. “Pairing a High-Tech Clinical Logistics Center with a Communication Platform for Quick Patient Response.” Sponsored by Voalte. Presenters: James Schnatterer, MBA, clinical applications manager, Nemours Children’s Health; Mark Chamberlain, clinical applications analyst, Nemours Children’s Health. Medics at Nemours Children’s Health track vital signs of patients in Florida and Delaware from one central hub, acting as eyes and ears when a nurse is away from the bedside. Close monitoring 24 hours a day integrates data from the electronic health record, such as critical lab results, and routes physiological monitor and nurse call alerts directly to the appropriate caregiver’s smartphone. This session explores how the Clinical Logistics Center and more than 1,600 Zebra TC51-HC Touch Computers running Voalte Platform connect care teams at two geographically dispersed sites for better patient safety and the best possible outcomes.

Previous webinars are on our YouTube channel. Contact Lorre for information.

Announcements and Implementations

Silicon Valley startup MDout launches a healthcare application portal small and medium-sized practices can use to outsource the digitization and cloud-based storage of their medical forms.

Multi-state Trumpet Behavioral Health selects CentralReach’s EHR and practice management software.

Commonwealth Radiology Associates (MA) selects RCM and practice management software and services from Healthcare Administrative Partners.

Acquisitions, Funding, Business, and Stock

The local paper profiles Matthews-Vu Medical Group, a Colorado-based practice that has found a sweet revenue spot in serving patients that rely on Medicare, Medicaid, and TriCare – health insurance plans that many practices in the area have begun to eschew. Run by a husband-and-wife team, the EClinicalWorks customer employs 125 and will open its fourth location next month. The practice’s trajectory took off after hiring former UCHealth Medical Group President and CEO Debbie Chandler to lead the practice. Operations director Paul Novotny insists that practice leadership “will never return to the world of corporate medicine; we are the other guys. We recruit physicians who have been in private practice and don’t want all of the headaches of running the business side. They just want to take care of patients and let someone else take care of managing the practice.”

Government and Politics

CMS launches the “Beyond the Policy” podcast to keep stakeholders abreast of its policies and efforts to foster innovation.

People

Atlanta-based healthcare consultancy Coker Group names Christopher Kunney SVP.

The Society of Maternal Fetal Medicine names Brian Iriye, MD (High Risk Pregnancy Center) president.

Other

The local paper highlights the impact ADK Wellness Connections has had since launching in October. A project of the DSRIP-affiliated Adirondack Health Institute in New York, the ADK referral network has helped community members and their providers find and coordinate healthcare and social services from among 63 partner organizations via three care coordination sites. The backbone of the network seems to be software from Unite Us, which enables real-time referrals, in-app messaging and notifications, plus an SDOH dashboard with HIE-like capabilities to ensure service providers have access to the same data.

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Jenn, Mr. H, Lorre

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News 2/18/19

Top News

Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine in California determine that life expectancy increased by 51.5 days for every 10 additional PCPs per 100,000 people over a 10-year period. More specifically, those 10 additional PCPs resulted in a 0.9-percent reduction in cardiovascular deaths, a 1-percent reduction in cancer deaths, and a 1.4-percent decline in respiratory deaths. Additional specialists increased life expectancy by 19 days. “The surprising result was how much PCP supply has declined despite so much emphasis on primary care over the last decade,” says lead author Sanjay Basu, MD. “I think the problem comes down to money. We pay less for prevention than treatment — and the former is where primary care lives.”

HIStalk Practice Announcements and Requests

While I can’t say I missed the #HIMSSanity of HIMSS this year, I did miss getting to rub elbows with HIStalk readers and catching up with Lorre and the elusive Mr. HIStalk. (I still get a thrill when he covers a news item I’ve suggested.) Jonathan Bush’s absence also seemed to have left a void. (One of my favorite HIMSS sessions was one several years ago that featured Bush and CIO/gentleman farmer John Halamka.)

Based on the reviews of Mr. H and Dr. Jayne, it seems there was definitely a lack of health IT celebrities this year, perhaps reflecting the post-MU era that has resulted in a consolidating industry controlled by big health systems, big vendors (some now without their founding fearless leaders), and faceless private equity firms. It seems attendees were more excited about sock giveaways than game-changing health IT concepts.

Speaking of giveaways, I came across this “prescription” pad at my local ice cream parlor and thought it would make for a good HIMSS giveaway next year, perhaps accompanied by a scoop of the attendee’s choice. Warm scones in the morning followed by an ice cream pick-me-up in the afternoon could surely help HIMSS-goers survive the exhibit hall.

Webinars

March 6 (Wednesday) 1:00 ET. “Pairing a High-Tech Clinical Logistics Center with a Communication Platform for Quick Patient Response.” Sponsored by Voalte. Presenters: James Schnatterer, MBA, clinical applications manager, Nemours Children’s Health; Mark Chamberlain, clinical applications analyst, Nemours Children’s Health. Medics at Nemours Children’s Health track vital signs of patients in Florida and Delaware from one central hub, acting as eyes and ears when a nurse is away from the bedside. Close monitoring 24 hours a day integrates data from the electronic health record, such as critical lab results, and routes physiological monitor and nurse call alerts directly to the appropriate caregiver’s smartphone. This session explores how the Clinical Logistics Center and more than 1,600 Zebra TC51-HC Touch Computers running Voalte Platform connect care teams at two geographically dispersed sites for better patient safety and the best possible outcomes.

Previous webinars are on our YouTube channel. Contact Lorre for information.

Announcements and Implementations

Fogo Data Centers adds medical record archiving, migration, and cloud-based hosting solutions to its line of EHR Express services.

CampDoc works with Applications Research Corp. to develop interfaces that connect its EHR with Jewish Community Center and YMCA operating software.

People

Practice management company United Rheumatology names Douglas Tardio (HealthCost) CEO, Bill Moore (HealthCost) CTO, and Jim Albano (JF Albano Health Care Services) as EVP of payer relations and operations.

Government and Politics

The USDA will give funding priority to Distance Learning and Telemedicine program applicants who propose projects that will provide opioid treatment services to patients in 220 at-risk rural areas. Applications are due April 15.

Telemedicine

The local paper profiles Community eConsult Network, an offshoot of Connecticut-based Community Health Center that has, over the last decade, built up a robust e-consult network that helps low-income patients receive treatment in a more timely and convenient manner. Customers include public and private payers, and other healthcare providers. Dermatologist Chris Norwood, MD sometimes handles 20 e-consults a day through the network, netting about $35 a consult. “I wouldn’t call it profitable,” he admits, “but it’s not an enormous money sink and I think it does help the community greatly. No one is buying a Ferrari with this.” While luxury car dealers might not be profiting, Medicaid is definitely saving money through e-consults, as a CeCN study in Health Affairs last December showed: Patients who had e-consults in four specialties saved Medicaid $82 per patient, per month, versus those who had face-to-face visits with specialists.

Contacts

Jenn, Mr. H, Lorre

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News 2/13/19

Top News

Middletown, CT-based PursueCare raises growth capital from WRD Capital and Starboard Capital Partners as it prepares to launch telemedicine services for patients undergoing opioid addiction treatment. CEO Nicholas Mercadante previously served as president and CEO of long-term care company MedOptions, where he helped to develop a telehealth program.

Webinars

None scheduled in the coming weeks. Previous webinars are on our YouTube channel. Contact Lorre for information.

Acquisitions, Funding, Business, and Stock

As part of its post-Aetna acquisition plans, CVS Health opens three health-focused concept stores in Houston that include an expanded clinic, lab for blood tests and screenings, and wellness rooms for classes and yoga. Customers can also speak with care concierges, who will walk them through the store’s healthcare offerings; and dieticians, who can connect them to Noom’s Web-based weight loss service. Aetna customers will get extra consult time with CVS pharmacists to discuss any care concerns they may have. The company has allotted $2.6 billion to build out additional HealthHubs.

Announcements and Implementations

Solutionreach adds text message-initiated mobile payment capabilities to its line of patient relationship management software and services.

After acquiring Aprima last week, EMDs launches Aria Health Services to assist customers with RCM, credentialing, and enrollment.

People

Optometry-focused RevolutionEHR promotes Corey Crawford to VP of operations.

Research and Innovation

A DrFirst survey of 199 patients finds that more would prefer to communicate with their physicians via text rather than patient portal, making ONC’s decision several years ago to decrease requirements around patient engagement via portals seem to be ahead of its time. Patients also indicated that they would like the ability to text a family member’s care team, and would be open to receiving healthcare and appointment reminders from their providers via text.

Other

In Colorado, expectant mother Jaci Vincent delivers her baby at Copper Mountain’s ski clinic after realizing her labor had progressed too quickly to make the drive with her mother-in-law to nearby St. Anthony Summit Medical Center. Ski clinic staff, equipped to handle urgent and emergency care, sprang into action to help deliver Mackenzie Copper Vincent.

Contacts

Jenn, Mr. H, Lorre

More news: HIStalk.

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News 2/11/19

Top News

Veritas Capital and Evergreen Coast Capital (an Elliott Management affiliate) wrap up their $5.7 billion acquisition of Athenahealth. As previously reported, Veritas Capital’s Virence Health business will combine with Athenahealth under the Athena name. Virence Chairman and CEO Bob Segert will lead the new business at Athena’s headquarters in Watertown, MA.

Webinars

None scheduled soon. Previous webinars are on our YouTube channel. Contact Lorre for information.

Acquisitions, Funding, Business, and Stock

New Jersey-based Medical Transcription Billing Corp. rebrands to MTBC to reflect its broader health IT capabilities.

People

Patient engagement and management vendor HealthKos hires Mercedes Varas (Kipu Systems) as senior director of implementation and client experience.

Announcements and Implementations

Community Care of North Carolina implements VirtualHealth’s Helios care management technology.

Ophthalmic Consultants of Long Island (NY) joins the Healthix HIE. OCLI providers across 19 locations can now take advantage of Healthix’s real-time clinical alerts to stay on top of care events like admissions and discharges. OCLI is the first group of its kind to join the HIE.

NextGen Healthcare leverages Availity’s health information network to make patient pre-registration solutions like insurance and verification and cost estimates available to its customers in real-time.

Government and Politics

HHS proposes a new rule that would enable patients to access their health data from federally-funded providers at no cost and without delay. The rule, which would go into effect next year, would necessarily require providers and payers to adopt technology to make this real-time data-sharing possible. It would also give HHS the authority to call out organizations that don’t comply.

Research and Innovation

A Kareo survey finds that, due to the increasing complexity of patient payments and healthcare costs, nearly a third of providers surveyed expect to outsource their billing services within the next two years.

Contacts

Jenn, Mr. H, Lorre

More news: HIStalk.

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News 2/6/19

Top News

The DoJ announces that Greenway Health will pay $57 million to settle allegations that include:

• Falsely obtaining 2014 Edition certification for its Prime Suite EHR by modifying test-run software that hid the fact that required clinical vocabulary was missing.
• Failing to correct an error in its 2011 Edition software that led users to unknowingly apply for Meaningful Use incentive payments that they were  not actually eligible for.
• Giving kickbacks to users who recommended Prime Suite to their colleagues.

In addition to the financial penalty, Greenway will be required for the next five years to abide by a Corporate Integrity Agreement that includes letting current users upgrade to other Greenway software for free, or migrate their data to another vendor without penalty or extra fees.

“In the last two years, my office has resolved two matters against leading EHR developers where we alleged significant fraudulent conduct,” said attorney Christina Nolan, referring to the $155 million EClinicalWorks settlement, which was similar in nature though larger in scope. “EHR companies should consider themselves on notice.”

Webinars

None scheduled soon. Previous webinars are on our YouTube channel. Contact Lorre for information.

Announcements and Implementations

Simple Interact adds on-demand patient email and text messaging capabilities to its line of patient engagement and front office software.

Alliance Cancer Specialists (PA) selects patient relationship management technology from Navigating Cancer.

Petaluma Health Center (CA) selects Carium’s customized patient engagement and care coordination app.

Insight Imaging (CA) and Naugatuck Valley Radiology (CT) select cloud-based medical image management software from Ambra Health.

Acquisitions, Funding, Business, and Stock

PerfectServe acquires physician scheduling company Lightning Bolt Solutions and patient engagement vendor CareWire. Terms of the deals weren’t disclosed. PerfectServe acquired Telmediq earlier this year. The acquisitions are, according to PerfectServe CEO Terry Edward’s recent interview with Mr. HIStalk, part of the company’s broader strategy to “build the care team collaboration platform of the future.” You can read the rest of the interview here.

Population health management company EQHealth Solutions opens a new office in Little Rock, AR, to better accommodate its its work with the state. Several divisions within its Department of Human Services have selected medical management technology and services from EQHealth to assist them with prior authorizations, reviews, referrals, consultations, and overall support.

People

Fishers Direct Family Care founder Risheet Patel, MD joins direct primary care management company Freedom Healthworks as medical director.

Telemedicine

Online birth control and at-home testing company Nurx expands its services to Oregon. It now covers patients in 22 states plus Washington, DC.

Sponsor Updates

• Culbert Healthcare Solutions will exhibit at the WRUG Winter Conference February 14-15 in Las Vegas.

Blog Posts

• 4 reasons to connect with Nordic at HIMSS19 (Nordic)

Contacts

Jenn, Mr. H, Lorre

More news: HIStalk.

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