The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is now releasing healthcare IT funding from the HITECH Act/ARRA to state Medicaid programs. According to a CMS letter mailed Wednesday to state Medicaid directors, HITECH enables the government to pay a 100% federal financial participation ("FFP") match to states that help Medicaid providers adopt, implement or upgrade certified electronic health record technology to demonstrate meaningful use.
CMS will also pay a 90% FFP match to cover a state's administrative costs for running a HIT Medicaid incentive program. States may now request the 90% FFP match for administrative planning activities, according to the letter. CMS advised states who plan to apply for a FFP match to plan how they will audit their healthcare IT incentive payment programs for errors.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Pfizer to Pay $2.3 Billion for Fraud Claims
The Department of Justice announced today that Pfizer agreed to pay $2.3 billion related to the fraudulent marketing of the anti-inflammatory drug Bextra and illegally promoting other drugs. This is the largest healthcare fraud settlement in the history of the the agency.
For more details check out Modern Healthcare.
For more details check out Modern Healthcare.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Retail Medical Clinics Just as Effective and Cost Less
A recent RAND Corporation study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine concludes that retail medical clinics provide equivalent quality of care for 3 common illnesses for less money:
Comparing Costs and Quality of Care at Retail Clinics With That of Other Medical Settings for 3 Common Illnesses
Mehrotra A, Hangsheng L, Adams JL, Wang MC, Lave JR, Thygeson NM, Solberg LI, McGlynn EA. Annals of Internal Medicine, 2009; 151:321-328.
Background
Retail clinics are an increasingly popular source for medical care. Concerns have been raised about the effect of these clinics on the cost, quality, and delivery of preventive care.
Objective
To compare the care received at retail clinics for 3 acute conditions with that received at other care settings.
Design
Claims data from 2005 and 2006 from the health plan were aggregated into care episodes (units that included initial and follow-up visits, pharmaceuticals, and ancillary tests). after 2100 episodes (700 each) were identified in which otitis media, pharyngitis, and urinary tracts infection (UTI) were treated first in retail clinics, these episodes were matched with other episode in which these illnesses were treated first in physician offices, urgent care centers, or emergency departments.
Setting
Enrollees of a large Minnesota health plan.
Patients
Enrollees who received care for otitis media, pharyngitis, or UTI.
Measurements
Cost per episode, performance on 14 quality indicators, and receipt of 7 preventive care services at the initial appointment or subsequent 3 months.
Results
Overall costs of care for episodes initiated at retail clinics were substantially lower than those of matched episodes initiated at physician offices, urgent care centers, and emergency departments ($110 vs. $166, $156, and $570, respectively; P < 0.001 for each comparison). Prescription costs were similar in retail clinics, physician offices, and urgent care centers ($21, $21, and $22), as were aggregate quality scores (63.6%, 61.0%, and 62.6%) and patient's receipt of preventive care (14.5%, 14.2%, and 13.7%) (P > 0.05 vs retail clinics). In emergency departments, average prescription costs were higher and aggregate quality scores were significantly lower than in other settings.
Limitations
A limited number of quality measures and preventive care services were studied. Despite matching, patients at different care sites might differ in their severity of illness.
Conclusion
Retail clinics provide less costly treatment than physician offices or urgent care center for 3 common illnesses, with no apparent adverse effect on quality of care or delivery of preventive care.
Primary Funding Source
California HealthCare Foundation
Comparing Costs and Quality of Care at Retail Clinics With That of Other Medical Settings for 3 Common Illnesses
Mehrotra A, Hangsheng L, Adams JL, Wang MC, Lave JR, Thygeson NM, Solberg LI, McGlynn EA. Annals of Internal Medicine, 2009; 151:321-328.
Background
Retail clinics are an increasingly popular source for medical care. Concerns have been raised about the effect of these clinics on the cost, quality, and delivery of preventive care.
Objective
To compare the care received at retail clinics for 3 acute conditions with that received at other care settings.
Design
Claims data from 2005 and 2006 from the health plan were aggregated into care episodes (units that included initial and follow-up visits, pharmaceuticals, and ancillary tests). after 2100 episodes (700 each) were identified in which otitis media, pharyngitis, and urinary tracts infection (UTI) were treated first in retail clinics, these episodes were matched with other episode in which these illnesses were treated first in physician offices, urgent care centers, or emergency departments.
Setting
Enrollees of a large Minnesota health plan.
Patients
Enrollees who received care for otitis media, pharyngitis, or UTI.
Measurements
Cost per episode, performance on 14 quality indicators, and receipt of 7 preventive care services at the initial appointment or subsequent 3 months.
Results
Overall costs of care for episodes initiated at retail clinics were substantially lower than those of matched episodes initiated at physician offices, urgent care centers, and emergency departments ($110 vs. $166, $156, and $570, respectively; P < 0.001 for each comparison). Prescription costs were similar in retail clinics, physician offices, and urgent care centers ($21, $21, and $22), as were aggregate quality scores (63.6%, 61.0%, and 62.6%) and patient's receipt of preventive care (14.5%, 14.2%, and 13.7%) (P > 0.05 vs retail clinics). In emergency departments, average prescription costs were higher and aggregate quality scores were significantly lower than in other settings.
Limitations
A limited number of quality measures and preventive care services were studied. Despite matching, patients at different care sites might differ in their severity of illness.
Conclusion
Retail clinics provide less costly treatment than physician offices or urgent care center for 3 common illnesses, with no apparent adverse effect on quality of care or delivery of preventive care.
Primary Funding Source
California HealthCare Foundation
European Study Finds 31% of Drs. Believe Internet Undermines Their Credibility and Disrupts Relationship
Researchers in Spain have found that 31% of physicians in that country believe that the internet undermines their credibility with patients. In addition, those same physicians felt that the internet complicated their relationship with patients.
Only 20% of the Spanish physicians surveyed stated that the internet increased patient independence. The vast majority felt that the internet could provide conflicting information and they would not recommend that a patient search the web for additional information.
According to reports, more than 40% of the Spanish population surfs the web for health information.
Only 20% of the Spanish physicians surveyed stated that the internet increased patient independence. The vast majority felt that the internet could provide conflicting information and they would not recommend that a patient search the web for additional information.
According to reports, more than 40% of the Spanish population surfs the web for health information.
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