Allscripts

> Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed into law legislation which guarantees healthcare for uninsured children in his state. Article

> In 2004, 29 percent of all births in the US were by C-section, a new record. Article

> HealthVision and AllScripts have launched a new partnership.  …

If e-prescribing really takes off, one major beneficiary is likely to be AllScripts. This week, in a move timed to coincide with the announcement that HHS is making changes to encourage the technology, AllScripts revealed a deal in which it is providing low-cost e-prescribing software to doctors who are part of Nevada's Sierra Health network. Nevada physicians who are not affiliated with Sierra will be able to get access to the software for a small monthly fee. Expect more developments like this as competition in this area of health IT intensifies. Report

> As expected, an inquiry into Lester Crawford's resignation last week has begun. Article

> In New York, the proposed merger of Health Insurance Plan of New York (HIP) and Group Health is drawing fire. Article

> Lots of Helping Hands, a non-profit, has launched a very useful new web-based tool which lets patient caregivers …

As we predicted in yesterday's newsletter, the issue of missing medical files following Hurricane Katrina is becoming a major story in the tech and industry press. Missing and destroyed medical records are causing major problems for those trying to deliver healthcare services in the affected areas, something which probably would not have have happened with digital records. With no documentation available on medical histories, seriously ill people are having to start over again, almost …

> A new study of payouts in medical malpractice cases says that awards are not rising sharply, as critics of trial lawyers maintain. Story

> The New York Times reports on the success the food industry has had in shielding itself from obesity lawsuits following a rash of lawsuits against fast food chains two years ago. …

> The FDA knew about a possible link between Viagra and blindness months before the news was made public, it was revealed. Story

> More disbelief that Scrushy got off, and the implications for the SOX laws. Commentary

> Agriculture officials are checking for more cases of mad cow in a …

Time becomes the latest national publication to focus on the movement to modernize the nation's healthcare IT infrastructure with a major article on the subject this week. The magazine interviews Cerner's Neal Patterson, AllScripts' Glen Tullman and Siemens Medical Solutions' Don Rucker. The "by most accounts effective" government push in Washington for EMR is also examined. Time's conclusion: "the bottom line is that better healthcare may not hapen without better …

> AARP says it will fight TennCare plan. Story 

> Westchester medical center bailout hits legislative speed bump in NY. Story

> AMA says it wants pharmacists to obey law, better oversight at Gitmo. …

New Jersey Blues parent Horizon Healthcare Services is the latest health plan to try to nudge physicians in its area along the e-prescribing path. Horizon has signed a deal with EMR and e-prescribing player Allscripts in which selected physicians will be given connectivity tools and PDAs with ePrescribing software installed. Thus far similar technology initiatives by Wellpoint and BCBS of Massachusetts have had slow starts, but recent presentations at the TEPR conference suggest that …