News From Around the Web
> The California Health Information Partnership and Services Organization (CalHIPSO) has launched a consulting service to help providers optimize electronic health records and meet the Meaningful Use requirements. The program, Health eServices, is meant to provide affordable assistance to providers on a long-term basis. Announcement
> Speech recognition tools may become increasingly helpful in cutting costs and improving EHR efficiencies, according to a new report from KLAS Research. Speech recognition vendors hope that the success they have had with transition and image documentation will extend into EHR systems. Announcement
Provider News
> Facing another fiscal cliff, President Obama this week reinforced the urgency of the sequester that will take effect March 1--10 days from now. To fend off the automatic cuts to most domestic federal programs, including a 2 percent cut to Medicare providers, Obama favors spending cuts in Medicare and Medicaid, as well as new tax revenue by reducing tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans, the Washington Post reported. Article
Health Insurance News
> Anthem Blue Cross, which had planned on raising rates an average of 18 percent a few weeks ago, has decided instead to roll back the hike after talking with California regulators. Instead, the insurer will lower the rate increase for about 630,000 individual members to an average of 14 percent, although some members' premiums will still grow as much as 25 percent under the new agreement with California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones, reported the Los Angeles Times. Article
And Finally... And now they can field a basketball team! Article