News From Around the Web
> The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has posted new resources for eligible hospitals and eligible professionals participating in the Meaningful Use program. The resources include tip sheets for 2016, specification sheets, attestation worksheets, a fact sheet on alternative exclusions and specifications and information on public health reporting, among other things. Website
> In light of the increased attention on the opioid epidemic, EHR vendors must take steps to reconcile their products with prescription drug monitoring programs, according to a new blog post from Point of Care Partners. Steps include ensuring that EHRs can integrate with these programs, keeping up to date with changing legal requirements regarding these programs, understanding the efforts being made to harmonize different states' programs and making sure that products allow for electronic prescribing of controlled substances. Blog post
Health Finance News
> The federal government would no longer enforce inpatient payment cuts under the controversial two-midnight rule, according to a proposed rule released Monday. Instead of continuing plans for a 2 percent cut in Medicare reimbursement, in the 2017 Medicare Inpatient Prospective Payment System proposed rule, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services plans a temporary increase of 0.6 percent payment in fiscal 2017 to offset the estimated cost of the two-midnight rule policy. Article
> Not-for-profit hospitals will likely fare a little bit better financially in the coming years than their for-profit counterparts, according to a new report issued by Moody's Investors Service. Moody's noted in its report that operating cash flow growth has returned to normal pre-recession levels, leading to improvements in debt leverage. Article
Health Insurance News
> Low-income adults in states that have expanded Medicaid feel as though their health insurance options have improved, and their use of healthcare services has also increased, according to new research discussed in an editorial published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Article
> If a federal advisory panel gets its way, health insurers will soon have greater incentives to manage beneficiaries' prescription drug use and negotiate discounts with pharmaceutical manufacturers. Article
And Finally... More geeks should be running countries! Article