Hospital wins MU penalty appeal; DoD again extends deadline for EHR RFP submissions;

News From Around the Web

> Monticello, Arkansas-based Drew Memorial Hospital, which had failed a Meaningful Use audit for not meeting the security risk analysis measure, has won its appeal and will not have to return its Meaningful Use incentive payment for the year in question in the amount of $900,000, HITECH Answers reports. Article

> The U.S. Department of Defense has again extended the deadline for submission of responses to requests for proposals for its new EHR system, this time to Oct. 31. The original deadline had already been extended once form Oct. 9 to Oct. 23. Website

> The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has issued a news brief to clarify the Meaningful Use requirement of providers to conduct a security risk analysis of their electronic health records. The agency points out that the objective complements the security rule analysis requirements of the HIPAA security rule but does not but does not impose new or expanded requirements. CMS also clarifies in a new answer to an FAQ the timelines for conducting a security risk analysis. FAQ

Health Finance News

> Medicaid enrollment surged between October 2013 and August 2014, rising by nearly 9 million overall. That has boosted total enrollment in the Medicaid program by 14.7 percent. Data from CMS showed enrollment in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) stood at 67.9 million at the end of last August, with 27.8 million children enrolled in both programs. Article

> Hospitals now can purchase insurance to indemnify themselves from any issues surrounding the Ebola virus. The policy that would protect hospitals from potential loss of revenue and profit due to an Ebola quarantine shutdown is being offered by British broker Miller Insurance Services LLP in conjunction with American broker William Gallagher Associates. Article

Health Insurance News

> Removing tax credits that help low- and moderate-income people buy health insurance on exchanges would increase premiums by nearly 45 percent, according to results of a Rand Corp. study. More than 11 million Americans would lose coverage. That would result in significant disruption in the individual market. Article

> The rise in plans sold on health insurance exchanges with high deductibles brings a new concern--consumers who postpone needed care because of the cost. Those decisions could mean the high-deductible health plans backfire on insurers and could lead to even more medical use and greater expenses in the future. Article

And Finally... With kids and a husband, why is the mom bearing the brunt here? Article