News From Around the Web
> A recent policy dialogue on connected health held by Health Affairs and the Bipartisan Policy Center concluded that lack of interoperability, reimbursement issues and regulatory barriers are the biggest barriers more widespread adoption of connected health. Article
> In a letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid services and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT, the American Hospital Association urges that the two groups allow all providers greater flexibility in Stage 2 of Meaningful Use. "Specifically, all hospitals and physicians should have the option to make the transition to the 2014 Edition Certified EHR and the Stage 2 requirements [or the revised Stage 1 requirements, as applicable] over the course of 2014 or 2015," the letter states. Letter (.pdf)
Health Insurance News
> Private sector employees are paying more for their own healthcare expenses plus extra taxes to cover more than 24 percent of healthcare costs for their public sector counterparts, according to United Benefit Advisors' 2013 Health Plan Survey of more than 11,000 employers. Article
> Some states are reporting a boost in enrollments in the last few days before the Dec. 23 deadline for consumers to sign up for a plan sold on the health insurance exchanges. But other states still are struggling with technical glitches that hamper enrollments efforts. Article
Health Finance News
> A Massachusetts commission opposes Partners HealthCare System's proposed takeover of South Shore Hospital, citing expected cost hikes for patients and quelling competition without improving the quality of care. Article
> Healthcare pricing grew at its slowest rate in more than half a century during the month of October. The overall healthcare price growth was 0.9 percent during October, according to data from the Altarum Institute's Center for Sustainable Health Spending. Article
And Finally... I don't think she'll be getting the job. Article