ICD-10 extension good for hospital credit, Fitch says; Quest Diagnostics launches new patient portal;

News From Around the Web

> The latest extension of ICD-10 until at least Oct. 1, 2015, is being viewed as a positive credit development for not-for-profit hospitals, according to Fitch Ratings. "While the majority of hospital providers Fitch rates are prepared for the Oct. 1 transition, the potential disruption to the revenue cycle could have a negative credit impact on the sector [particularly on lower rated credits]," an announcement said. Announcement

> Quest Diagnostics this week launched a new online portal that enables patients to access their own lab data, in accordance with an amendment to the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 announced in February by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. The portal also allows users to view other health information, including provider contact lists and medication reminders. Announcement

> The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is building a new electronic database on hospice quality data, according to a notice published Tuesday in the Federal Register. Notice

Mobile Healthcare News

> Mobile messaging as part of medical recovery treatment proves mHealth efforts can boost rehabilitation efforts for injured military personnel and help soldiers re-integrate following service, as shown in a recent pilot. The primary goal for the program, mCare, conducted at the University of Pittsburgh Center for Military Medicine Research, was determining if mHealth intervention for geographically dispersed military patients could boost communication and improve treatment. Article

Health Finance News

> Some Ohio hospitals now provide loans to patients struggling to meet their insurance deductibles or co-payments, the Columbus Dispatch reports. Mount Carmel Health System, for instance, will set up patient loans for balances of $300 or more that run as long as 60 months, with annual interest rates of around 4 percent. Article

And Finally... But, isn't Chewy a really bad tattoo, too? Article