News From Around the Web
> The Food and Drug Administration has approved the Gmate SMART Blood Glucose Monitoring System and app for market, according to Drugstore News. The app and meter allow patients to use a smartphone as a mobile blood glucose measuring device and aims to help boost communication between physicians and patients. Article
> A new software security report from Veracode reveals 87 percent of Android apps and 80 percent of iOS apps have "cryptographic issues," a concern especially when it comes to mHealth apps that store sensitive information. While many developers are aware of the need for special coding for security, the report found, "few of them know how to implement it correctly." Report
Health Insurance News
> With the rise of consumerism in healthcare, the imperative has never been greater for insurers to find innovative ways to engage with their customers. In a special report, FierceHealthPayer examines the myriad ways insurers and other organizations engage consumers through mobile technology, assessing the benefits and challenges--as well as what lies ahead. Report
> The HITRUST CyberRX 2.0 Health Plan exercise, part of a larger cybersecurity readiness initiative, convened 250 individuals from 12 different insurers to test their organizations' preparedness through real-time simulations. The exercise revealed that some health plans appeared to lack clear plans and procedures when it came to responding to a cyberattack, John Gelinne, director of Deloitte's Cyber Risk Services, said during the teleconference. Article
Health IT News
> For patient portals to be effective for vulnerable populations, safety-net hospitals may need to provide training in basic computer skills and health literacy, according to research published at the Journal of Medical Internet Research. Article
And Finally… Pluto at its clearest yet. Article