News From Around the Web
> Middletown, New York-based Crystal Run Healthcare recently received state approval to sell commercial small group preferred provider organization and exclusive provider organization health plans. The plans will include pharmacy benefits, vision and dental coverage. Announcement
> Republican members from the Senate Finance Committee advanced a bipartisan bill Wednesday that aims to overhaul the Medicare appeals process by reducing the growing backlog of requests, reported the Hill. The bill would hire more individuals to trudge through the backlogs. Article
> Thirteen percent of Americans who purchased plans under the Affordable Care Act have "fallen off the rolls," reported the New York Times. This most likely is from these individuals failing to pay their premiums. Article
Electronic Medical Records News
> Achieving interoperability can be challenging in a healthcare setting, as Intel recognized with the launch of a homegrown ACO this year. An inside look at its initiative sheds light on the approaches the company took to address those challenges. Article
> Nearly seven out of 10 small and solo physician practices have affirmed their confidence in Web-based electronic health records, according to a recently published survey by Black Book Market Research. Article
And finally … Those are either some really big snakes or a very small four-month-old. Video