Vendor to subsidize free EMRs for docs via ads
A vendor of electronic medical records has announced that it will make use of Google’s AdSense program to help sponsor free electronic online health records for physicians. For the arrangement with Practice Fusion Inc., ads on being placed on Practice Fusion’s online electronic health records are available free to doctors. When the doctors use the EMRs, Google delivers ads based on keywords. Ryan Howard, CEO of Practice Fusion, said the company’s use of AdSense is “unique because we’re embedding ads within an actual product.”
Washington State docs wary of care quality study
Doctors in Washington state say they would like to support a new regional healthcare quality study, but remain wary of the limited time and funds allotted to the program, according to the Washington State Medical Association. The study, to be updated quarterly and slated for release sometime this year by the non-profit Puget Sound Health Alliance, will involve de-identified claims data from 15 area health plans, self-insured employers and union trusts, amounting to information on 2 million lives.
Leavitt announces plan to charter quality reporting
A new plan to fund local organizations to assess and report on providers’ quality of care performance has been announced by Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt. The program will charter designated “Value Exchanges” – organizations participating in collaborative efforts to publicly report provider care quality. Eligible groups are limited to independent, local, not-for-profit organizations.
AHIP: Medicare Advantage helping minorities, others
Minority and low-income Medicare beneficiaries are increasingly relying on Medicare Advantage Plans and Medigap for healthcare coverage, America’s Health Insurance Plans has found. According to recent AHIP reports, which looked at 2004 data collected in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey, low-income and minority beneficiaries choose Medicare Advantage plans and Medigap for their low out-of-pocket costs and range of benefits.