Welcome to the weekly edition of Healthcare IT Today Bonus Features. This article will be a weekly roundup of interesting stories, product announcements, new hires, partnerships, research studies, awards, sales, and more. Because there’s so much happening out there in healthcare IT we aren’t able to cover in our full articles, we still want to make sure you’re informed of all the latest news, announcements, and stories happening to help you better do your job.
News
The U.S. House of Representatives passed by a 416-12 vote the Advancing Telehealth Beyond COVID–19 Act of 2021, which would extend the telehealth flexibilities put in place during the public health emergency until the end of 2024. Meanwhile, the American Telemedicine Association and its trade arm, ATA Action, have called on Congress to consider two other telehealth extensions: The High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) and Health Savings Account (HSA) telehealth tax provision, and the Ryan Haight Act in-person waiver for the remote prescription of controlled substances.
The latest report from MGMA indicated that cost concerns remain a challenge in healthcare, with only 60% of practices hitting their revenue goals in 2021. Practices appear to be suffering from a one-two punch of high inflation and low productivity, which remains below its pre-pandemic level for both physician- and hospital-owned practices. Primary care in particular seems to be suffering, as visit volumes have yet to return to their 2019 levels.
Studies
A survey of Surescripts users found an 8% increase in the use of electronic prescriptions for specialty medications in the first five months of 2022 compared to 2021. Surescripts also reported a 24% increase in the number of prescribers enrolled in May 2022 compared to May 2021.
A survey of healthcare leaders by patient engagement vendor pCare and research firm WBR Insights indicated that demand for technology to improve the patient experience is on the rise, with 65% of organizations saying more patients want a tech-enabled care experience. While 95% of organizations said digital engagement tools improve the patient experience, 42% said there are “significant gaps” between what patients expect and what they can provide.
Partnerships
- Virtual cardiology care company Heartbeat Health is working with Caption Health, which applies AI to heart ultrasounds, to make scans and follow-up appointments available via telehealth.
- Preventive care delivery platform Fullscript has joined the athenahealth Marketplace app store.
- Health information network Availity will be the provider data management partner for Symphony Provider Directory, California’s provider directory utility and a part of the Integrated Healthcare Association.
- Digital Diagnostics is partnering with ArchWell Health to bring its diagnostic devices for diabetic eye disease into the community centers where ArchWell provides senior care.
Products
- Cardiac care company iRhythm Technologies received FDA 510(k) clearance for the ZEUS System for the Zio Watch, both currently in development. The wearable device and its underlying operating system intend to provide long-term, continuous monitoring for atrial fibrillation.
- Digital health provider for substance use disorder treatment CHESS Health released its ePrevention tool to help providers and community organizations identify at-risk patients and recommend interventions.
- AmerisourceBergen launched DTx Connect, an ordering and fulfillment platform for digital therapeutics.
- Linus Health announced the availability of its brain health platform, which combines cognitive screenings and decision support tools to help detect dementia in its early stages.
- Nurse-1-1 released its live chat tool, which provides patients with access to more than 3,000 providers in its nationwide network. On average, patients can connect to a provider within eight seconds.
- In vitro fertilization decision support tool Fairtility launched the AI Academy to educate and engage the IVF community about the responsible adoption of AI in fertility care.
- HIPAA compliant email provider Paubox unveiled Paubox Marketing, which is designed to help provider send personalized yet compliant email marketing messages.
- Value-based payment platform provider Clarify Health launched Clarify Access, an analytics tool designed to help pharma companies develop market access strategies.
People
- Policy and reimbursement consultancy Applied Policy hired Steven Johnson as Health Policy Director. Johnson is a 12-year CMS veteran who worked on MSSP’s quality reporting requirements.
- Value-based care service provider Greater Good Health hired Michael Grover, formerly of Optum, as Chief Financial Officer.
If you have news that you’d like us to consider for a future edition of Healthcare IT Today Bonus Features, please submit them on this page. Please include any relevant links and let us know if news is under embargo.
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