May 6, 2021 | Providers, payers unprepared for data-sharing rule
INDUSTRY NEWS
Providers, payers unprepared for data-sharing rule
April 5 began the enforcement phase of the HHS information blocking rule, but a survey released last month found that roughly half of the 4,000 health care leaders surveyed in March lacked awareness and readiness. In fact, 47% were unfamiliar with the term “information blocking.” Respondents included clinical, technology and administrative leaders from provider, payer and IT organizations. The survey, sponsored by Life Image, found that 15% still charge $25 or more for patients to acquire their own records. (HealthLeaders Media; announcement)
Survey: Rising health costs batter big business
Most (87%) of top execs from large businesses believe the cost of employee health benefits will become unsustainable in the next 5 to 10 years; 85% believe that the government will need to play a larger role in providing coverage and containing costs. That’s from a survey by the Purchaser Business Group on Health and the Kaiser Family Foundation. Respondents agreed that a larger government role would be better for their business (83%) and employees (86%). Employers are growing increasingly desperate to rein in rising health care costs and spending, Modern Healthcare reports. (Modern Healthcare*; KFF)
Leapfrog survey: Most hospitals above average
One-third of the nation's hospitals received A grades for the quality of care they provide, according to a Leapfrog Group annual survey of acute care facilities. Another 24% received a B, 35% received a C, 7% received a D and less than 1% received an F. Massachusetts, Idaho, Maine, Virginia and North Carolina have the highest percentages of A-rated hospitals. The survey was conducted immediately before the pandemic. (Healthcare Dive; Leapfrog survey)
INNOVATION & TRANSFORMATION
Nash to Feds: Do more to advance VBP
The federal government can accelerate the transition to value-based payment models by promoting the widespread adoption of alternative payment models that improve health outcomes, cut wasteful spending and boost health equity, writes David Nash, MD, MBA. He draws on a policy brief and white paper entitled The Future of Value-Based Payment: A Road Map to 2030. CMS should mandate VBP participation—and when it can’t, he says, it should encourage and incentivize such participation. (MedPage Today*; policy brief and white paper)
CONSUMERS & PROVIDERS
Study suggests EHR proficiency takes time
A new study published in JAMA Network Open suggests it may take a while to see clinical quality performance improvements after EHR adoption and implementation. Researchers looked at 1,141 ambulatory clinics in Minnesota, Washington and Wisconsin. “Between 2014 and 2017, ambulatory clinics in Minnesota, Washington, and Wisconsin with EHRs having greater capabilities had better composite measures of clinical quality than other clinics, but clinics that gained EHR capabilities during this time had smaller increases in clinical quality that were not statistically significant.” (EHR Intelligence; JAMA Network Open)
NEW & NOTED
Counseling in aisle 3: CVS operates 12 in-store mental health counseling sites in Houston, Philadelphia and Tampa; it plans to expand to 34 this year. It's targeting communities where mental health care isn't readily available. The program is an extension of the CVS HealthHUBs, which exist in 650 of its nearly 10,000 stores. (NPR)
Go to sleep: New research, which followed subjects over 25 years, suggests those in their 50s and 60s who sleep six hours or less a night are more likely to develop dementia in their late 70s. (New York Times; Nature Communications)
Patients tell HHS to cut prescription costs: In a letter to HHS, 124 patient groups detail how recent trends, including high deductible plans and high cost-sharing, have threatened treatment affordability for patients. They call on HHS to cut costs. Among recommendations: Establish cost-sharing caps for patients and require insurers to offer plans that include first-dollar coverage for prescriptions. Signatories included the National Alliance on Mental Illness and AIDS United. (Becker's Hospital Review; announcement)
MULTI-MEDIA
Kaiser Health News’ “What the Health” podcast looks at the first 100 days for the Biden administration on health policy. Panelists: Julie Rovner of KHN, Joanne Kenen of Politico, Mary Ellen McIntire of CQ Roll Call and Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet. (Kaiser Health News)
MARKETVOICES...QUOTES WORTH READING
“As I see it, the pandemic has given us an opportunity to mandate VBP [value-based payments] as one step toward creating a better system for the future. We owe it to the more than half a million victims, so that their deaths will not have been in vain.”-- David Nash, MD, MBA, in an opinion piece for Medpage Today*