This Week’s Health Policy News Roundup Curated by Jane M. Orient, M.D.
The federal government spent $30 billion in subsidies to get physicians to adopt electronic medical records, which are now a major cause of physician dissatisfaction.
It is now charging penalties or reducing Medicare payments for not using an EMR, or for not meeting “meaningful use”(MU) criteria—or alleging fraud for using EMRs to enhance payments.
Only 2 percent of physicians have been able to meet phase 2 of MU requirements. http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/healthcare/233703-electronic-medical-records-government-medicine-101
A massive data breach at Anthem exposed 80 million people to risk of identity theft. http://www.healthleadersmedia.com/print/TEC-312926/Anthem-Data-Breach-a-Potential-Game-Changer-for-Healthcare
A very sophisticated method was used; Chinese hackers are suspected. http://krebsonsecurity.com/2015/02/china-to-blame-in-anthem-hack/
Anthem customers are not the only ones affected. More than 60 health plans were entangled because they used the Anthem BlueCard claims processing network. They will likely face HIPAA penalties because of business associate agreements. http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20150223/NEWS/302239977/legal-liabilities-in-recent-data-breach-extend-far-beyond-anthem
Seen on Social Media
The safest data is government data that the government wishes to keep hidden”
FDA hides evidence of fraud, fabrication,& scientific misconduct.
Same group claims vaccines are 'safe &effective.'
http://t.co/CULjm3aNcc
— Dr Michael Master (@DrMichaelMaster) February 21, 2015
@meganeellison Another one, nobody cares about personal data being repackaged and sold-this gets all of us http://t.co/u740xVfGF6
— MedicalQuack (@MedicalQuack) February 27, 2015
RT @zerohedge: Here Is What Americans Spent Their "Gas Savings" On http://t.co/5ZhV1ImbGQ (healthcare, what else?)
— MedicalQuack (@MedicalQuack) February 27, 2015
