Healthcare IT news for the week of January 6, 2014.

ICD-10 unpreparedness is unsettling.

Healthcare Informatics published an article this week detailing the results of a recent study performed by the consulting company KPMG. According to their study, 76% of providers and payers that participated report that they’ve completed an ICD-10 assessment. However, study results reveal that many respondents are slow to prepare for crucial components of the transition such as testing, determination of impact on cash flow, and revenue cycle impacts. These areas are not to be ignored as they are the areas that will be most significantly impacted come October 1st.

The continued reports of the slow ICD-10 progress are becoming more concerning as we enter into the less-than-a-year-to-go stage. According to results from a survey we conducted in Q4 of 2013, 35% of respondents indicated that they were “somewhat” or “not at all likely” to conduct ICD-10 transactions by the deadline. It’s unclear if the realities of the financial risks of this unpreparedness is clear to providers.

 The value of telemedicine continues to be recognized and realized.

While it’s not as widespread as some may have thought, according to an article on FierceHealthIT, the momentum for telemedicine continues to build. Missouri and Montana recently mandated parity laws enforcing private coverage for telemedicine and other states are primed to do the same. Telemedicine solves problems for a number of areas such as rural communities patients that require long-term care. A report by Research and Markets, predicts that the global telemedicine market will increase by 18.5% in the next four years.

Providers are feeling the pressure of consumers’ technology demands. 

According to Healthcare IT News, it’s not just policy makers enforcing Meaningful Use / MIPS anymore — consumers are flocking to mHealth devices and fitness monitors. This is driving a demand for Meaningful Use / MIPS. This poses a threat to doctors who aren’t meeting MU requirements and, therefore, aren’t meeting the needs of their patients. If patients don’t get what they’re looking for from their current provider, they will go to one who offers the technology they desire. This provides an even stronger, business-related incentive for doctors to get on the Meaningful Use / MIPS bandwagon.

An detailed example of the implementation and use patient portals.

On the topic of patients and technology, HealthIT.gov recently published a post detailing the implementation of a patient portal. It appears that there were some barriers to success during the implementation — namely a reluctance on the part of the providers and their discomfort with the adoption of patient communications. If your organization is facing similar challenges, this post serves as a great resource. It addresses how the featured organization (which includes 75 providers) combatted its challenges and successfully implemented patient portals.