Four things to know about health IT this week

Another study indicates a disturbing lack of preparation for the transition to ICD-10, Marilyn Tavenner’s bid to be confirmed as head of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) hits a roadblock and telemedicine is making great strides across the country. Those are a few things to know about health IT this week.

1. In case you didn’t hear, hospitals are making slow progress toward ICD-10 implementation.

According to yet another survey, one in five small- and mid-sized hospitals have not begun any education or training for the transition to ICD-10, 47 percent have not begun document improvement education for medical staff; and 31 percent do not plan to dual code prior to October 1, 2014.

2. Tavenner’s long, long road to officially becoming head of CMS just got even longer.

The Senate Finance Committee unanimously approved Tavenner to head CMS on April 23, but a vote by the full Senate has been blocked.

Tavenner has been temporarily running CMS for the past two years, and now faces a full Senate vote before she officially can assume the CMS administrator position. Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, derailed the full vote, at least temporarily, by placing a hold on the nomination. Harkin disagrees with the Obama administration's plans for a $15 billion fund for prevention and public health programs and wants to discuss its future.

3. Telemedicine continues to expand.

The American Telemedicine Association’s monthly briefing covered the latest federal proposals and an update on state-level initiatives. Meanwhile, the South Carolina Senate has approved a bill, which requires coverage of telemedicine services by the state public employee benefit program, and the establishment of a Telemedicine Advisory Council.

And, the FCC has created the role of director of healthcare initiatives to coordinate and promote communications technologies and services, facilitate availability of medical devices that use spectrum, and ensure hospitals and other providers have connectivity.

4. Stakeholders continue to invest in patient research.

The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) is offering $68 million in funding opportunities to entities to develop a national patient-centered clinical research network. PCORI will fund up to $56 million to support a maximum of eight Clinical Data Research Networks and $12 million to fund up to 18 new and existing Patient-Powered Research Networks for 18-month pilot projects.

How are any of these developments impacting your organization? Please share your thoughts.

Beth Walsh

Clinical Innovation + Technology editor