Advances on the federal, state levels

Even as the final privacy rule impacts healthcare providers across the U.S., states are developing and advancing on their own in specific areas, such as patient safety and telemedicine.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released the long-awaited final omnibus rule designed to strengthen the privacy and security protections for health information established under HIPAA. The rule enhances patients' privacy protections, provides individuals new rights to their health information and strengthens the government’s ability to enforce the law.

“Much has changed in healthcare since HIPAA was enacted over 15 years ago,” said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. “The new rule will help protect patient privacy and safeguard patients’ health information in an ever-expanding digital age.”

The changes in the final rule provide the public with increased protection and control of personal health information (PHI). The HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules have focused on healthcare providers, health plans and other entities that process health insurance claims but the final rule expands many of the requirements to business associates of these entities that receive PHI, such as contractors and subcontractors. The changes also strengthen the HITECH Act's Breach Notification requirements by clarifying when breaches of unsecured health information must be reported to HHS.

Meanwhile, nearly 400 California hospitals have joined together in support of a public-private partnership aimed at enhancing the quality of care provided to patients. By endorsing the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' Partnership for Patients initiative, the California Hospital Association said that hospitals throughout California have agreed to participate in two quality improvement programs:

• By the end of 2013, preventable hospital-acquired conditions will decrease by 40 percent compared with 2010. Achieving this goal will mean approximately 1.8 million fewer injuries to patients nationwide, with more than 60,000 lives saved over three years.
• By the end of 2013, preventable complications during a transition from one care setting to another will decrease so that all hospital readmissions will be reduced by 20 percent compared with 2010. Achieving this goal will mean more than 1.6 million patients across the U.S. will recover from illness without suffering a preventable complication requiring rehospitalization within 30 days of discharge.

Georgia is well on its way to establishing the most sophisticated telemedicine network in the nation. The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) began this month distributing 13 telemedicine carts to health districts around the state, each equipped with a stethoscope, endoscope and a basic exam camera. The department also will put the finishing touches on the videoconferencing infrastructure it has been consolidating, updating and expanding over the past year, according to an article posted on the DPH website.

To expand the network, DPH is recruiting doctors and dentists in the Georgia Volunteer Health Care Program to enroll them in the telemedicine program and get them the necessary audio and video equipment to start seeing patients.

Is there a particular aspect of healthcare delivery on which your region or state is focusing? Please share your experience.

Beth Walsh

Editor, Clinical Innovation + Technology

bwalsh@trimedmedia.com