Bryan "Buzz" White

Here’s your recap of last week’s health IT news 🗞️ 👇 🤖 AI Clinician Assistant • Ochsner Health announced an enterprise-wide agreement with DeepScribe. 📋 Patient Administration • Weave is now integrated with eClinicalWorks.    • Phreesia is now available through Oracle Health's Marketplace.    • Samaritan Medical Center selected Loyal for managing provider listings. 💼 Provider and Practice Administration • MedStar Health is partnering with RLDatix on AI-based tools for analyzing patient safety events.    • Kontakt.io released a new solution to track hand washing and gamify compliance.    • Epic announced a new feature allowing users to securely release their healthcare information to apps of their choice. 🔁 RCM • Infinitus Systems, Inc. released a new instant benefits verification tool for commercial insurance patients seeking specialty medication.    • Providence expanded its implementation of Xsolis, designed to manage length of stay, mitigate denial risk, and ensure proper reimbursement.    • R1 RCM is being acquired by investment funds associated with TowerBrook Capital Partners L.P. and Clayton Dubilier & Rice. 📱 Patient Support and Communications • uMETHOD Health, Inc. is partnering with Linus Health on an integrated solution for earlier detection of cognitive impairment plus care planning. ⚙️ Clinical Operations • SimplePractice launched an ePrescribe platform following its acquisition of certain assets of Luminello, Inc.    • VitalHub Corp. is acquiring the clinical decision support vendor MedCurrent Corporation. 🧑‍💻 Virtual and At-Home Care • AvaSure has acquired the smart room technology vendor Ouva in an effort to expand its AI capabilities.    • VSee is partnering with Ava Robotics to give remote providers an inpatient presence. 🍎 VBC • Zing Health is leveraging Story Health for eligible members with the greatest risk of poor heart failure outcomes. 🧠 Food For Thought • A federal judge granted an injunction against PointClickCare for alleged information blocking tactics. Elion advisor Brendan Keeler shared a great post about some of the potential implications of this decision. https://lnkd.in/eb8F3FEr    • The The Cedars-Sinai Accelerator program announced its 10th class, and the theme was unequivocally AI with a strong bias toward clinical applications. We remain eager to see this shift from back-office use-cases toward patient- and provider-facing clinical solutions.    • UW Health and Epic announced the release of the National Roundtable on Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare’s recommendations to lawmakers. The TL;DR: Lawmakers should foster innovation across the patient experience (i.e. beyond traditional care settings, such as virtual, in-home, etc) and play a strong role in ensuring equitable access, minimal care disparities, and local validation.

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https://lnkd.in/gywCYUvv AMAs continued advocacy to help #FixPriorAuth targeting ERISA plans.  Although very welcomed, part of the practical workflow challenge is keeping track of what federal/state regulations apply to which plans based on a specific services.  Not so easy to do in today’s legacy EMRs. #Valer can help keep track of payer rules as regulatory requirement for prior auth ramp up on an individual payer and service level basis. www.valer.health 

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Key Strategic Insights = A Successful OP CDI Program The challenge of value-based care starts with a collaborative approach, when launching an Outpatient Clinical Documentation Integrity (OP CDI) program. Here are some key strategic insights to success: 1. Engage with Population Health Understand Pain Points: Begin by understanding the specific challenges faced. This fosters collaboration. Tailored Questions: Use customized questions to facilitate productive discussions and ensure alignment with needs. 2. Effective Software Implementation Manage Patient (Pt.) Volumes: Implement software solutions to efficiently handle pt. volumes. OP CDI Calculator: Utilize a calculator to determine Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) needs. Data Analytics and Reporting: Emphasize the importance of continuous improvement via data analytics. 3. Workflow Creation Establish Robust Workflows: Create strong workflows before integrating reviewers. 4. Collaboration & Communication Promote Strong Collaboration: Encourage robust communication between key stakeholders. Leverage Software: Use technology to reduce physician burnout & streamline communication. 5. Patient-Centered Approach Address social determinants of health (SDOH) & ensure accurate documentation of conditions and care plans. Patient Outcomes: Keep patient care at the center of all doc. & workflow processes. 6. Regulatory Compliance Adhere to Guidelines: Follow regulatory requirements such as CMS guidelines on Hierarchical Condition Categories (HCC) coding to avoid penalties and enhance credibility. 7. Measurable Outcomes Set Clear Goals: Aim for measurable outcomes like improved HCC recapture rates, enhanced RAF scores, better HEDIS measures, and addressing SDOH needs. 8. Stakeholder Engagement Involve All Stakeholders: Ensure that executives, clinicians, and other relevant parties are involved in planning and implementation process. Success Stories Recently, I helped several CDI directors validate their cases for OP CDI programs within Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). By engaging with population health leadership, we identified key issues such as RAF gaps and HEDIS measures, and tailored processes to address them. For instance, a CDI director I guided successfully identified HCC and HEDIS recapture as their biggest pain points. With strategic solutions in place, they are now ready to implement the project for the 2025 budget yr., aiming to improve their HCC recapture rate by 20%, leveraging data analytics for outcomes and improvement needs. Benefits of Implementing These Strategies Align Risk Stratification: Properly align risk stratification with chronic conditions and healthcare needs. Quality Measures: Improve quality measures and address SDOH. Collaborative Team: Ensure success with a collaborative team supported by technology. Overall, these strategic actions will enhance patient care and operational efficiency. #Healthcare #Leadership #CDI #PatientCare #ValueBasedCare #HealthcareInnovation

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Check out Briauna Driggers and I's latest HCCA/SCCE compliance article on Navigating AI Reimbursement in Healthcare Revenue Cycle Coding Strategies Regents Health Resources, LLC

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There are few things that can precipitate significant changes in US #healthcare, but Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will always be one of them. Quality measures are one aspect of how #hospitals (and #skillednursing facilities, for that matter) are measured on the quality of their care, and by adding a specific and publicly reported measure centered around 4Ms care (what Matters, Medication Mentation and Mobility), CMS is helping to ensure that older adults receive care focused on areas that don’t always get the attention they deserve. It may seem esoteric, but this is an important step forward in care quality for #olderadults.

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EXCITING NEWS IN HEALTH POLICY!!! The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services propose introducing baseline requirements for hospitals and critical access hospitals (CAH) in obstetrical services, marking a pivotal step towards revolutionizing maternal healthcare. The proposed rule can drive robust maternal quality improvement initiatives that set foundational standards for the organization, staffing, and care delivery within obstetrical units. Safeguarding emergency services readiness and establishing seamless transfer protocols for obstetrical patients can significantly enhance the quality and safety of maternal care. Furthermore, the rule requires annual staff training on evidence-based maternal health practices and cultural competencies, equipping healthcare professionals with the knowledge and skills to provide compassionate, high-quality care to every mother. This policy intervention promises to elevate the standard of maternal health services nationwide, ultimately saving thousands of lives and improving outcomes for countless families. https://lnkd.in/eAPr6Tg9 #MaternalHealth #QualityCare #HealthcareReform #SafeDeliveries #MaternalWellness #CompassionateCare

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