CMS Clarifies Exchange of Lab Data

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March 12, 2010
CMS Clarifies Exchange of Lab Data The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has issued guidance to clarify that laboratory results may be transmitted via health information exchanges. Go to Information Exchange Channel >>     Forward this story >> Indiana Network Expands its Reach Good Samaritan Hospital in Vincennes, Ind., has joined the Indiana Network for Patient Care, linking the 232-bed community hospital with 40 other medical facilities serving six million patients. Go to Information Exchange Channel >>     Forward this story >> Advertisement Health Information Exchange Experts Speak Out Hospital, RHIO and State executives share their experience on HIE. Listen to timely testimonials on how they are achieving: Return on Investment, Meaningful Use, Physician Benefits, Statewide and Large Region Scalability, and why they Choose Axolotl. Watch the video evaluations now VA, DoD Expand Data Sharing Pilots The Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs are expanding to the Tidewater area of southeast Virginia pilot tests to share patient data among their information systems. Go to Information Exchange Channel >>     Forward this story >> New Entity to Oversee California HIEs The State of California has named Cal eConnect, a new organization, as the governing entity to develop and support health information exchange services in the state. Go to Information Exchange Channel >>     Forward this story >> CMS: HIEs Will Stress Financial Systems The industry's move toward health information exchange across disparate entities presents a number of challenges for financial and administrative information systems, says Henry Chao, chief technology officer at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Go to Information Exchange Channel >>     Forward this story >> Criteria for Accrediting HIEs Released The Electronic Healthcare Network Accreditation Commission has released for public review and comment much of the criteria for its upcoming Health Information Exchange accreditation program. Go to Information Exchange Channel >>     Forward this story >>
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Ensure EMR Can Co-Exist In Your Doctor's Office or Clinic White Paper

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Having trouble viewing this email? See it online. To ensure receipt of Health Data Management emails, Please add healthdatamanagement@m.healthdatamanagement.com to your address book.a Now Available How to Ensure EMR Can Co-Exist in Your Doctor's Office/Clinic With the demands of affiliated hospitals, Medicare, and other allied healthcare organizations, it's very likely that your office will soon have an EMR system installed. However, one of the first steps that must be made in your office is the decision on how/ where to actually locate the servers and storage that will drive your EMR system. Most doctors' offices and clinics have not had substantial amounts of IT equipment located in those locations. Read this White Paper

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Register for the HCCA Research Compliance Conference

Register for the HCCA Research Compliance Conference

April 21–24, 2010 | Dallas, TX
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Register Before March 24, 2010 and Receive $250 off Your Registration!

Event Website: http://www.hcca-research-conference.org/

It's not often that we have two conferences in the same city at the same time. So, we decided that we would allow the compliance community to capitalize on this rare opportunity. Join your compliance peers for HCCA's Research Compliance Conference or sign up for SCCE's Conference for Effective Compliance Systems in Higher Education on April 21–24, 2010 in Dallas, Texas. And whichever one you pick, you can attend sessions for the other conference at no additional cost.

Brochure: http://www.hcca-info.org/StaticContent/2010ResearchCompliance_brochure.pdf

Register Online: https://www.hcca-info.org/source/Meetings/cMeetingFunctionDetail.cfm?section=Conferences&product_major=RC0410

Register for the 2010 Research Compliance Conference and get FREE access to SCCE's 8th Conference for Effective Compliance Systems in Higher Education

Your Research Compliance Conference registration pass includes the following benefits:
• Attendee pass to HCCA's Research Compliance Conference -AND- SCCE's Conference for Effective Compliance Systems in Higher Education
• 8 Cutting edge General Sessions and over 50 breakout session options to choose from
• Sessions ranging from beginners level to advanced compliance professionals
• A chance to earn a variety of CEU offerings to keep up with or earn new certifications
• Networking breakfast and lunches on Thursday, April 22, 2010, and Friday, April 23, 2010
• Cocktail/Networking reception on Thursday, April 22, 2010
• Exhibit Hall: Learn new trends and services from suppliers in your industry

HCCA LinkedIn Group: http://hcca-info.org/LinkedIn

HCCA LinkedIn Events Group: http://hcca-info.org/LinkedInEvents
Research LinkedIn Event: http://events.linkedin.com/Research-Compliance-Conference/pub/192139

Research Facebook Event: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/event.php?eid=313869146618

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Medical identity theft: Nearly 1.5 million Americans have been victims

Medical identity theft is an alarming and often undetected offense affecting today’s consumers, according to a recent survey conducted by The Ponemon Institute and sponsored by ProtectMyID.com^™, Experian’s multilayered identity theft detection, protection and fraud resolution product. According to the study, nearly 1.5 million Americans have been victims of medical identity theft. For many, the notion of identity theft is both upsetting and daunting, but few individuals realize the specific severity and potential repercussions of medical identity fraud. It is estimated that the costs associated with this type of theft total about $28.6 billion — or approximately $20,000 per victim. Not only is resolution of medical fraud an especially arduous endeavor, but the difficulty of recognition and the potential associated costs also make it particularly dangerous.

“We are proud to sponsor this groundbreaking study because when people are informed, we find that they are empowered to take steps to protect all their valuable information.”

“We are pleased to work with Experian’s ProtectMyID.com for this first-of-its-kind study,” said Dr. Larry Ponemon, chairman and founder of Ponemon Institute. “This is the first empirical study that attempts to measure the size and scope of the medical identity theft, and our results underscore the importance of informing the public why the protection of their medical records is of the utmost importance. This study confirms that there is not only a significant financial impact to medical identity theft, but that there is a very real danger of erroneous diagnosis and treatment because of medical records that contain false information. All this adds up to the need for urgency on the part of consumers to self-educate and take the proper steps to ensure the integrity of their medical identity.”

One of the most common instances of medical identity theft is the use of a stolen insurance ID card in order to receive medical services. The main problem in combating the theft is the time it takes to recognize that it has occurred. According to the study, more than 50 percent of consumers didn’t discover that they had been victimized until at least a year after the incident or incidents had occurred. Only 6 percent received a timely notification that their medical records had been breached. These unsettling figures indicate that a significant number of consumers are currently and unknowingly being targeted by medical identity thieves.

Adding to the number of those affected are the individuals who choose not to report wrongdoings to the authorities. In fact, 46 percent of respondents elected not to report incidents to law enforcement officials or other legal authorities. Within this group, the predominant reasoning for withholding such information is even more surprising: 49 percent of those surveyed said that they were close to the thief and did not wish to subject him or her to legal trouble. With so many unreported cases of medical identity theft, it is clear that the reach of such fraud goes far beyond the total number of documented incidents.

“The difficulty in detecting medical identity theft makes it a particularly dangerous form of fraud,” said Jennifer Leuer, general manager of ProtectMyID.com. “Arming yourself with the tools provided by a fraud protection product such as ProtectMyID.com can prove invaluable in early detection and resolution, especially knowing that if something does happen you won’t be alone in getting the matter resolved.”

The potential consequences of medical identity theft have proved to be extremely damaging. Forty-eight percent of respondents said they lost their health care coverage completely, and 32 percent noted an increase in their insurance premiums. Of those surveyed, nearly 80 percent suffered negative ramifications as a result of the theft.
In order to combat these risks, ProtectMyID.com offers coverage specifically designed to aid consumers who are victims of medical identity theft. The following features will be available this month:

• Ongoing and daily monitoring for identity theft using insurance policy numbers. This will flag suspicious Internet activity involving personal medical information and keep customers informed along the way.


• Dedicated resolution agents who are trained to notify and work with health care providers on behalf of customers to resolve any theft-related issue. This removes the mystery and uncertainty from dealing with providers and delegates the responsibility to a trained agent.


• A lost wallet feature allows the consumer to make one call to a trained agent and receive assistance in the cancellation and reordering of lost wallet items, including credit cards and medical and dental insurance cards.


• Alerts inform members when medically related collection actions occur.

Compounding the effects of medical identity theft is the reality that resolution is extremely difficult. Of those surveyed, only 9 percent of victims reported that they have completely resolved the crimes against them and restored their identity. In contrast, an overwhelming 40 percent of respondents had not reached resolution at the time of the study. As a result of the situation, 55 percent of victims lost confidence in their health care organizations. According to the study, medical identity theft is a pervasive issue that frequently goes untreated and often unnoticed by consumers.

“At ProtectMyID.com, we want to educate consumers about the risks associated with medical identity theft and give them the tools to better protect themselves against this crime,” said Leuer. “We are proud to sponsor this groundbreaking study because when people are informed, we find that they are empowered to take steps to protect all their valuable information.”

Source The Ponemon Institute^®

Aventyn launches healthKrypt security technology

Aventyn Inc., an innovative provider of secure connected clinical information processing solutions, launched healthKrypt™, patent pending technology for securing health information and trusted transaction processing. This announcement was made jointly at HIMMS in Atlanta, GA and RSA2010 in San Francisco, CA.

“The security framework for healthKrypt is built to execute security functions in a processor using known processor architectural constructs with minimal performance impact”

healthKrypt is simple, low encryption/bit cost and easy to implement multi factor security technology that works on multiple platforms, virtualization layers, cloud data and portals. Now it is possible to encrypt user ID, software applications and data using dynamic encryption algorithm that is specific to the user, device, content and service combination. By uniquely encrypting user IDs, devices and data, health record information is protected with one-click authentication and robust key management. Secure user profile-based accesses to provider, payer, and consumer portals provide CIO’s capability to offer new value-add services, extend and improve secure trusted partner transactions preventing theft and fraud.

“The security framework for healthKrypt is built to execute security functions in a processor using known processor architectural constructs with minimal performance impact,” said Bhaktha Ram, CTO at Aventyn. “The custom security algorithms are software, user and device platform specific; protect against software vulnerabilities, prevent ID theft, fraud and class break scenario.” healthKrypt is deployed in real-time as a lightweight “driver” for securely executing code and retrieving secure data on existing standard x86 and ARM hardware and software platforms without additional requirements for security hardware and software.

Health IT and Medical Banking systems are further strengthened with custom work-flow using processor specific security features with *Intel x86 AMT/VT/TXT, AMD-V and ARM TrustZone technologies for scalability.

Vaccine researchers at HZI find c-di-IMP molecule

The vaccine researchers at the HZI found the molecule "c-di-IMP".

"This molecule leads to a strong immune response and it is significantly more effective than known adjuvants," says Rimma Libanova, who is examining the molecule in her PhD thesis.

To investigate how it works, she vaccinated mice with a harmless protein, which acts as a foreign structure for the immune system of a mouse. Like during a vaccination against a virus or bacterium, an immune response starts against the protein - without the danger of a real infection. One group of mice received the vaccine with the enhancer molecule, the other without the additive. After 42 days, she analyzed the immune reaction of the mice to the foreign protein. "We found a strong immune reaction in mice that received the optimized vaccine. Furthermore, we measured the stimulation of important effector mechanisms, which are key for the success of a vaccination," says Thomas Ebensen, who is working with Rimma Libanova on the new enhancer. Until now, the researchers were only able to show the effect in mice - but they think one step further: "With this new adjuvant, we want to improve already existing vaccines, such as those against influenza or hepatitis. Maybe it also helps to create new vaccines using component that in the past did not promote efficient immune responses using known adjuvants."

"The molecule might also help us to develop new vaccination strategies," says Professor Carlos A. Guzm-n, head of the "Vaccinology and Applied Microbiology" Department at the HZI. His department is working on an alternative to the "shot": the snuff vaccination. Here, the vaccine is taken as a nasal spray to work where most pathogens enter the body: at the mucosae. Guzm-n highlights, "c-di-IMP enhances also local mucosal immune responses, representing a strong candidate for the implementation of such type of vaccines. This is very important because mucosal vaccines can prevent not only diseases, but also to block infections before they even take place, thereby protecting also non vaccinated contacts against disease."

PerkinElmer announces launch of NexION™ 300 ICP-MS

PerkinElmer, Inc., a global leader focused on the health and safety of people and the environment, announced the launch of the NexION™ 300 Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS) for elemental analysis at PITTCON® 2010, March 1-4, 2010, Booth 2769.

“The NexION 300 platform advances trace element analysis, and its introduction is perfectly timed to help address global problems ranging from contamination of our air, water and food, to the integrity of pharmaceuticals and nutritional supplements, as well as the safety of emerging nanomaterials,” explained Martin Long, vice president, spectroscopy, Analytical Sciences and Laboratory Services, PerkinElmer.

He added, “Researchers can now benefit from a simplified system for analysis of trace elements in the parts-per-trillion range, allowing even non-expert users to perform complex analyses. The new NexION 300 system also greatly reduces the need for daily user maintenance and cleaning, translating into minimal downtime and less need for highly-skilled operators."

The NexION 300 instrument features the patented Universal Cell Technology™ (UCT) and is the only instrument of its kind with three modes of interference removal - Standard, Collision and Reaction. These three modes allow scientists to choose the appropriate technique for their particular application, based on the complexity of the problem to be solved.

NexION’s Standard mode can be used for simple and routine analyses. Collision mode is effective for semi-quantitative analyses, environmental sample monitoring and testing unknown samples. Reaction mode, using patented DRC™ technology, provides the best detection limits available, for even the most difficult elements and matrices such as semiconductor testing.

The NexION 300 system can be integrated with chromatography systems for effective speciation analysis to enable customers to accurately separate and measure the toxicity, bioavailability, metabolism and environmental mobility of elements.

New Fair Targets Medical Devices and Supplies' Market Increase in Global HealthCare Spending Offers Opportunities

More than 130 exhibitors from around the world are expected to attend the inaugural HKTDC Hong Kong International Medical Devices and Supplies Fair, 4-6 November, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The new fair offers manufacturers a chance to link up with buyers from around the world. It will also help buyers identify distributors to help them tap the lucrative Chinese mainland market and the Asian region in general.

“The debut event represents a timely opportunity for healthcare product distributors and manufacturers, in part because medical and healthcare spending on the Chinese mainland have been expanding despite the recent financial turmoil,” said Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) Assistant Executive Director Raymond Yip, speaking today at a press conference announcing the new fair. “The mainland’s recent medical system reforms, worth some Rmb850 billion (US$124 billion), are expected to push up medical spending.”

The mainland is not the only growing consumer of healthcare products and services. The World Health Organisation estimates that global spending on health has exceeded US$4.1 trillion a year. Such expenditures are increasing as a percentage of GDP among all major economies. “The trend has been further strengthened by outbreaks of such diseases as bird flu, SARS and, most recently, H1N1 influenza,” said Mr Yip.

Tech Exchange

Fair highlights include the Tech Exchange, a platform for getting technology to the marketplace. Exhibitors showcasing their innovations at the Tech Exchange will include the Centre for Innovation and Technology at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Displays will range from Chinese University’s fall-prevention shoes for the elderly to Polytechnic’s PDA-based wireless ultrasound devices and the University of Science and Technology’s CRP rapid tests for diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction. The Hong Kong Government’s Innovation and Technology Commission will have a booth at the exchange as well.

Fair participants will also include companies such as 3M. Its ESPE Asia-Pacific Professional Services Manager Dr Young-Chul Kwon will speak at a seminar on the future of dentistry. Johnson & Johnson is sponsoring a seminar led by Shanghai Fudan University Professor Chen Jie on healthcare reform in the mainland and its implications for the health devices market.

Exhibit categories at the fair include: Accident and Emergency Equipment; Building Technology and Hospital Furniture; Chinese Medical Devices; Diagnostics; Medical Technology; Laboratory Equipment; Medical Components and Materials; Medical Supplies and Disposables; Physiotherapy, Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Technology; and Textiles.

Regional Regulation

The fair will host the 14 th meeting of the Asian Harmonization Working Party (AHWP), the first time the AHWP has met in Hong Kong. The AHWP is working to unify the region’s regulations regarding medical devices, and more than 400 government officials and business executives from its 16 member economies are expected to attend. The AHWP will also feature meetings and workshops daily. In addition, the Hong Kong Doctors Union will hold continuous medical education courses during the fair period.

A day-long conference, “ Hong Kong – A Medical and Health Device Industries Development Hub,” takes place 5 November, organised by t he HKTDC and the Hong Kong Medical and Healthcare Device Industries Association (HKMHDIA). The HKMHDIA, which is also hosting a pavilion, is organising the fair in concert with the HKTDC.

The HKTDC Hong Kong Optical Fair and the HKTDC Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair will take place alongside the Hong Kong International Medical Devices and Supplies Fair.

Cancer Therapy: New hope for therapy in heartburn-related cancer

Cancer of the gullet, or oesophagus, is one of the ten most common cancers in the Western world, and there have been recent alarming increases in the number of cases each year in the US and UK.

There is no good treatment, and sufferers frequently face a short, painful battle which ends all too quickly in death. Many of the cancers diagnosed are in people with a long history of heartburn. Chronic heartburn leads to the lower parts of the gullet being bathed in a toxic acid solution, and the lining of the gullet defends itself against this by changing itself into something which looks a lot like the lining of the lower intestines. Although the damaged tissue, called Barrett's oesophagus, is not cancerous in itself, its presence warns doctors that the patient has taken the first step towards cancer, and triggers a rigorous programme of monitoring, coupled with therapy to prevent further damage. Patients with Barrett's oesophagus can be stabilized, and most do not go on to develop cancer, but once it is there, the mutated tissue is almost impossible to eradicate, so the risk always remains.

Researchers have long been searching for new drugs able to revert Barrett's oesophagus to the healthy, normal lining of the gullet, and now, a team led by Hans Clevers of the Hubrecht Institute, Utrecht, may have a candidate. Clevers' team, whose research into colon cancer is world-renowned, reasoned that as Barrett's oesophagus cells are very similar to the cells which line the colon, they might share vital control pathways. This turns out to be true. Clevers and his team then put this together with the fact that the anti-Alzheimer's drug DBZ, currently in clinical trials, is known to have side effects on the lower gut lining. They used a rat model of oesophageal cancer to observe the effects of DBZ on Barrett's oesophagus tissue, and found that DBZ could halt the growth of Barrett's oesophagus, and in some cases completely destroyed the mutant tissue.

Whilst the treatment is still a long way from being trialled in humans, it is an exciting step forward in the fight for a cure for oesophageal cancer.

Coventry Health Care Announces Q4 and Full Year 2009 Results

Coventry Health Care, Inc. (CVH) reported consolidated operating results for the quarter ended December 31, 2009. Operating revenues totaled $3.4 billion for the quarter with net earnings of $109.1 million, or $0.74 earnings per diluted share (EPS). For the year ended December 31, 2009, total revenues from continuing operations were $13.9 billion with net earnings from continuing operations of $315.3 million, or $2.14 per diluted share.

"I am pleased with the progress that the Company has made during 2009 including a strong finish to the year in the fourth quarter," said Allen F. Wise, chairman and chief executive officer of Coventry. "Although we continue to operate in a challenging economic environment, as we enter 2010 we remain confident that our focus on Coventry’s seven core businesses will best position us for the future."

Fourth Quarter 2009 Consolidated Highlights

• Revenues from continuing operations increased 15.2% from the prior year quarter


• Medicare Coordinated Care Product (CCP) membership growth of 36% from the prior year quarter


• Medicare Part D membership growth of 47,000 from the prior quarter


• Health plan commercial group risk medical loss ratio of 82.9%


• Excellent liquidity position -- Approximately $510 million of deployable free cash at the parent at quarter-end


• Debt repayment of $110 million during the quarter


• Investment portfolio continues to be in a net unrealized gain position at quarter-end


• Announced agreement to acquire Preferred Health Systems, Inc., a commercial health plan based in Wichita, Kansas, which closed on February 1, 2010

Full Year 2009 Consolidated Highlights 

• Revenues from continuing operations increased 18.5% from the prior year


• Fourth consecutive year of strong performance from Medicare Part D including growth of 752,000 members from the prior year, an increase of 81%


• Health plan commercial group risk medical loss ratio of 81.9%


• Individual commercial risk membership growth of 23,000 from the prior year


• Cash flows from operations were $881.8 million


• Debt reduction of $303.5 million from the prior year resulting in a 30.1% debt to capital ratio at year-end


• Completed the divestiture of a non-core business, First Health Services Corporation (FHSC), during the third quarter of 2009

Coventry Health Care is a diversified national managed healthcare company based in Bethesda, Maryland, operating health plans, insurance companies, network rental and workers’ compensation services companies. Coventry provides a full range of risk and fee-based managed care products and services to a broad cross section of individuals, employer and government-funded groups, government agencies, and other insurance carriers and administrators. For more information, visit www.coventryhealthcare.com.

Contact:
John Stelben
Interim Chief Financial Officer
301-581-5729

Drew Asher
SVP, Corporate Finance
301-581-5717