Ultrasound Value

by eHealthTech

A literature review of comparison studies for medical imaging methods, published in the May/June issue of the Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography, puts ultrasound at the top of the list for accuracy and cost effectiveness.

“Accuracy and Cost Comparison of Ultrasound Versus Alternative Modalities Including CT, MR, PET, and Angiography” reports the results of research studies that compare the accuracy and cost effectiveness of ultrasound versus other imaging modalities, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), contrast angiography (CA), and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT).

Alternate imaging technologies “are often considerably more expensive, include radiation exposure, are less portable, or have an increased risk of complications from contrast media,” write authors S. Michelle Bierig, MPH, RDCS, FASE, FSDMS, and Anne Jones, RN, BSN, RVT, RDMS, FSVU.

“Interestingly, the increase in spending by Medicare for alternative imaging services has been at a higher growth curve than the increase in the use of ultrasound,” the authors note.

Read the article online, free for a limited time.

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HHS: $81.7 Million

by eHealthTech

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced, May 28, the release of $81.7 million to expand services offered at the nation’s health centers. On the same day—100 days after the signing of the Recovery Act—HHS also awarded $25.6 million in non-Recovery Act grants to expand medical capacity at 54 existing health centers, helping an additional 230,000 individuals in 25 states receive primary health care services, the agency said.

The grants, funded through the Health Center Program, have already helped more than 17 million individuals by providing access to high-quality, family-oriented, comprehensive primary and preventive health care. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an agency within HHS, oversees the Health Center Program.

The Recovery Act provides $2 billion for grants to health centers over a two-year period. Of that, $500 million will be used to support new health center sites and service areas, increase services at existing sites, and address spikes in uninsured populations.

An additional $1.5 billion will be used to support construction, renovation and equipment, including health information technology (HIT) systems, in health centers and health center controlled networks.

HHS has already awarded approximately $155 million in Recovery Act grant funds to support 126 community health center sites across the country. The 126 New Access Point (NAP) grants were awarded to applicants that were approved but unfunded in 2008. These grants will provide access to health center care for 750,000 people in 39 states and two territories.

HHS also awarded $338 million in Increased Demand for Services grants for health centers. Health centers will use these funds to provide care to more than 2 million additional patients over the next two years, including approximately 1 million uninsured people, and create and retain approximately 6,500 health center jobs.

The non-Recovery Act grants awarded today include $25.6 million to expand medical capacity at 54 existing health centers, helping an additional 230,000 individuals in 25 states receive primary health care services. The remaining $56.1 million will supplement all health centers’ base grant awards to offset rising costs associated with maintaining current service levels.

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Health Care Stakeholder Meeting

by eHealthTech

Health Care Stakeholder Meeting – Physicians

White House Office of Health Reform Director Nancy-Ann DeParle will be leading another Health Care Stakeholder Discussion, this time with over 30 physician leaders from around the country, including deans of medical schools, CEOs of teaching hospitals, leaders of specialty societies, chairs of academic departments, and several private practice physicians.

• Watch it streamed at WhiteHouse.gov/live

UPDATE: This event has now concluded but Rebecca Adelman, HHS correspondent, reports back:

Over 30 physician leaders from across the country, including deans of medical schools, CEOs of teaching hospitals, leaders in medical specialties, and practicing physicians gathered on the third floor of the Old Executive Office Building today to talk in very specific terms about ways to reduce health care costs, assure quality health care and improve the experience of practicing medicine in America. Director of the White House office of Health Reform Nancy-Ann DeParle opened the event along side four physicians working on health care reform in the Administration: Dr. Dora Hughes, Dr. Zeke Emanuel, Dr. Bob Kocher and Dr. Kavita Patel.

The discussion, moderated by DeParle and the four physicians, touched on a wide range of issues affecting the practice of medicine. Dr. Kocher began the discussion by outlining the President’s vision for health care reform: a health care system that guarantees choice of doctors and plans, invests in prevention and wellness, improves patient safety and quality of care, and assures affordable health coverage for all Americans. Dr. Emanuel then asked for specific ideas from the physicians “in the trenches” on how to improve quality and keep health care costs down. From there, the spirited conversation centered on concrete ways that hospitals and medical practices could be more efficient, notably by incorporating health information technology, and many spoke of the need for new financial incentives instead of fee for service.

There was wide agreement that health care reform must address the shortage of primary care physicians, as debt from medical school is discouraging new physicians from choosing primary care as a specialty. Dr. Hughes also asked the group to weigh in on the role of the government in health care reform, and many doctors responded that encouraging personal responsibility and increasing education are ways the government could help improve public health and prevent chronic diseases. Thanking the doctors at the conclusion of the 90 minute meeting, Nancy-Ann DeParle called the meeting both “invigorating” and “helpful.”

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eHealthTech in the News

by eHealthTech

Establishing a successful medical practice can be a lengthy process with the first few years presenting the most challenges for new physicians.

Configuring the accounting, billing, collections and insurance claims processes – just to name a few – can eat up significant portions of a physician’s time, not to mention the practice’s budget.

eHealthTech Marketing, LLC, located in Flowood, Miss., specializes in performing physician billing and practice management services for medical practices of all types and sizes and is of particular benefit to
practices just getting started.

Setting eHealthTech apart is Advanced MD® (www.advancedmd.com), a state-of-the-art, Web-based medical billing software that increases productivity and allows physicians to spend their time and
efforts on building their businesses.

Read Entire Article by Checky Herrington, reporter for Mississippi Medical News (.pdf)