Omnibus Bill Impacts HIT
The 2015 federal budget includes about $60.4 million for the ONC, which is less than the $75 million requested and on par with the 2014 budget. Congress allocated an additional $38.8 million to the HHS Office for Civil Rights, the agency that enforces HIPAA. Also in the bill: a controversial requirement for the ONC to decertify products that block health information sharing.
Appalling Meaningful Use Penalties
CMS reports that more than 257,000 eligible professionals will face penalties in 2015 for failing to meet Meaningful Use requirements. The AMA quickly announced it was “appalled by the news.”
Another Call to Cut Reporting Period
A group of 30 Republican House members call on HHS to shorten the 2015 Meaningful Use reporting period from 365 days to 90 days. A number of professional groups, including the AAFP and CHIME, support the extension.
From Foes to Financiers
Former Allscripts executives Glen Tullman and Lee Shapiro invest in Lightbeam Health Solutions, a population health management solution provider. Pat Cline, the founder and former president of NextGen, is currently Lightbeam’s CEO.
ATA Offers Accreditation
The American Telemedicine Association launches an accreditation program for providers offering online, real-time consults to patients.
Show Me the Money
Meridian Medical Management, a provider of RCM, EMR and system integration services, acquires Origin Healthcare Solutions, a RCM and business analytics provider.
New Zealand-based Orion Health completes a $79 million IPO.
Cerner issues $500 million in senior notes to fund future projects.
Amplify Health, a health analytics startup backed by Rock Health, is raising $1.5 million, including $980,000 from the sale of equity, debt, and options.
SoloHealth, developers of health kiosks found in retail stores, is seeking an additional $15 million in funding to add to the $26 million raised so far.
New Jersey’s Meridian Health will deploy Cerner’s HealtheIntent platform to manage patient population health data from multiple non-Cerner acute and ambulatory EHRs.
New Blood
Deloitte appoints Dr. Harry Greenspun to the expanded role of member of the board of directors for the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions, overseeing the external positioning of the group’s research and activities. Greenspun serves as a director with Deloitte Services.
Quality Systems names Zachary J. Sherburne SVP and global CIO. Most recently Sherburne served as CIO/VP for Spectrum Brands.
The health IT consulting firm Huntzinger Management Group promotes Nancy Ripari and William C. Reed to partners.
Dabo Health, developers of a healthcare social media platform, names Robert V. Stanek CEO, succeeding Camilo Barcenas who will now server as founder and chief development officer. Stanek is the former president and CEO of Catholic Health East.
Healthcare technology and services investment firm Carrick Capital Partners names former Tennessee Senator Bill Frist, MD as a special advisor.
Michelle Ronan Noteboom covers health information technology for THCB.
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