07 Jan Health Data News Roundup: Interoperability Gains Urgency in 2019; Payers Tied to Value-Based Care; and Geisinger Attains Elite Analytics Status

Welcome to the Health Data Weekly News Roundup from IMAT Solutions. As the power of data continues to grow in the healthcare arena, today’s care organizations need to be on the forefront of all news and trends to help ensure that their data analytics efforts deliver accountable and informed care. Each week, we will provide you with the actionable news you need to meet these goals.

The Push for Interoperability Gains New Urgency in 2019
Now that most providers have implemented an electronic health or medical record system to comply with federal Meaningful Use requirements, the government has turned its attention to interoperability.

47 Percent of Payer, Provider Business Tied to Value-Based Care
Value-based care is getting close to the halfway mark as more and more payers and providers shift their contracts away from fee-for-service arrangements, according to the Health Care Transformation Task Force (HCTTF).

Hospital Price Transparency Rule Took Effect January 1, 2019
Starting January 1, 2019, hospitals are now required to post their price lists online in an effort to increase price transparency and empower consumers to make informed choices about their care.

Cigna Announces Closing of $67B Purchase of Express Scripts
Cigna is officially the new owner of Express Scripts after announcing on December 20th that the $67 billion acquisition has closed.

EHR Use Helps to Reduce Hospital Readmissions, Length of Stays
New research suggests hospitals engaging in EHR use to fulfill federal regulations achieve improvements in patient health outcomes.

Regenstrief Initiative to Boost Health Data Exchange for Research
A new initiative headed by the Regenstrief Institute aims to streamline health data exchange and access for improved medical research.

Geisinger Attains Elite Analytics Status
Geisinger Health System is among only a handful of institutions to reach Stage 6 of the HIMSS Analytics Adoption Model for Analytics Maturity.