31 May Health Data News Roundup: No Surprises Act and Billing Claims; Federal Program Quality Measures; and Information Blocking Update

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.

Biden 2023 Budget Proposes Advisory Opinions for Information Blocking
In the 2023 budget proposal, the Biden-Harris Administration has requested that Congress provide HHS with the authority to issue a binding advisory opinion for information blocking regulations, ONC explained in a recent HealthITBuzz blog post.

No Surprises Act May Have Blocked 2M Surprise Billing Claims
Since the No Surprises Act went into effect, the law has prevented more than two million surprise billing claims in its first two months of enactment, according to a new survey from AHIP and the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA).

NQF Opens Comment Period on Federal Program Quality Measures
The National Quality Forum (NQF) has launched a comment period related to quality measures in federal programs.

DirectTrust Gains ANSI Approval for ADT Event Notifications Data Standard
DirectTrust announced that the Event Notifications via the Direct Standard has been approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) as a national data standard.

How ACA Insurer Participation May Perpetuate Care Disparities
Insurer participation in the Affordable Care Act marketplace may contribute to a lack of health equity, at least in the early days of the Affordable Care Act individual marketplace, according to a new study.

Montana Governor Announces $20M Investment in State HIE
Governor Greg Gianforte has announced a $20 million investment in Montana’s state-designated health information exchange (HIE), Big Sky Care Connect (BSCC). Part of the investment will go towards developing a clinical data repository to improve provider data access for better care coordination.

Shared Financial Risk Lowered Healthcare Costs for CA Residents
California residents and health systems saw lower healthcare costs and higher clinical quality when providers and payers shared financial risk, according to data from the Integrated Healthcare Association (IHA).