30 Sep Health Data News Roundup: Medicare Advantage Plans and Social Determinants; ONC Information Blocking Rules; and EHR Documentation Struggles

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.

MA Plans Slowly Begin Integrating SDOH into 2020 Plan Benefits
CMS efforts to empower Medicare Advantage plans to tackle social determinants of health (SDOH) led mainly to the expansion of existing benefits but not the addition of new benefits, according to a new study.

Health Groups Tap Congress to Oversee ONC Information Blocking Rules
Seven major healthcare leadership groups sent a letter to Congress critiquing the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology’s (ONC’s) proposed rule on interoperability and information blocking within the 21st Century Cures Act.

HL7, CAQH Partner for Administrative, Clinical Interoperability
CAQH CORE and Health Level Seven International (HL7) announced a collaboration to improve interoperability and improve the automation between administrative and clinical systems.

Family Support Most Requested of Social Determinants of Health
Family support services, child welfare programs, and childcare are among the most common social services sought by healthcare consumers, as more medical organizations build the infrastructure to help address the social determinants of health, according to WellCare Health Plans.

Major New Report Calls for Better Integration of Social Determinants of Health
Providers nationwide need to make an organizational commitment to addressing social needs and health disparities, says the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine – and policymakers need to sort out IT infrastructure and reimbursement.

EHR Documentation Struggles in the ED, Confirms EHR Use Challenges
There are still some discrepancies between EHR documentation and what actually happened during a clinical encountering, underscoring the salient challenges related to physician EHR use, according to a new study.

Medicare Advantage Premiums Drop 14 Percent for 2020 Open Enrollment
CMS projects that Medicare Advantage and Part D premiums are an estimated 14 percentage points lower than 2019 premiums, dropping from $26.87 to approximately $23.00 this 2020 open enrollment season.