13 Jan Health Data News Roundup: AHIP and Prior Authorization; SDOH Strategies; and an HIE Integration

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.

AHIP Program Points to Health IT, EHRs for Prior Authorization
A new program from America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) aims to utilize EHRs and other health IT to streamline prior authorization, a process many in the healthcare industry say can hamper patient access to certain medications.

Report: Strategy Needed for Collecting, Using Data on Social Determinants of Health
Hoping to get the most out of data on social determinants for enhancing population health efforts, a new report recommends a unified strategy led by HHS.

CMS: MIPS Positive Payment Adjustments Increase in 2020
Ninety-eight percent of eligible clinicians participating in the Merit Based Incentive Payments System (MIPS) will receive a positive payment adjustment in 2020, a five-percentage point increase since MIPS began, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Medicare Advantage Risk Adjustment Model Continues to Phase In
CMS has released the first of a two-part advance notice, which states that it plans to phase in the Medicare Advantage risk adjustment model and to introduce encounter data into calculating Medicare Advantage risk adjustment models.

ME Payers Cover Hearing Aids, Self-Insured Companies Exempt
Maine law now requires payers to provide hearing aid coverage, but leaves self-insured companies exempt from covering them.

Clinician Engagement Key to Cutting Burnout from EHR Use
Primary care practitioners (PCPs) are struggling with a sense of low professional fulfillment and a high burnout rate due to high EHR usage and “office” work, according to a study in JAMA Internal Medicine.

Top MI Health Information Exchange Networks Complete Integration
Following a two-month integration, Michigan Health Information Network Shared Services (MiHIN) has successfully linked with Great Lakes Health Connect (GLHC), the leading health information exchange in Michigan.