01 Jun Health Data News Roundup: Payer Claims to Rise in Coming Months; CMS and Telehealth; and IMAT Becomes NCQA Beta Partner

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.

Claims May Rise in 2 to 3 Months As Patients Seek Deferred Care
Almost 50 percent of American adults deferred care themselves or have a household member who deferred care due to the coronavirus, but more than two-thirds of those who deferred (32 percent of the total adult population) plan to get care in the next couple of months, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF).

CMS Expands Telehealth, Rural Plan Options for Medicare Advantage
CMS has finalized changes to Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D telehealth policies and supplemental chronic disease management benefits. The agency has also expanded Medicare Advantage for rural and end stage renal disease (ESRD) care.

How Horizon BCBSNJ Is Expanding Its Social Determinants Program Amid COVID-19
Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey found success piloting a program targeting the social determinants of health in Newark.

Patient Data Exchange Barriers Impact COVID-19 Reporting
Over 40 percent of hospitals reported that public health agencies are unable to effectively receive patient data, which impacts the way COVID-19 is reported and treated, according to a study published in the Journal of Informatics in Health and Biomedicine.

Audio-Only Telehealth Coverage Essential During COVID-19 Outbreak
Telehealth exploded amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. But disparities in reimbursement for audio-only telehealth visits may have downstream implications for Medicare Advantage members.

ONC Awards $1.1M to The Sequoia Project to Renew TEFCA Deal
The ONC has awarded the Sequoia Project $1.1 million to continue its role in implementing the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA).

4 Ways Congress Can Leverage Health IT to Curb COVID-19
Pew Charitable Trusts outlined four ways that policymakers in Congress can build on existing systems and policies to strengthen the nation’s public health infrastructure for COVID-19 and future endeavors.

NCQA Taps IMAT Solutions as Beta Partner for eCQM Certification Program
Last week, we announced that IMAT has been named a beta testing partner for the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) eCQM Certification Program™.