28 Sep Health Data News Roundup: Key 2020 Quality Measures for Payers; COVID-19 and Digital Transformation; and Medicare News

Welcome to the Health Data Weekly News Round Up 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.

Key Quality Measures for 2020, How to Select Measures Effectively
The Core Quality Measure Collaborative (CQMC), a partnership between America’s Health Insurance Plans, CMS, and the National Quality Forum (NQF) has released four new quality measure sets for 2020.

How COVID-19 Accelerated the Digital Transformation of Healthcare
Transformation, innovation, and connection are three main healthcare principals that have been put under a microscope during COVID-19.

MedStar Health, Children’s Hospital Win ONC Funding for Data Sharing Projects
The ONC announced four awards totaling more than $2.7 million under the Leading Edge Acceleration Projects in Health Information Technology (LEAP in Health IT) funding opportunity.

Predictive Analytics Model Can Determine COVID-19 Outcomes
Using a predictive analytics model, providers can better project COVID-19 outcomes for improved decision-making and resource allocation, according to a study published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

What Happens When Medicaid COVID-19 Flexibilities, Funding Expire?
Temporary Medicaid coronavirus flexibilities and funding may be about to expire and CMS needs to be clearer about transition guidelines in order to help states be prepared, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF).

Private Payers Pay Hospitals 247% of Medicare Reimbursement Rate
Private payers are paying hospitals 2.5 times more than the Medicare reimbursement rate and employers have a role to play in rectifying the negotiating process, a recent RAND Corporation study revealed.

Medicare Beneficiaries Require More Financial, Coverage Support
Low income and minority seniors as well as those who are almost of age to become Medicare beneficiaries require greater financial and coverage support from the Medicare program, according to the CommonWealth Fund.

Clinical Decision Support in the EHR Cuts Healthcare Costs
EHR-based clinical decision support (CDS) interventions have an overall positive economic impact on health systems, according to a new study.