Healthcare Digitization on a State Level

In this article by Information Week, a state initiative creates digital healthcare innovation which blurs the lines between healthcare and human services.

The benefits of digitizing healthcare are transforming provider-patient relationships by enabling capabilities such as healthcare literacy, remote monitoring and self-management.

This causes people to become more accountable and proactive for their well-being. This goes beyond the traditional method of healthcare because it addresses social and behavioral determinants of health.

At the state level, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) created a $1 billion initiative. The intent is to improve payment models and delivery systems across Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

In 2013, 25 states were given funding to test improvements or design models. In May 2013, there was an announcement that a second group of states would receive funding from this program.

Here are the top five investments the 25 states within the program:

Patient-centered medical homes

       o   Strengthen primary care integration with community health workers and specialists

Self-Service tools

      o   Helps reduce administrative costs while improving self-care

Lower-cost labor models

      o   Will make a shift from labor costs to more helpful resources

Telehealth

      o   Aids patients through virtual care technology without increasing the number of healthcare resources

All Players Claim Database (APCD)

     o   Will make it easier to improve decision maker

Summary by MedicalGroups.com

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