Health Information Technology

As you’re probably already aware, all physicians are required to electronically prescribe controlled substances under state and federal laws that took effect Jan. 1.

If you’re still unclear about the law, the waivers, and the exceptions, the Texas Medical Association has created a “frequently asked questions” (FAQ) document that can help you understand the requirements.

If you’re in a Qualifying Alternative Payment Model (APM) in Medicare’s Quality Payment Program (QPP), or you’re considering making the jump, take note: The thresholds for participating this year are now the same as in 2020 thanks to recent federal law.

The COVID-19 pandemic has made telemedicine the way to see and consult with all patients, not just those who have confirmed or suspected cases.

To make telemedicine available to more patients and their physicians during the emergency declaration period, many state and federal rules and regulations regarding telehealth have changed.

Physicians will have more time to comply with federal rules aimed at improving data-sharing after the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced yesterday it will delay enforcement of certain provisions from Nov. 2 to April 5, 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Internet scammers are trying to cash in on the widespread anxiety over COVID-19, and awareness is the best defense, according to the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). 

Likewise, the Texas Attorney General's Office has issued a warning about outbreak-related scams. 

Electronic Health Record (EHR) data entry is a part of the job, but for most physicians it’s a chore. Not only does it take time away from your patients, it adds to the hours you spend in the office (or to the work hours you spend at home). Fortunately, many physicians have found ways to save time doing data entry.

As COVID-19 cases rise across the state, physicians have been asking the Texas Medical Association about getting started with telemedicine. 

That’s why TMA staff has added new tools and information to the TMA telemedicine resource center.

The TMA EHR Vendor Comparison Tool provides TMA member physicians access to an assessment of EHR products that have a solid Texas market base. It gives physicians a view of company information, product functionality, pricing, and interoperability capabilities when comparing EHR systems.

In the evolving world of health information technology, some vendors that store and transmit health information – such as the tech minds behind certain mobile apps – are getting their hands on patient data without any HIPAA leash to rein in their use of it.

Now, organized medicine is doing its part to preserve patients’ privacy when their health information finds its way outside of HIPAA-covered organizations.

The federal requirements have not changed, but starting Jan. 1, breach notification requirements became even more stringent for Texas physicians or medical entities. The Texas Legislature dropped the threshold for breach reporting from 500 patients to 250. House Bill 4390 also requires medical entities to report breaches to the Texas attorney general’s office within 60 days of the breach.

Ideally, all members of a health care team –physicians, hospitals, labs – should be able to use HIT and EHRs to share patient information through a secure network, a process called interoperability.

Health Information Exchange (HIE) can be accomplished in different ways, and the needs and requirements vary by practice.

the Texas Medical Association pushed state lawmakers this year for a special appropriation to the Texas Board of Pharmacy for funds to allow Appriss Health, the state’s PMP vendor, to integrate with electronic health record (EHR) systems and health information exchanges (HIEs). This integration allows physicians to access PMP data within their EHR when creating a prescription – at no cost to the physician. 

It probably goes without saying that technology is an integral part of modern health care.

But how can you be sure you’re getting the best deal from your technology vendor?

You can’t be absolutely sure of course, but a few modifications to your vendor contract can help you avoid much of the risk associated with buying technology.

TMA works diligently to give you the tools you need to tackle the challenges of technology. Whether you need help selecting an electronic health record (EHR) or understanding MACRA or the EHR incentive program, TMA has the resources.