Morning Headlines 1/14/13

2014 Testing and Certification

ONC announces that certifying agencies may begin testing EHRs for MU Stage 2 certification.

In Second Look, Few Savings From Digital Health Records

The New York Times covers the recently published RAND study that acknowledges a lack of evidence for calling EHR implementations a cost-cutting initiative.

US Health in International Perspective: Shorter Lives, Poorer Health

The Institute of Medicine, in conjunction with the National Research Council, publishes a study measuring overall population health and concludes that the US is dead last of the 17 developed nations and that, among many problems, our healthcare IT is categorized as "worse than average.”

Blue Health Intelligence Creates an “Informatics Center of Excellence” Through Acquisition of Intelimedix

BCBS acquires Intelimedix, a data analytics company specializing in employer group reporting, mass customized communications, and medical cost containment. BCBS manages care for 110 million patients.