Morning Headlines 4/21/20

VA, DoD implement new capability for bidirectional sharing of health records with community partners

The VA and DoD launch HIE capabilities, giving government providers the ability to share health data with their private-sector counterparts.

Aledade Raises $64 Million Series C on Nationwide Growth of Value-Based Care Network

Practice management company Aledade plans to expand its California footprint with a new $64 million funding round.

A buzzy healthcare startup that raised $50 million from Andreessen Horowitz 3 months ago just cut staff amid the coronavirus pandemic

After raising $50 million in January, healthcare data and analytics startup Komodo Health lays off 23 employees – nearly 9% of its staff.

Amazon is teasing a new health care offering — for its sellers

Amazon surveys its sellers to determine their satisfaction with current health insurance offerings and their interest in alternative coverage.

Our Healthcare API and other solutions for supporting healthcare and life sciences organizations during the pandemic

After a year in beta, Google Cloud announces GA of its Cloud Healthcare API, which enables the sharing of data between healthcare apps and those built on Google Cloud.

Morning Headlines 4/20/20

Trump Administration Announces New Nursing Homes COVID-19 Transparency Effort

CMS will now require nursing homes to report COVID-19 cases directly to the CDC, and that they inform residents, their families, and representatives of cases in their facilities.

Private Equity Firm sues Intel over Failed Acquisition

A private equity firm sues Intel for failing to consummate a deal in which the firm intended to buy Intel’s Care Innovations remote patient monitoring subsidiary in early 2017.

Enforcement Policy for Digital Health Devices For Treating Psychiatric Disorders During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Public Health Emergency

FDA waives limitations on using digital health for treating psychiatric disorders, whether new conditions or created by the public health emergency.

Beaumont Health says 112K patients were impacted by data breach

Beaumont Health (MI) notifies 112,000 patients of a 2019 data breach that compromised employee email accounts and patient information.

Microsoft is launching a ‘plasmabot’ to encourage people who recovered from the virus to donate their plasma as a possible treatment

Microsoft and a group of pharmaceutical companies launch a chatbot that screens recovered COVID-19 patients to determine if they are eligible plasma donors.

Morning Headlines 4/17/20

Representative Population Antibody Study Underway in North Carolina

Wake Forest Baptist Health partners with Scanwell Health to launch a study using at-home antibody testing kits that it hopes will give officials a better understanding of how prevalent the virus is in North Carolina.

FCC Approves First Set of COVID-19 Telehealth Program Applications

Just three days after opening the application window, the FCC awards over $3 million to six healthcare organizations in New York, Atlanta, Cleveland, New Orleans, and Pittsburgh for the purchase of telemedicine services.

AMA & AHA respond to rise in cyber threats exploiting COVID-19 pandemic

The American Medical Association and American Hospital Association create a cybersecurity guide for working from home.

Circle Medical Rapidly Expands Telemedicine Offering with New Investment

Decathlon Capital Partners makes a seven-figure investment in UCSF-affiliated primary care company Circle Medical.

FDA debuts new online portal to encourage donation of plasma from recovered COVID-19 patients

The FDA launches a website that connects recovered COVID-19 patients with opportunities to donate their plasma for treatment research.

Morning Headlines 4/16/20

GE Healthcare and Microsoft are bringing a COVID-19 patient monitoring tool to health systems

GE Healthcare and Microsoft retool software originally intended to debut at HIMSS into monitoring software for COVID-19 patients in ICUs.

Meadville hospital’s computer system not yet fully restored after malware attack

Meadville Medical Center (PA) expects to have all of its IT systems back up and running three weeks after a ransomware attack took everything offline.

Alphabet’s health company defends decision to require a Google account to use its coronavirus screening site

Following in Apple’s footsteps, Verily assures senators that its COVID-19 screening website for California residents adheres to data protection standards, and adds that it has no plans to open up the full platform to non-Google account holders.

Morning Headlines 4/15/20

Epic and University Hospital of New Jersey Partner to Lead Statewide Surge Response

Epic donates software and services to the temporary hospital set up in the Meadowlands Exposition Center by University Hospital (NJ).

Mayo Clinic develops COVID-19 tracking tool for staff

Mayo Clinic (MN) develops a tool using EHR data that alerts staff if they come into contact with a COVID-19 patient.

W2O acquires social media analytics platform Symplur

Marketing firm W20 acquires Symplur, a healthcare-specific social media tracking platform that it used to create a coronavirus media tracking tool for the California Life Sciences Association.

Morning Headlines 4/14/20

FCC’s COVID-19 Telehealth Program Application Portal Opens on Monday

The FCC begins accepting applications for its $200 million COVID-19 Telehealth Program, which will help eligible providers purchase infrastructure, services, and devices needed to offer telemedicine during the pandemic.

Apple Responds to Senators Questioning Privacy of Covid-19 Tools

Apple responds to privacy concerns related to its COVID-19 screening app and website, stressing that the tools don’t collect user data, and that they are not bound by HIPAA guidelines.

Rapid roll-out of telehealth services in Iowa: ‘We’re just going crazy with it,’ one doctor says

Health systems in Iowa see telemedicine utilization rates skyrocket as reimbursement restrictions are lifted in light of COVID-19, prompting many to hope that virtual care will become part of their new normal after the pandemic has passed.

Mobilizing AI for Health to fight against COVID-19

As part of its AI for Health project, Microsoft will donate $20 million to advance the use of AI in the fight against COVID-19, particularly in the areas of data and insights, hospital resource allocation, treatment and diagnostics, research, and information dissemination.

Morning Headlines 4/13/20

Apple and Google partner on COVID-19 contact tracing technology

Apple and Google will enhance their mobile devices with an API that will use Bluetooth to perform coronavirus contact tracing to help detect outbreaks.

Bankruptcy judge OKs sale of St. Vincent hospital to Patrick Soon-Shiong

A federal judge approves the $135 million sale of St. Vincent Medical Center (CA) to health IT, life sciences, and publishing mogul Patrick Soon-Shiong, MD who plans to turn it into a COVID-19 research facility.

Doctors at UCLA, UCSF create registry to study coronavirus effects on pregnancy

Researchers at UCLA Health and UC San Francisco launch the PRIORITY study and national data registry to better understand the effects of COVID-19 on pregnant and post-partum women.

Morning Headlines 4/10/20

Behind the Johns Hopkins University coronavirus dashboard

The Johns Hopkins University and Medicine COVID-19 case-tracking site draws over 1 billion page views each day for its near-real time display of data from WHO, CDC, and other authorities.

The Nation’s Largest Convention Center Being Converted into a COVID-19 Alternative Care Facility in Chicago, To Be Equipped with Epic Health Records Software

The Chicago Department of Public Health will work with Rush University Medical Center to set up a temporary hospital within McCormick Place Convention Center that will use the medical center’s Epic system.

LabCorp and Ciox Health Enter Collaboration to Create Comprehensive Patient Data Registry

LabCorp and HIM vendor Ciox Health will develop a COVID-19 patient data registry for clinical researchers using de-identified lab testing data and data culled from EHRs.

Morning Headlines 4/9/20

Pamela Powers tapped to perform duties as VA’s No.2

President Trump appoints VA Chief of Staff Pamela Powers to the additional role of deputy secretary, making her the top authority over the VA’s EHR modernization project.

Epic Partners with New York Hospitals for COVID-19 Patients Treated at Manhattan’s Javits Center

NYC Health + Hospitals extends its Epic system to the field hospital set up for COVID-19 patients at the Javits Center.

CliniComp International Gets $429M DHA IDIQ to Help Manage Clinical IT Systems

CliniComp secures a $430 million contract to maintain parts of the DoD’s clinical information system while it migrates to Cerner.

Morning Headlines 4/8/20

Former FDA Leaders, Health Experts Urge Action Now to Contain COVID-19 in Future

Duke’s Margolis Center for Health Policy proposes a national COVID-19 surveillance system to allow the country to transition from universal stay-at-home orders to case-based, regional options.

Tyto Care Raises $50M to Expand Its Telehealth Exam and Diagnosis Offering Globally

Telemedicine and related device company Tyto Care raises $50 million in an oversubscribed funding round.

CyberMDX raises $20 million to protect connected medical devices with AI

New York City-based startup CyberMDX will use $20 million in new funding to scale its healthcare cybersecurity capabilities and hire an additional 30 employees.

Morning Headlines 4/7/20

VA pauses work on EHR during coronavirus

Following in the DoD’s footsteps, the VA decides to delay its Cerner EHR project as clinical teams focus on COVID-19 patients.

Hospital Experiences Responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results of a National Pulse Survey March 23-27, 2020

An HHS OIG survey of 323 hospitals finds their biggest challenges in preparing for and treating COVID-19 patients are associated with testing and treatment, and protecting staff.

Alliance of Va. hospitals launches dashboard tracking the status of medical needs

The Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association develops a dashboard to help hospitals across the state visualize the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations, facility capacities, and data on PPE and medical supply inventories.

HHS Announces Upcoming Funding Action to Provide $186 Million for COVID-19 Response

The CDC will offer select state and local health departments $186 million to build out or improve on testing and surveillance capabilities, and predictive analytics.

Morning Headlines 4/6/20

New York is merging all its hospitals to battle the coronavirus

New York State virtually merges all of the state’s 200 hospitals into a single state system that will share staff, patients, and supplies under the direction of the state’s department of health.

CDC Unveils 1st National Coronavirus Pandemic Tracking System

CDC rolls out COVIDView, an outbreak monitoring tool that displays key indicators that will be updated weekly.

Google is now publishing coronavirus mobility reports, feeding off users’ location history

Using its collection of mobile location data, Google begins publishing reports of how well people in 131 countries are following government directives to remain at home during the pandemic

98point6 Launches New Patient Resources to Ensure Best-In-Class Experience

AI-powered telemedicine company 98point6 will use a $43 million Series D funding round to launch its new patient wait-time dashboard and triple its physician staff by the end of April.

Here’s how doctors are monitoring more than 350 Delaware coronavirus patients virtually

ChristianaCare shifts technology it developed for a virtual primary care practice to remotely monitor COVID-19 patients.

Morning Headlines 4/3/20

OCR Announces Notification of Enforcement Discretion to Allow Uses and Disclosures of Protected Health Information by Business Associates for Public Health and Health Oversight Activities During The COVID-19 Nationwide Public Health Emergency

The HHS Office for Civil Rights loosens HIPAA regulations to give healthcare business associates more leeway in sharing PHI “in good faith” during the pandemic.

Microsoft works with healthcare organizations to protect from popular ransomware during COVID-19 crisis: Here’s what to do

As remote workforces increase, Microsoft alerts several dozen hospitals to VPN infrastructure vulnerabilities that may attract ransomware attackers.

Google’s AI accurately predicts physicians’ prescribing decisions 75% of the time

Researchers from the University of California, San Francisco and Google develop an algorithm using EHR data capable of predicting physician prescription choices 75% of the time.

FCC Adopts $200 Million COVID-19 Telehealth Program

The FCC allocates $200 million to help qualifying providers purchase telecommunications, broadband services, and devices essential for offering telehealth services.

Morning Headlines 4/2/20

MHS Genesis deployment suspended amid COVID-19 pandemic

The DoD presses pause on its roll out of MHS Genesis to better enable its care teams to focus on treating COVID-19 patients.

Exclusive: HCA subsidiary lays off dozens of contractors

Health IT consulting firm CereCore lays off dozens of employees contracted to work for parent company HCA Healthcare.

Microsoft helps Swedish Health Services develop COVID-19 app to track hospital resources

Microsoft and Swedish Health Services (WA) develop an app to help staff track COVID-19 patients, and hospital capacity and supplies.

eConsult solution company AristaMD secures $18 million in Series B funding

AristaMD will use $18 million in new funding to further develop and scale use of its e-consult and referral software for primary care physicians.

Morning Headlines 4/1/20

Cerner Millennium EHR to be used at London’s 4000-bed temporary hospital

London’s 4,000-bed Nightingale Hospital, a COVID-19 emergency treatment facility created inside a convention center, will run Cerner Millennium.

Calling all COVID-19 Health IT Projects

ONC updates its Interoperability Proving Ground, making it easier to find projects already underway that are using health IT to address the pandemic.

Olive Raises $51M to Accelerate its AI Workforce for Healthcare

Healthcare workflow automation company Olive raises $51 million in a funding round led by General Catalyst.

Morning Headlines 3/31/20

Trump Administration Engages America’s Hospitals in Unprecedented Data Sharing

To better allocate federal resources to areas in need, CMS asks hospitals to share COVID-19 testing data with HHS, and bed capacity and supply data with the CDC.

Supply chain companies to launch healthcare industry exchange

Supply chain tech company Resilinc will work with Stanford Health and Premier to launch a Web-based supply exchange that will match hospitals in need of COVID-19 equipment with manufacturers and donors.

New COVID-19 Preparedness App Fills Interoperability Gaps For Surge Preparedness

Epic and OCHIN develop an app for the Washington State Health Care Authority that enables healthcare workers, volunteers, and patients to perform COVID-19 screenings and find local emergency care.

Trump Administration Makes Sweeping Regulatory Changes to Help U.S. Healthcare System Address COVID-19 Patient Surge

CMS expands telemedicine coverage to 80 additional services and will now reimburse physicians for virtual visits at the same rate as in-person visits.

Morning Headlines 3/30/20

Apple announces COVID-19 website and app in partnership with CDC and the White House

Apple develops a COVID-19 screening website and app that it developed in a partnership with the CDC, the White House’s coronavirus task force, and FEMA.

Bright.md Raises $8 Million Series C Round to Bring Critical, Asynchronous Virtual Care to Health Care Systems and Their Patients

Bright.md raises $8 million in a Series C funding round, increasing its total to $20.5 million.

Conference Cancelled

Medical Users Software Exchange cancels its 2020 MUSE Inspire Conference that was scheduled for May 26-29 at Maryland’s Gaylord National Resort & Conference Center.

COVID-19 Community Based Testing Guide

Verily’s Project Baseline issues a guidebook for running COVID-19 community-based testing sites under the a federally supported, state-directed program.