Health Imaging & IT - May 2008 - (Page 8)

news updaTe Government Watch Senate, House propose FDA budget increase The House and Senate have approved similar $3 trillion fiscal year 2009 budget resolutions that would increase spending for healthcare and other domestic programs including a $71 million increase for the FDA, which brings the agency’s potential increase over its 2008 budget to $375 million. The House budget resolution, which passed in a 212-207 vote, exceeds the amount that President George W. Bush requested for discretionary domestic spending by $25.4 billion. The Senate budget resolution, which passed on a 51-44 vote, exceeds the amount that he requested by $21.8 billion.  naTional iniTiaTives google, microsoft to integrate with national health records network The Office of the National Coordinator of Health Information Technology (ONCHIT) plans to integrate the Nationwide Health Information Network (NHIN) with the healthcare databases that Google and Microsoft launched last year, on which individuals can store their health records.  Future of Medicare, Social Security looks grim The Bush administration issued a report which forecasted that Medicare’s hospital insurance trust fund would be exhausted in 2019, while Social Security’s reserves would be depleted by 2041. The administration noted that the condition of the programs had not deteriorated since last spring. Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson Jr., the managing trustee of Medicare and Social Security, said Medicare’s hospital insurance trust fund would pay out more in benefits than it receives in taxes and other dedicated revenues this year while Social Security costs would exceed tax revenues starting in 2017. health insurers target advanced imaging services Health insurers are targeting advanced imaging services for more aggressive oversight rather than imposing stricter controls across all services, due to increased costs and safety concerns, according to a study released by the Center for Studying Health System Change. CMS issues safer e-prescribing rules Eligible participants for Medicare’s prescription drug program are expected to experience greater safety, increased use of lower-cost generic equivalents and more efficient communication between their doctor and pharmacy as a result of a new regulation issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The final rule establishes Part D e-prescribing standards for four types of information: formulary and benefits, medication history, fill status notification and identification of individual healthcare providers.  new, free network sends drug alerts to u.s. docs via email The Health Care Notification Network (HCNN), a network to deliver drug safety alerts online to U.S. physicians, was launched, replacing a widely criticized paperand mail-based system. HCNN is the result of a threeyear effort, and it also will be available for rapid communication with physicians. NRC to adopt annual radiation dose limit The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has issued a regulatory issue summary (RIS) which states the agency intends to pursue rulemaking to clarify the 0.5 millisievert (mSv) limit in 10 CFR 35.75 as an annual limit, rather than a per-release limit. The rulemaking is being pursued because the NRC said it has determined that the regulation as it is now written does not incorporate the commission’s intent in having promulgated this regulation. 8 Health Imaging & IT | May 2008 NAHIT CEO steps down; board considers reorganization Scott Wallace, president and CEO of the National Alliance for Health Information Technology (NAHIT) since 2003, has resigned, and the board of directors at the Alliance is considering what changes are needed within the organization. Alliance Board Chairman Curt Selquist, who is serving as interim CEO, said the board is taking stock, considering the best way to move forward since much still remains to be done before interoperable health IT is pervasive in the United States.  JC calls for federal action for u.s. health data strategy Healthcare executives repeated a call for the federal government to help promote national standards for sharing healthcare performance data in the United States during a forum sponsored by the Joint Commission (JC). STAY CONNECTED: For daily news, log onto HealthImaging.com HealthImaging.com http://HealthImaging.com http://HealthImaging.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Health Imaging & IT - May 2008

Health Imaging & IT - May 2008 Contents On the Web The Enterprise News Update Convention Spotlight: SIIM 2008 Healthcare IT Salary Survey Survey Findings Inside the Transition to Next-Generation Image Management Blurring the Lines: Interfaced vs. Integrated RIS/PACS The Insider's Primer: Taming the Workflow Beast - Five Facilities Tell How Availability, Applications Drive New Archive Strategies Modality Review Managing Technology Inside Technology Reader's Resource Stat Sheet

Health Imaging & IT - May 2008

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