VA Renegotiates EHR Contract, New Telehealth Bill for Medicare Beneficiaries
The VA EHR program gets a long-awaited contract change, and Congress mulls a bill to extend pandemic telehealth.
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By - In healthcare policy news this week, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) successfully renegotiated its EHR contract with Oracle Cerner. Meanwhile, new legislation may extend telemental health services for Medicare beneficiaries.
VA Renegotiates Oracle Cerner EHR Contract
After months of pause, the VA and Oracle Cerner have renegotiated their EHR modernization contract. The original deal was slated to last ten years and cost $10 billion, but that contract was scrapped after the system was linked to 150 cases of patient harm and the deaths of four veterans. Both parties agreed to a new contract duration that includes five single-year terms and the option to renegotiate every year. Additionally, the contract includes stronger performance metrics, expectations, and financial penalties for Oracle Cerner’s technology. READ MORE.
FTC Alleges Easy Healthcare Violated Breach Notification Rule
Easy Healthcare Corporation, the operator of the ovulation tracking app Premom, allegedly violated the Health Breach Notification Rule, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The free smartphone application used to track menstruation, ovulation, and other health information apparently failed to inform users that it shared personal information with third parties. According to the FTC investigation, Premom allegedly shared information with AppsFlyer and Google when implementing the two companies’ software. READ MORE.
Committee Hearing Focuses on HHS Cybersecurity Approach
Brian Mazanec, PhD, deputy director at the HHS Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response Office of Preparedness, delivered testimony to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, sharing that HHS is actively working to build new teams focused on cybersecurity and tools for defending the security of healthcare entities.
“Working as a team, all HHS agencies and divisions bring together their unique cybersecurity perspectives, expertise, and authorities as a single collaborative effort to assist the healthcare and public health (HPH) sector, from direct engagement with the HPH sector on cybersecurity activities to collaborative regulatory actions with the goal of HPH sector protection,” Mazanec’s written testimony stated. READ MORE.
Legislation Aims to Support Telemental Health Services
The Telemental Health Care Access Act, reintroduced by Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA) and Congressman Bill Johnson (R-OH), aims to remove barriers to virtual care for Medicare beneficiaries. The bill would eliminate the requirement for certain in-person visits and expand access to mental healthcare for seniors. READ MORE.
Court Upholds ACA Preventive Care Requirements
The US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit Determined that employers and health insurers must provide preventive care services according to the Affordable Care Act after a district court judge ruled against these provisions on religious grounds.
“Numerous research studies have proven the benefits of preventive services. They ensure people can prevent, detect and treat their conditions as early as possible, improving health outcomes and saving patients and the health care system money,” healthcare leaders stated in the American Heart Association’s response to the ruling. READ MORE.
