Stark introduces Health–e Information Technology Act: bill sets deadline for standards for HIT system developments, creates incentives for adoption, and includes strong rules for privacy protection
Clear Standards and Deadlines to Spur Development of Health IT Systems
Codifies the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONCHIT, present) within the Department of Health and Human [...]
Cost of caring for immigrants staggers hospitals, draws Congress’ attention
Laurie Cunningham | Miami Daily Business Review | 5.28.04
“Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives rejected a bill that would have required hospitals to ask patients coming to their ERs for proof that they are U.S. citizens or legal residents. For those without proof, hospitals would [...]
Posted in Healthcare, Law | Also tagged policy |
State shuts down Rancho Cucamonga hospital over alleged violations AP | 5.26.04
RANCHO CUCAMONGA – State regulators have temporarily shut down Angels Hospital, saying staff at the facility deprived patients of nourishment, failed to change respiratory equipment and relied on paramedics to resuscitate heart patients.
“I’ve never seen anything quite this dysfunctional,” said Brenda Klutz, deputy director [...]
Posted in Healthcare | Tagged government |
Illuminating Blacked–Out Words
By JOHN MARKOFF
New York Times | 5.10.04
Experts on the Freedom of Information Act said they feared the computer technique might be used as an excuse by government agencies to release even more restricted versions of documents.
“They have exposed a technique that may now become less and less useful as a result,” said Steven [...]
Posted in News | Also tagged foia, privacy |
Revised Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) Interpretive Guidelines (PDF) released by CMS 5.13.04
The interpretive guidelines serve to interpret and clarify the responsibilities of Medicare participating hospitals in emergency cases.
They contain authoritative interpretations and clarifications of statutory and regulatory requirements and are to be used to assist in making consistent determinations about a provider’s [...]
Posted in Healthcare | Also tagged EMTALA |
Legal Times | 5.10.04
The Supreme Court may decide soon whether the battle over interstate shipment of wine to consumers is ready to uncork and add to its docket.
The Court will consider at its private Thursday conference three petitions challenging two conflicting rulings on the issue, which pits the Constitution’s commerce clause against the 21st Amendment. [...]
Posted in Law, News | Tagged government |
EMED–L #15782
EMED–L #15783
Posted in Healthcare | Also tagged nursing, policy |
FindLaw | 4.30.04
By MARY DALRYMPLE AP Tax Writer
“One change clarified that the ban did not apply to state and local taxation of voice telecommunication services, including Voice Over Internet Protocol or VOIP. That technology allows consumers to use the Internet to make telephone calls.”
Implications for Skype and other VOIP (P2P) vendors once they go beyond [...]
Posted in Technology | Also tagged voip |
President George W. Bush 4.26.04
Transforming Health Care: The Presidents Health Information Technology Plan
By computerizing health records, we can avoid dangerous medical mistakes, reduce costs, and improve care.
—President George W. Bush, State of the Union Address, January 20, 2004
President Bush has outlined a plan to ensure that most Americans have electronic health records within the next [...]
