jberg's blog

Doctors and covered entities have now had a few weeks to digest the finalized HITECH and Meaningful Use rules. The changes from the preliminary rules have made the transition a little more achievable, however the confusing basics are still in place. The need for EHR transition teams is great and the number of them is small.

It has come to my attention that the tax incentives for capital purchases under Section 179 in the U.S. tax code have been extended through 2010. If you are not familiar with them ask your tax advisor about the specifics. Here are the basics for you now:

1) Businesses showing a profit and who purchase capital equipment totalling up to $250,000 in the 2010 calendar year may accelerate the depreciation of these items at the rate of 100%.

2) Purchases above the $250,000 amount also may be accelerated at the rate of 50% up to $800,000 if purchased in calendar year 2010.

In a live web cast hosted by the Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on Aug 7th, Dr. David Blumenthal, National Coordinator for Health Information Technology answered critics of the
administration’s healthcare reform efforts and underscored the role of health information technology in
accomplishing it stating that the adoption of health information technology will serve as a catalyst for achieving the goals of healthcare reform legislation.

The letter "E" is fast becoming the most important letter in the sErvicE and consumEr products arena. It would be ridiculous to profess that this is some "new" revelation. However with a deeper evaluation of the entire "E" marketing concept it is evident that science is what is really behind the phenomenon. The collection and exploitation of data is the core fuel that makes the "E" engine run. Keystrokes, clicks, pop-ups, and even face recognition are all used to drill down into exactly what stimulates us all to buy.

As I interview medical professionals it occurs to me that there are some parts of the interview that have them at ease but other parts that seem to creep under their skin like those awful toe fungus creatures on television. Those parts of our discussion almost invariably are about the business side of their practice. It has been reported over and over again that doctors just want to help patients, golf on Wednesdays, and enjoy their family time.

Fitting that just before our most flag waving holiday, the Red Flags rule becomes just a memory....for now. In their ever growing wisdom, the government has, once again, moved the deadline for implementation of the far reaching rules. Unintended consequences continue to pile up for the administration as they try to tighten the noose around the throat of business, make them the watch dogs of our information, and donning them with the responsibility of policing the country for the sinister types who fraudulently use our information. Is it just the cost of doing business?

"Meaningful use", two simple words that make the medical community and their suppliers skin crawl. The anger that prevails over the Washington nonsense over electronic medical records, privacy controls, and financial record protection, is an example of how you can call in 100 people to change a light bulb.