eHealth Digest, Volume 1 #1 From: ackerman@rx2000.org Subject: ** An important message for our listserv subscribers #2 From: ackerman@rx2000.org Subject: Rx2000 Knowledge Center webcasts #3 From: Woosleew@aol.com Subject: Re: Rx2000 Knowledge Center webcasts #4 From: ackerman@rx2000.org Subject: Rx2000 eLearning #5 From: ackerman@rx2000.org Subject: HCFA OPPS #6 From: RTelesca@gigaweb.com Subject: Healthcare Industry Lagging Behind? #7 From: triley@partnershealth.com Subject: RE: Healthcare Industry Lagging Behind? #8 From: ackerman@rx2000.org Subject: New GovLink Section of Rx2000 Website ********** Message #1 ********** From: ackerman@rx2000.org To: rx2000hipaa@rx2000.org,rx2000ehealth@rx2000.org Subject: ** An important message for our listserv subscribers Date: Fri, 12 May 2000 15:56:12 -0500 Dear Rx2000 Listserv Subscriber, We've received suggestions from many of you over the past several months regarding list serve etiquette. While the following is not "written in stone" we believe adherence to some or all of these suggestions will make this listserv experience a better one for all participants. 1. Please identify yourself by name, position and employer or affiliation in the text of each message you post, whether it's an original message or a reply. Participants like to know who they're talking to and your affiliation or position adds "weight" to your opinions. Many email programs let you set up an automatic signature block for your messages. Please keep it brief but descriptive. You are encouraged to also include your email address, thereby allowing other listserv subscribers to contact you directly if they have a question they feel is not appropriate for the total readership or they wish to initiate an "off-line" dialogue with you. Of course, you are certainly welcome to remain anonymous. Someday soon, however, Rx2000 will switch to new listserv software that will, by default, include return address information. If you have a message for our listservs and still need to be assured of anonymity, please send it directly to me and I will see that it is scrubbed of all identifying information before posting. Our goal is to foster the communication and distribution of good information. 2. Use a descriptive subject line. Consider modifying the automatic subject line to reflect the real topic of your message. When a topic has changed after a series of replies and comments, change the subject to show what it's really about. 3. Please keep personal messages off the list. Also please post your responses to the listserv, unless there's a good reason to restrict dissemination of your reply. 4. Please avoid posting messages that simply say "I agree", "Me too" or similar messages that do not significantly add to the discussion of the topic. A Word about "Moderation" The Rx2000 listservs are moderated to ensure that advertising, useless fighting and totally inappropriate messages are not forwarded to the list. We do not try to censor. Rather, we are working to ensure a standard of quality for all. Additionally, in order to minimize risk and avoid flooding your mailboxes, we do not forward postings with attachments. An exception would be if we received an important posting with an attachment from a very trusted source (e.g., the FDA). Our moderator has already intercepted messages that were designed to deliver a new computer virus to you! If this had been an unmoderated service without any quality control, all of you would have received the virus. Of course, given the current state of computing, there is no guarantee of totally safe computing, but we will continue to do all we can to keep a safe, virtual meeting place for healthcare. The Rx2000 Institute provides this listserv and many other important services to healthcare free of charge to users. We appreciate all of your support and encourage you to make the greatest possible use of these free services. You can help to support the activities of the Institute and gain access to our members-only services by becoming a member of the Institute. Please see our website at http://www.rx2000.org for additional information about the benefits of membership. Thank you! Joel Ackerman Executive Director, Rx2000 Institute ackerman@rx2000.org 952-595-9551 --=====================_27246739==_.ALT Content-Type: text/html; charset="us-ascii" Dear Rx2000 Listserv Subscriber, We've received suggestions from many of you over the past several months regarding list serve etiquette. While the following is not "written in stone" we believe adherence to some or all of these suggestions will make this listserv experience a better one for all participants. 1. Please identify yourself by name, position and employer or affiliation in the text of each message you post, whether it's an original message or a reply. Participants like to know who they're talking to and your affiliation or position adds "weight" to your opinions. Many email programs let you set up an automatic signature block for your messages. Please keep it brief but descriptive. You are encouraged to also include your email address, thereby allowing other listserv subscribers to contact you directly if they have a question they feel is not appropriate for the total readership or they wish to initiate an "off-line" dialogue with you. Of course, you are certainly welcome to remain anonymous. Someday soon, however, Rx2000 will switch to new listserv software that will, by default, include return address information. If you have a message for our listservs and still need to be assured of anonymity, please send it directly to me and I will see that it is scrubbed of all identifying information before posting. Our goal is to foster the communication and distribution of good information. 2. Use a descriptive subject line. Consider modifying the automatic subject line to reflect the real topic of your message. When a topic has changed after a series of replies and comments, change the subject to show what it's really about. 3. Please keep personal messages off the list. Also please post your responses to the listserv, unless there's a good reason to restrict dissemination of your reply. 4. Please avoid posting messages that simply say "I agree", "Me too" or similar messages that do not significantly add to the discussion of the topic. A Word about "Moderation" The Rx2000 listservs are moderated to ensure that advertising, useless fighting and totally inappropriate messages are not forwarded to the list. We do not try to censor. Rather, we are working to ensure a standard of quality for all. Additionally, in order to minimize risk and avoid flooding your mailboxes, we do not forward postings with attachments. An exception would be if we received an important posting with an attachment from a very trusted source (e.g., the FDA). Our moderator has already intercepted messages that were designed to deliver a new computer virus to you! If this had been an unmoderated service without any quality control, all of you would have received the virus. Of course, given the current state of computing, there is no guarantee of totally safe computing, but we will continue to do all we can to keep a safe, virtual meeting place for healthcare. The Rx2000 Institute provides this listserv and many other important services to healthcare free of charge to users. We appreciate all of your support and encourage you to make the greatest possible use of these free services. You can help to support the activities of the Institute and gain access to our members-only services by becoming a member of the Institute. Please see our website at http://www.rx2000.org for additional information about the benefits of membership. Thank you! Joel Ackerman Executive Director, Rx2000 Institute ackerman@rx2000.org 952-595-9551 ********** Message #2 ********** From: ackerman@rx2000.org To: rx2000hipaa@rx2000.org,rx2000ehealth@rx2000.org Subject: Rx2000 Knowledge Center webcasts Date: Tue, 30 May 2000 14:58:15 -0500 NOTE TO RX2000 LISTSERV REGARDING APRIL 2000 SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP (SIG) MEETING Dear ListServ Members, Rx2000 is pleased to announce that its April 2000 SIG Meeting, HIPAA Regulations and eHealth Technology - Healthcare Opportunities in the New Millennium, is now available free in webcast format to Members of the Institute on the Institute's website. If you weren't able to attend the SIG meeting, you can still view the presentations and panel discussions. Demonstrations that include portions from three of the presentations are available to everyone providing your PC meets the minimum system requirements. Please go to http://www.rx2000.org and follow the link to the demonstrations. Please note that the Institute is currently redesigning its website and we expect to include the capability for PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT Members of the Institute to obtain access to webcast, eLearning and other Institute-developed materials. We will inform you as soon as this option is available. Thanks for continuing your involvement in our ListServ. Joel Ackerman, Executive Director Rx2000 Institute ackerman@rx2000.org ********** Message #3 ********** From: Woosleew@aol.com To: Rx2000eHealth@rx2000.org Subject: Re: Rx2000 Knowledge Center webcasts Date: Wed, 31 May 2000 09:42:49 EDT Joel, This doesn't necessarily need to go on the list postings, but may if you like. I just wanted to drop you a quick note to say thanks. The videos were well done and much appreciated. A class act! Thanks, Errick E. Woosley, MPA Senior Consultant 3X HCSG 135 Merchant St. Ste. 330 Cincinnati, OH 45246 (513) 587-3100 (513) 587-3111 FAX ********** Message #4 ********** From: ackerman@rx2000.org To: Rx2000HIPAA@rx2000.org,rx2000ehealth@rx2000.org Subject: Rx2000 eLearning Date: Wed, 31 May 2000 11:08:57 -0500 Errick (and all), Thank you for all the positive response we've had to the webcasts. We are excited about the opportunity to play a role in bringing quality, free or affordable education to the healthcare community via eLearning and our Knowledge Center. Stay tuned for announcements of additional materials. Joel Ackerman, Executive Director Rx2000 Institute ackerman@rx2000.org At 10:43 AM 5/31/00 -0500, you wrote: Joel, This doesn't necessarily need to go on the list postings, but may if you like. I just wanted to drop you a quick note to say thanks. The videos were well done and much appreciated. A class act! Thanks, Errick E. Woosley, MPA Senior Consultant 3X HCSG 135 Merchant St. Ste. 330 Cincinnati, OH 45246 (513) 587-3100 (513) 587-3111 FAX ********** Message #5 ********** From: ackerman@rx2000.org To: rx2000hipaa@rx2000.org,rx2000ehealth@rx2000.org Subject: HCFA OPPS Date: Thu, 29 Jun 2000 09:15:44 -0500 Dear Rx2000HIPAA and Rx2000eHealth Listserv Reader, Rx2000 received a request from Joe Broseker, HCFA's Deputy Director, Provider Billing and Education Group, to help spread the word about HCFA OPPS listservs that may be helpful to your organization. These listservs provide for one-way communication from HCFA to listserv subscribers. HCFA will use the listservs to alert subscribers of new additions or changes to the HCFA OPPS website and to provide other information quickly to those affected by the OPPS. Directions for subscribing to HCFA's OPPS listservs can be found at www.hcfa.gov/medlearn/listserv.htm Joel Ackerman, Executive Director Rx2000 Institute ackerman@rx2000.org 612-595-7970 ********** Message #6 ********** From: RTelesca@gigaweb.com To: "'rx2000ehealth@rx2000.org'" Subject: Healthcare Industry Lagging Behind? Date: Wed, 5 Jul 2000 14:08:16 -0400 While not a panacea, the Internet and eCommerce offers the health care industry a viable alternative for streamlining business operations and improving the delivery of services. Aside from the health-oriented dot.coms, the mainstream, traditional health care organizations seem to be lagging behind companies in other industries in embracing this opportunity. Any opinions on whether or not this is true? I'd be interested in success stories and/or the obstacles people see as preventing eHealth initiatives. Richard J. Telesca ePractices Research Giga Information Group 54 Lavender Lane Rocky Hill, CT 06067 860.257.8527 (phone) ********** Message #7 ********** From: triley@partnershealth.com To: Rx2000eHealth@rx2000.org Subject: RE: Healthcare Industry Lagging Behind? Date: Fri, 7 Jul 2000 11:08:14 -0400 Slow day, I was hoping this note would generate some activity. Mr. Telesca, this is my attempt to respond to your inquiry. It is not surprising to me that the healthcare industry appears to be slow to recognize the Internet as a means to improve operations and the healthcare experience. Considering the fact that the insurance industry took a decade plus to agree on the ANSI X12-N standards. Also, I am not sure how the 1993 WEDI projections of $4 to $10 billion dollars savings from administrative costs completely panned out. Cooperation has been the greatest detractor in EDI implementation and realization of value. The HIPAA regulations by design or coincidence mandate cooperation through standards. Cooperation across chain of trust relationships, competitors and customers is fundamental with the implementation of the regulations. This along with the technological advancements of the Internet give us an incredible second chance. The billions of dollars not yet recognized by EDI, become resources to defray the cost of HIPAA compliance. During May, PARTNERS handled via the internet over 74,000 interactions with 4% of our contracted provider and hospital locations. This represents a shift from our call center handling 100% of Provider/Hospital interactions to servicing only 30% of the overall interactions. We are starting to recognize the value and power of the internet, while navigating the maze of obstacles. Timothy J. Riley CIO/VP PARTNERS National Health Plans of North Carolina, Inc. 2085 Frontis Plaza Blvd Winston-Salem, NC 27103 (336) 659-2534 ********** Message #8 ********** From: ackerman@rx2000.org To: rx2000hipaa@rx2000.org, rx2000ehealth@rx2000.org Subject: New GovLink Section of Rx2000 Website Date: Thu, 13 Jul 2000 01:40:42 -0500 Dear Rx2000HIPAA and Rx2000eHealth listserv readers, In our continuing efforts to keep you well informed, the Rx2000 Institute is constantly updating its website with news and materials from government agencies such as HCFA and HHS, and information about HIPAA and eHealth. We're now instituting a regular update service for Institute Members and subscribers to our Listservs. This service will consist of regular announcements identifying recent updates to the Rx2000 website at http://www.rx2000.org . We hope this will be useful for you. Additionally, we encourage you to give us comments, information and websites worth noting so we can make this information widely available to your professional colleagues. A key recent addition to the Rx2000 website is the GovLink section, designed to help you find answers to your questions about federal regulations and payment programs. Currently on GovLink: 1. An audio interview with Kevin Thurm, Deputy Secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services 2. A video interview with Joseph Broseker, Deputy Director, Provider Billing and Education Group, Center for Health Plans and Providers, Health Care Financing Administration 3. Link to Joseph Broseker's presentation at the Rx2000 April Special interest Group Meeting titled HCFA's New Outreach/Education and Customer Service Initiatives for Providers 4. Update information on HCFA's proposed APC payment program 5. A new video on the workings of HCFA 6. A new HCFA video on Outpatient PPS 7. HIPAA-related audio interviews with representatives of WEDI, AFEHCT, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, North Carolina Healthcare Information & Communications Alliance, EHNAC, CBSI, American Dental Association. And much, much more. We will be constantly updating the material in GovLink, and you will want to visit this portion of the site often. Thank you for your continued support of the Rx2000 Institute and your participation in our services! Joel Ackerman, Executive Director Rx2000 Institute ackerman@rx2000.org 612-595-9551