INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
States moving swiftly to connect healthcare with technology
Health information technology (IT) has become a priority at the state level, with 134 health IT-related bills being enacted in 44 states between January 2007 and August 2008, according to a recent National Council of State Legislatures (NCSL) report.

Those 134 health IT bills were enacted in all states except Nebraska, South Dakota, Kentucky, Mississippi and Arkansas. The number of new bills was an increase over the previous survey; between 2005 and 2006, 36 bills were enacted.

Five areas where NCSL analyzes policy trends in health IT are: planning, targeted financing initiatives, updating privacy laws to facilitate health information exchange, promoting health information exchange and advancing adoption and use.

CENTERS FOR MEDICARE & MEDICAID SERVICES
CMS bolsters efforts to fight Medicare waste, fraud and abuse
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in December announced its new initiative requiring durable medical equipment suppliers to post a surety bond, in an effort to reduce Medicare waste, abuse and fraud.

Certain suppliers of durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies are required to post a $50,000 surety bond in order to meet CMS’ new rule. Existing suppliers have until Oct. 2 to comply, while new suppliers must meet the standard by May 4. Additionally, CMS announced it revoked the billing privileges of more than 1,100 medical equipment suppliers in southern California and south Florida.

“We know the majority of medical equipment suppliers and health care providers want to improve the health of Medicare beneficiaries, but we also know there are those who look for any opportunity to take advantage of beneficiaries and Medicare,” CMS Acting Administrator Kerry Weems said in a release. “The steps we are taking today provide us with additional oversight of the suppliers who furnish medical equipment to Medicare beneficiaries and those who provide home health services in South Florida.”

Read more about the new regulation here.

PHARMACEUTICALS
Where’s my pen?
Is that convenient stash of pharmaceutical-branded pens and notepads starting to dwindle?

On Jan. 1 pharmaceutical companies agreed to voluntarily cease supplying doctors with promotional swag, according to a New York Times article.  All those free pens, T-shirts, mugs and other assorted memorabilia meant to promote the latest in prescription medicine to prescribers, are now a thing of the past. According to the Times article, some argue the voluntary measure is at best superficial and that it will not stop drug companies from promoting their products through other means.

STATE LEGISLATION
Pennsylvania limits healthcare workers’ overtime
Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell signed new legislation that will limit his state’s health care workers’ work hours to predetermined and regular shifts, thus cutting back on overtime costs.

House Bill 834, known as the Prohibition of Excessive Overtime in Health Care Act, goes into effect July 1. Exceptions to the rule include instances where no suitable replacement can be found or medical emergencies. Fines between $100 and $1,000 can be issued to violators.

Read Pennsylvania’s HB 834 here.

SENTINEL EVENT ALERT
Joint Commission stresses safely implementing health
information and converging technologies
Implementation of technology and related devices is not a guarantee for success and may actually jeopardize the quality and safety of patient care, according to The Joint Commission’s latest Sentinel Event Alert, released Dec. 11.

The alert comes as healthcare organizations are increasingly using health information technology and converging technologies like medical devices used with health information technology, such as medication dispensing devices.

Technology-related adverse events can be associated with all components of a comprehensive technology system and typically stem from human-machine interfaces or organizational/system design, according to the alert.

Some contributing factors to technology-related adverse events outlined in The Joint Commission’s 42nd Sentinel Event Alert include inadequate technology planning and lack of careful consideration for the impact technology can have on care processes, workflow and safety.

The alert also includes existing Joint Commission requirements related to information management and electronic information, as well as suggested actions to help prevent patient harm related to the implementation and use of health information technology and converging technologies. Read the Sentinel Event Alert at www.jointcommission.org.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
HHS announces new plan to encourage more
effective use of patient information
Key principles and a toolkit to guide efforts to harness the potential of new technology and more effective data analysis, while protecting privacy, were announced by outgoing Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Michael Leavitt in his keynote address to the Nationwide Health Information Network Forum on Dec. 15.

“Finding the balance between increased access to information and privacy is very important. If we don’t have it, we won’t succeed,” Secretary Leavitt said. “Consumers shouldn’t be in a position to have to accept privacy risks they don’t want. Each consumer should be able to choose products and services that best fit their health needs and preferences.”

Some of the privacy principles Secretary Leavitt outlined include individual consumer access, consumer ability to dispute accuracy or integrity of their information, open and transparent access to policies and practices related to collection and disclosure of their information.

Tools to help consumers and health information exchanges advance toward privacy protection and consumer access to their information were also announced during the address. For example, the “Leavitt Label,” modeled after the nutritional labels on food packaging, would allow consumers to quickly compare personal health records products.

For additional information, visit www.hhs.gov/healthit.

CLASS 1 RECALL
Advanced Medical Optics, Inc. recalls Healon D
Ophthalmic Visosurgical Device
A class 1 recall has been issued for Advanced Medical Optics, Inc.’s, Healon D Ophthalmic Visosurgical Device (OVD) in lot number UD30654. This product was manufactured from Sept. 1 to Sept. 30, 2008 and distributed from Sept. 1 to Oct. 29, 2008.

The recall was issued because some of the tested OVD syringes had endotoxin levels above the required limit. These higher levels may cause intraocular inflammation and/or Toxic Anterior Segment Syndrome (TASS) in patients following surgery.

The device is intended for intraocular use as a surgical aid in the following ophthalmic surgical procedures (anterior segment surgery):

• Cataract surgery, with or without an intraocular lens
• Corneal transplant surgery
• Glaucoma intraocular lens implantation

The company may be contacted at 1-714-247-8691.

Class 1 recalls are the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA's) most serious type of recall and involve situations in which there is a reasonable probability that use of these products will cause serious injury or death.

For more information on recalls and other advisories from the FDA, visit www.fda.gov.

Read more news in AORN Connections.