The Innovation Economy: Information Revolution Transforming Health Care Through Big Data | SYS-CON MEDIA

The Innovation Economy: Information Revolution Transforming Health Care Through Big Data | SYS-CON MEDIA

The Innovation Economy: Information Revolution Transforming Health Care Through Big Data Bipartisan Policy Center and Intel host interactive policy forum exploring the opportunities, challenges, and policies critical to encouraging innovation in health care through the use of big data

BY PR NEWSWIRE JUNE 13, 2013 03:03 PM EDT WASHINGTON, June 13, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --  The Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) and Intel Corporation invite you to an interactive policy forum exploring the opportunities, challenges and policies critical to encouraging innovation in health and health care, specifically focusing on how to effectively use large, disparate data sets and addressing concerns about privacy and security.   This policy forum is part of the 2013 Innovation Economy series of roundtable and public forums convened in partnership with Intel, exploring the vital role of innovation in sustaining and building upon U.S. competitiveness in the global economy. This series will specifically address how the "information revolution" (i.e. growing utility of big data), has the potential to transform three industries: health care, energy and homeland security. BPC will release a paper later this year based on insights drawn from these three forums. Who: Keynote Remarks by Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) Featuring: Eric Dishman, Intel Fellow, General Manager, Health Strategy and Solutions, Intel Corporation Khaled El-Emam, PhD, Canada Research Chair in Electronic Health Information, University of Ottawa; Chief Executive Officer, Privacy Analytics Joe Gray, PhD, Associate Director for Translational Research, Knight Cancer Institute; Chair, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Oregon Health and Science University Mary Grealy, President, Healthcare Leadership Council Mark Hogle, Chief Technology Officer, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Leonard Lichtenfeld, MD, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, American Cancer Society Janet Marchibroda, Director, Health Innovation Initiative, Bipartisan Policy Center Deven McGraw, Director, Health Privacy Project, Center for Democracy & Technology J. Marc Overhage, MD, PhD, Chief Medical Informatics Officer, Siemens Healthcare Nirav Shah, MD, Commissioner of Health, State of New York Tony Trenkle, Chief Information Officer, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services When:  Tuesday, June 25, 2013 8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. EDT Where:  Bipartisan Policy Center 1225 Eye Street NW Suite 1000 Washington, DC 20005  (202) 204-2400         About Intel Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) is a world leader in computing innovation. The company designs and builds the essential technologies that serve as the foundation for the world's computing devices. Additional information about Intel is available at newsroom.intel.com and blogs.intel.com. About the Bipartisan Policy CenterFounded in 2007 by former Senate Majority Leaders Howard Baker, Tom Daschle, Bob Dole and George Mitchell, the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) is a non-profit organization that drives principled solutions through rigorous analysis, reasoned negotiation and respectful dialogue. With projects in multiple issue areas, BPC combines politically balanced policymaking with strong, proactive advocacy and outreach. For more information, please visitwww.bipartisanpolicy.org SOURCE Bipartisan Policy Center

Innovation center offers $1 billion to test Medicare pay models

■ Physicians and other health professionals are encouraged to apply for funds to develop innovative payment concepts that reward quality and keep federal costs down.

By CHARLES FIEGL amednews staff — Posted June 3, 2013

Washington 

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation is looking to invest $1 billion in new payment models to support initiatives that improve care in federal health programs.

Grants will be awarded to organizations seeking to develop and test new payment models that promise to deliver better health care services at a lower cost, Obama administration officials announced May 15. The innovation center is favoring models that will grapple with health care problems considered the costliest for Medicare, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

“We believe there are organizations that are out there eager to transform the way health care is delivered and help [the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services] develop new payment systems to support these innovations,” said Richard Gilfillan, MD, director of the innovation center, during a call with reporters to discuss the grants.

This will be the second opportunity to apply for innovation awards. The first round supported a broad range of more than 100 care models with between $1 million and $26.5 million each in 2011. For instance, the surgery benefits management company Welvie LLC teamed with insurer Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield in Ohio after receiving an award grant for a care decisions program assisting Medicare beneficiaries. Nearly half of 3,500 participating patients considered surgery alternatives under the program, and 17% chose less invasive treatment options, according to the innovation center. Each surgery that was avoided saved the system an average of $7,000.

Costliest illnesses targeted

Awards during the second round will be more focused. The innovation center is seeking models that rapidly reduce costs in Medicare and Medicaid outpatient hospitals and other settings; care for specialized populations, such as patients with Alzheimer’s disease or HIV/AIDS; support specialties, such as oncology, cardiology and others treating patients with complex chronic diseases; and treat health populations defined by geographical, clinical or socioeconomic areas or status.

Officials hope the target areas will fill gaps in the current pay system, Dr. Gilfillan said. The innovation center also will judge applicants on their ability to demonstrate that the pay models will improve health care quality and be sustainable over the long term.

The financial awards will help with the transition to new models of care that have the potential to improve quality and reduce costs in Medicare and Medicaid, said American Medical Association President Jeremy A. Lazarus, MD. In the case of Medicare, the Association has stated its case for transitioning from the current pay system to one with an array of payment models that support clinical innovations led by physicians.

“We are pleased that these new grants will provide expanded opportunities for physicians in a wide array of specialties,” Dr. Lazarus said. “As the AMA recently announced a long-term initiative to improve health outcomes for patients with cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, we are encouraged that the grants will support innovation in addressing these chronic conditions.”