Earlier this month, the University of Maryland’s prestigious Robert H.

Earlier this month, the University of Maryland’s prestigious Robert H. Smith School of Business held its 4th annual Workshop on Health IT and Economics.

CNSI was proud to sponsor the event, which brought together academic and private sector leaders in health IT from around the country to present insightful commentary on the opportunities and challenges faced by the industry.

The two day conference took place in Washington, D.C. and highlighted cutting-edge research from the likes of the University of Texas Health Science Center, the University of Pennsylvania Health System, Children’s National Medical Care and the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.

Of the many health IT topics discussed, social media stood out as a still untapped industry resource. Discussing its potentials, Harvard Business School Assistant Professor Michael Luca presented his findings on ‘Digitizing Disclosure,’ that is, utilizing social platforms to disseminate information regarding public health warnings. Would a Yelp review or Facebook notification be a more apt warning than a physical posting on a door?

According to Prof. Luca, we may some ways go. However, as these technologies become more ubiquitous, leveraging themselves into even more aspects of our everyday lives, the proof is yet to come.

Greg Kruse of the University of Pennsylvania Health System shared similar sentiments when it comes to the power of the communication tools at our disposal. In his keynote address on day one of the conference, Mr. Kruse stated that broader communication strategies will build new relationships between doctors and patients.

Mr. Kruse surely has a point. As we continue to advance health IT solutions we are not only building cost-effective efficiencies for the management of care, but influencing the very nature of how we receive, interpret, and communicate with our health care providers and communities.

How can health IT improve the way you interact with your physician or community? Tweet @CNSICorp to let us know! Follow CNSI on Twitter.

While advances in technology allow us to store important health information on the cloud and within our mobile applications, CNSI and organizations like ours have the added requirement to always ensure privacy and security when it comes to holding confidential data.

While advances in technology allow us to store important health information on the cloud and within our mobile applications, CNSI and organizations like ours have the added requirement to always ensure privacy and security when it comes to holding confidential data. To address concerns regarding the security of a patient’s personal information, certain standards have been implemented that require providers to comply with privacy standards.

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) establish a number of rules in order to protect patients and their information. The HIPAA Privacy Rule protects the privacy of an individual’s health information, while the HIPAA Security Rule sets national standards for the protection of electronic health information. Both set the industry standards on how to keep information secure and safe.

Additionally, groups such as the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), which focuses on creating better health care through information technology, have developed resources for organizations to use in order to comply with privacy and security regulations. The HIMSS Privacy and Security Committee hopes to achieve that “By 2014, all entities who use, send, or store health information meet requirements for confidentiality, integrity, availability, and accountability based on sound risk management practices, using recognized standards and protocols.”

To move towards these initiatives, HIMSS has provided tools such as the HIMSS Cloud Security Toolkit which delivers resources to health care organizations to help them make informed security decisions related the use of cloud computing. Additionally, the Mobile Security Toolkit assists organizations in their efforts to manage the security of mobile devices and applications.

CNSI provides a number of health care solutions that fully comply with security standards. Solutions such as the Medicaid as a Service and our myHealthButton app provide patients with information while ensuring that security requirements like authentication, authorization and identity management are well covered.

Do you feel like your information is secure on the cloud? Tweet @CNSICorp to let us know! Follow CNSI on Twitter.

Supposed to be categorized in these: Cloud, CNSI, CNSI, Health IT, Healthcare, Healthcare, HealthcareIT, HIPAA, privacy, security,

Cloud computing is one of the latest advancements in technology that, simply put, allows data to be stored and accessed via the Internet. Storing data on the cloud lets users access certain information from anywhere and in real time. This ability to access information has revolutionized the way we use technology.

Cloud computing is one of the latest advancements in technology that, simply put, allows data to be stored and accessed via the Internet. Storing data on the cloud lets users access certain information from anywhere and in real time. This ability to access information has revolutionized the way we use technology. There is an abundance of information stored on the cloud, and CNSI, health care government officials, and private companies have all taken advantage of the solution by using it to advance many industry practices.

The services provided by the cloud are divided into three separate categories in order to target and specify the needs for the solution. Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) provides business subscribers with 

an application to access data over the Internet, while Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) allows a business to create its own custom applications for use by employees. Additionally, the Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) model creates a system that can be used by companies to support their internal needs.

As you can see below, CNSI has taken this one step further with its Medicaid-as-a-Service (Maas) solution. MaaS provides savings in time, cost and risk mitigation. The platform delivers the opportunity for states to share knowledge and resources to cut back on time consuming tasks while leveraging efficiency to reduce costs, saving both the state and federal government millions of dollars. Additionally, MaaS complies with security standards and requirements, such as authorization and identity management, so that all confidential data is kept safe.

Earlier this year, CNSI announced an interstate partnership between Michigan and Illinois to provide the states with a MaaS system to assist with their Medicaid Management Information System. The partnership is expected to save both the federal government and each state between 20 and 40 percent in operational costs over the next five years.

Advancements in technology continue to improve these services. Cloud computing provides a solution that eliminates issues relating to hardware and software by providing a shared infrastructure that can be accessed on the Internet. The health care industry continues to take advantage of these advancements in technology to promote better health care by providing individuals with an avenue to access information in real time.

Cloud computing has and will continue to provide benefits to promote more streamlined and efficient systems. How do you use cloud computing? What aspects do you think are the most beneficial?

On October 23rd, we attended an event hosted by the Center for Technology Innovations at the Brookings Institution, which focused on the modernization of health care through mobile technology, something that we happen to know a lit

On October 23rd, we attended an event hosted by the Center for Technology Innovations at the Brookings Institution, which focused on the modernization of health care through mobile technology, something that we happen to know a little bit about ourselves.

Panelists included Asif Khan, Caremerge CEO, Iltifat Husain, Editor and Founder of iMedicalApps.com, and Erik Augustson, Program Director of the Tobacco Control Research Brand and Behavioral Research Program. The discussion focused on improving health care interaction and participation through the utilization of the mobile medical devices and applications that are now available.

Applications, such as the ViSi Mobile System, which monitors a patient’s vital signs, prove effective by providing early warning signs of health issues , while a variety of other mobile apps allow for patients to track and monitor daily physical activities and health improvements without the supervision of a primary care physician. Additionally, the myHealthButton app produced by CNSI promotes the value and potential for advancement of health care management within mobile technology. Implementation of these apps, allows health care companies to more efficiently gather and organize data in order to produce more informed decisions and diagnoses for patients along with better quality care.

“Prescribing an app”—the practice of promoting available healthcare apps directly to patients by their doctors—was a common theme throughout the day, as was the importance of health literacy. By taking advantage of the available technologies, patients are better informed about their physical health and more aware of impending health care management issues. The panelists discussed the platforms in which we communicate this information and noted that social media has become a widely integrated and effective way to encourage others to become health literate individuals.

While we continue to develop applications to monitor and analyze our health activities, there are still concerns over behavioral change. More often than not, the people using these devices are already living healthy and active lifestyles. The question then becomes_ How can we utilize these functions to promote awareness and, ultimately, behavioral change among those who need it the most?

How do you think we can help the people who need it most to use these apps more often? Tweet @CNSICorp to let us know! Follow CNSI on Twitter.

National Healthcare Quality Week, supported by the National Association for Healthcare Quality (NAHQ), kicks off this Sunday, focusing on patient safety professionals and a dedication to superior health care standards.

National Healthcare Quality Week, supported by the National Association for Healthcare Quality (NAHQ), kicks off this Sunday, focusing on patient safety professionals and a dedication to superior health care standards. With the recent launch of open enrollment exchanges for the Affordable Care Act and as Health Literacy Month continues, it is important to emphasize not only the health care options available to consumers, but also the quality of care provided.

NAHQ invites organizations to do just that by providing planning guides that offer tips for kick-off events and open houses, as well as promotional materials that can be used by participating organizations.

Organizations throughout the health care sector are invited to host events to promote health care quality and spread awareness to their local communities and area health professionals about the influence and importance of improved patient care and health delivery systems. Last year, hospitals across the country placed posters throughout their facilities to showcase department initiatives towards improved health care quality.

Now more than ever, advancements in IT provide platforms for streamlined health care services which allow for enhanced quality and significantly reduced costs. Cloud-computing systems and mobile technology applications make health information readily available to both patients and doctors. Products such as ClaimsSure help to detect fraud, waste and abuse to improve effectiveness and efficiency so that the quality of care given by doctors improves significantly. These and other innovations create real-time updates, providing efficient systems that effectively save both time and money and allow for improved patient care. By streamlining these services, doctors are able to focus on providing the highest quality care available by placing less focus on outdated records and paperwork.

What does community health quality mean to you? How will you celebrate National Healthcare Quality Week? Tweet @CNSICorp to let us know! Follow CNSI on Twitter.

In addition to the launch of open enrollment for the Affordable Care Act, last week conveniently marked the first day of <a title="Health Literacy Month" href="http://www.healthliteracymonth.org/" target="_blan

In addition to the launch of open enrollment for the Affordable Care Act, last week conveniently marked the first day of Health Literacy Month. Health Literacy Month aims to educate individuals and organizations on the importance of improving how they communicate health information. This year’s theme, “Be a Health Literacy Hero,” encourages consumers to be proactive in seeking out more information that may improve their health – and the potential for achieving that mission has never been greater.

A combination of advancements in IT and today’s focus on the importance of streamlined health care services have brought an influx of innovative digital applications, making it easier for patients to stay informed on a variety of health care management issues. Whether you need to find your closest health care provider or quickly access details on payment options, there’s an app for that. CNSI’s myHealthButton, has the ability to provides individuals with real-time access to their health records and Medicaid benefits, and the best part is that consumers are able to easily access all of this information through their mobile devices. The app can even be customized to send users text message reminders for medical appointments!

The recently launched government website healthcare.gov is another great benefit for those interested in boosting their health literacy. The site helps individuals understand what health plans are available to them by compiling a list of available coverage based on an individual’s personal data, such as pre-existing health conditions, age, and job status. It also provides visitors with enrollment instructions and details about how new health care reform laws may affect them. Healthcare.gov also encourages users to engage with others on social media. Using the hashtag #GetCovered, users can share why health insurance is important to them. Thousands of users on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Google+ have joined the conversation. In the spirit of Health Literacy Month, you should too!

Why is health insurance important to you? Have you used healthcare.gov, myHealthButton, or another application to manage your health? Let us know by tweeting us at @CNSICorp or commenting below. Follow CNSI on Twitter

October 1st marks the first open enrollment date for the Affordable Care Act (ACA), giving more than 30 million patients over the next decade access to online insurance marketplaces</

October 1st marks the first open enrollment date for the Affordable Care Act (ACA), giving more than 30 million patients over the next decade access to online insurance marketplaces where they can shop for a health plan from private insurers.

As part of this process, states that will expand Medicaid under the ACA must be ready to handle the huge sets of data that will need to be compiled and ordered for each newly enrolled individual, opening the door to potential IT landmines that could throw off antiquated systems not built to handle such a massive upgrade.

The federal government has worked to make more health insurance options readily available to consumers, and high-tech innovations are playing a key role in fostering a smooth transition period. Solutions like cloud- based Medicaid Management Information Systems (MMIS) simplify the enrollment process, allowing for digital storing and automating of information in real-time.

Even more, MMIS solutions and product enhancements such as the eCams HealthBeat leverage cloud-computing efficiencies to provide states with streamlined functionalities never before realized, such as the ability to highlight community health concerns and flag regions that may require additional resources.

CNSI recently announced a partnership between Illinois and Michigan that permits both states to share an MMIS platform, creating savings for each state and for the federal government. Improvements like these highlight how technological advancements allow for improved patient care by creating efficient systems that save patients and governments time and money.

Complementing the launch of the ACA, the development of www.healthcare.gov provides user-friendly tools that empower consumers to better understand their options; what their insurance options are or what laws and regulations affect them. The site is just another step the ACA takes towards being more innovative and transparent in how we manage healthcare in the U.S.

With the launch of ACA enrollment just a week away, it is important to note the ways in which healthcare IT is changing how our current health systems operate and function.

What do you think of the new technological advances that are streamlining our health systems? Follow CNSI on Twitter.

National Health IT Week wrapped up last week with events across the country focusing on how cloud-based solutions, data management and technology, mobile applications and patient engagement systems are improving and changing the ways we manage our healthcare.

National Health IT Week wrapped up last week with events across the country focusing on how cloud-based solutions, data management and technology, mobile applications and patient engagement systems are improving and changing the ways we manage our healthcare. Doctors, administrators and legislators were on hand, participating in events that highlighted technology’s place and potential in healthcare.

At a time when technological innovation is changing the future of the nation’s healthcare system, it is important to stay informed about the latest technologies available to the industry, and platforms like HealthIT Week allow us to share intelligence from the past year with our colleagues in the industry. This year, CNSI was involved in the development of two very important initiatives that will save governments and consumers time and money, while simplifying the retrieval of Medicaid information.

myHealthButton

This new mobile app provides Medicaid beneficiaries with instant, real-time access to their benefits. Users can view their Medicaid Health Card information, eligibility and coverage, as well as Food Benefits Balance information for the Women, Infants and Children program. More than half of adults are currently using smartphones. The 56 percent figure jumped 21 percent in two years. It is crucial that the healthcare industry continues to use mobile technology to better serve consumers.

Find our infographic detailing the benefits of the myHealthButton mobile app here. You can also download it on your iPhone or Android phone.

Medicaid Management Information System partnerships

CNSI has worked alongside Michigan and Illinois to set up a bi-partisan partnership that will allow the two governments to share one Medicaid Management Information System. The partnership will update Illinois’ 30-year old system and save both states, and the federal government, millions of dollars. Using a cloud-based service, CNSI is providing Michigan and Illinois with a streamlined system that helps doctors connect with their patients in a new way.

Smarter Solutions 

At the National Health IT Week press conference in Washington, D.C., U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) noted that innovations in “Health IT are not only better for patients but critical for our country,” as we seek smarter ways to efficiently manage the high state and federal costs of established healthcare systems. Sen. Sheldon was one of many legislators on hand touting the potential of health IT and we at CNSI were glad to see such astounding support in our nation’s capital and in the many other cities that hosted Health IT events last week.

What innovative ways have you seen technology integrated into healthcare IT? Share with us in the comment section or on Twitter at @CNSIcorp. To catch up on the Health IT conversation on Twitter, search the tag #NHITWeek.

National Health IT Week kicked-off Monday, with a number of events taking place throughout the week in locations around the country and with participants interacting virtually through webcasts and on Twitter via #NHITWeek and

National Health IT Week kicked-off Monday, with a number of events taking place throughout the week in locations around the country and with participants interacting virtually through webcasts and on Twitter via #NHITWeek and #HealthITWeek.

In Washington, D.C, patient engagement and the Blue Button were top focus points of the 2013 Consumer Health IT Summit. The event brought together leaders from the federal, private and nonprofit sectors, all focused on the potential for further advancements and efficiencies in healthcare data access.

Among them was the National Coordinator for Health IT, Farzad Mostashari, who deftly noted that “unlocking data and information tools” will result in the largest shift yet for the field of healthcare management.

Mostashari’s point was shared by all panelists in attendance_ By increasing individual access to personal health records, we are increasing the opportunities associated with interpreting that data and making informed decisions on one’s healthcare future.

The first step is making those materials easily accessible and the Blue Button is proving to be a key foundational example. The Blue Button, a collaborative project by the Department of Health and Human Services, the White House and the Department of Veterans Affairs to expand access to personal health information, allows users to easily download their personal health records.

But on-demand access to our health records is just the beginning. As additional third party applications are developed and as the Office of the National Coordinator of Health IT continues to support the adoption of these technologies, we are sure to see major advancements in the way we interpret and put this critical data to use.

CNSI’s myHealthButton®, which leverages the Blue Button for mobile technologies, is just one example of the initiatives already being made on this front.

Throughout this week, we are excited to learn more on what our industry peers are doing to help drive the solutions that are shifting the consumer experience of healthcare management.

Check back or follow us on Twitter @CNSICorp for more updates on National Health IT Week.

We have met dozens of government officials, healthcare innovators and technology professionals at the 2013 Medicaid Enterprise Systems Conference (MESC) this week.

We have met dozens of government officials, healthcare innovators and technology professionals at the 2013 Medicaid Enterprise Systems Conference (MESC) this week. While we always look forward to meeting the newest faces in healthcare IT, we were especially happy catch up to a familiar MESC attendee, NESCSO Executive Director Brenda Harvey. Brenda heads the New England States Consortium Systems Organization, a non- profit organization whose goal is to improve communication and collaboration between states to exchange knowledge and services that will maximize healthcare program efficiency.

NESCSO, the coordinator of the conference, is comprised of the Health and Human Services agencies of New England states Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont, as well as the University of Massachusetts Medical School. We sat down with Brenda to get some insight into what she thought about the MESC this year. Brenda highlighted the unique sense of collaboration at the conference, and noted that every attendee shared information they believe will benefit the Medicaid industry, freely. Though the attendees are sharing information, Brenda urges those not at the conference to pay attention to the issues the attendees are attempting to solve. “We are talking dollars in your pocket. [The MESC] is a place where that discussion is taking place for five days,” she said. Finally, we discussed CNSI’s Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS) partnership with the health agencies of both Michigan and Illinois.

The partnership, Medicaid as a Service (MaaS), allows Illinois to share Michigan’s MMIS and significantly reduce costs. Upon learning about the program, Brenda said, “NESCSO has had a vision of helping states share services, save costs, save development time and really leverage one another’s strengths. So if a state has a solution to something that really works, I don’t believe that the work in the neighboring state is so different that [the solutions] can’t really ultimately be shared in some way.” If you are at the conference download our free MESC agenda app from your iPhone or iPad app store by searching for “MESC” or clicking here. We will also be live tweeting from the event. Follow @CNSICorpand join our conversation by using the hashtag #the2013mesc.