I get quite a few emails on this blog from various people. Lots are asking questions. Others rip something I said. Others say thanks for writing. In fact, that connection is one of the best reasons to blog. Well, someone asked the following question and I thought I’d open it up for people on this blog to comment about what they’ve seen, heard, experienced, or think should be done by insurance companies to promote EMR. Here’s the question:
Is there any role for insurance companies in this whole EMR area? Afterall, if quality of care can be increases and costs reduced, how can insurance companies encourage or help pay for EMRs?
Insurance companies need to report quality measures on HEDIS (http://www.ncqa.org/tabid/59/Default.aspx) and it’s a pretty laborious process to get all the data. They employ an entire cottage industry of temp-nurses that do chart chases to doctor’s offices copying all medical records necessary to get the outcome data. EHR’s in a standard format will eliminate this need very quickly.