Keep up to date with Massachusetts eHealth related news, opportunities and program updates.

News for December 2016
MeHI, the Massachusetts eHealth Institute  at the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, is the designated state agency for promoting  Health IT  innovation, technology and competitiveness to improve the safety, quality and efficiency of health care across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
New! Educational Health IT Videos

This fall, MeHI hosted a Grantee Forum for 58 healthcare organizations participating in our eQuality Incentive and Connected Communities grant programs. Speakers included leaders in healthcare and government who delivered educational presentations focused on helping our grantees implement and more effectively use health IT. The presentations were recorded and crafted into videos to benefit our broader constituency. 

Check out our videos that may be relevant to your Health IT implementation project:

Click on the button below to go directly to the collection of videos from the November event or visit our Recordings library for all the educational content available organized by topic.


Podcast: Hooking Up Healthcare Innovators with Customers

Relentless Health Value released a podcast featuring MeHI Director Laurance Stuntz at the beginning of the month. In the podcast, Laurance discusses the Mass Digital Health Initiative and how MeHI, along with its partners, are forming programs to drive the digital health economy in the Commonwealth.
 
In the interview, Laurance talks about some of the healthcare challenges that could prove to be opportunities for startups in the digital health space. He also discusses of what startups realistically need to accomplish before engaging in an agreement with a provider organization.
 
He recommends innovators to "be flexible in your ideas, always question your assumptions, and find a partner interested in working with you."
 
For the customers, or healthcare organizations seeking digital health solutions, Laurance shares the outlines of programs MeHI is developing to make it easier to compare multiple innovations through profiles or "corporate resume templates".

To listen to this podcast, click here.
Israeli and Massachusetts Partnership on Digital Health and Cybersecurity

During Governor Charlie Baker's recent Economic Development Mission to Israel, both digital health and cybersecurity were front and center. The mission included the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative and Israel's CyberSpark, a non-profit private organization focused on the promotion of the unique cybersecurity ecosystem in and around Be'er-Sheva, Israel. The MOU, signed by MassTech CEO Tim Connelly and CyberSpark CEO Roni Zehavi, includes potential key areas for collaboration like research projects focused on healthcare technology-related cyber issues designed to build on the cybersecurity and healthcare talent centered in both Massachusetts and Israel. The agreement also calls for new technology and policy roundtables, trainings for cybersecurity students, and visits by delegations from both regions. Full details can be found in the press release announcing the agreement.
 
One of the business leaders that joined Governor Baker in Israel, American Well co-founder Dr. Ido Schoenberg, took part in an interview in which he tackled the question of why, as an Israeli, he decided to set up his telehealth company in Boston. Check out the piece on American Well's website.   
 
Read more about the digital health connections between Massachusetts and Israel in the Boston Globe and  InfoSecurity Magazine.

Medicaid EHR Incentive Program Updates
Program Year 2017 and Stage 3 Meaningful Use Resources are Now Updated on the CMS Website
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently updated their website to reflect changes to the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs. For Program Year 2017, Medicaid Eligible Professionals (EPs) have the option to attest to either Meaningful Use (MU) Modified Stage 2 or Stage 3. Medicaid EPs will be required to demonstrate MU Stage 3 in Program Year 2018. 

Starting in 2017, Medicare EPs who previously attested to MU through the Medicare EHR Incentive Program will participate in the Medicare Quality Payment Program .

Visit the CMS EHR Incentive Programs website to find official CMS resources and program information, including:
Program Year 2016 Deadlines

Funding Opportunity
Commonwealth Corporation announces the Health Care Jobs Pipeline Grant Request for Qualifications

Commonwealth Corporation is seeking qualified partners to design or re-design an occupationally-specific training and placement program. The program will support populations with persistent economic disparities and high unemployment rates in making a successful transition to employment in one of four targeted health care occupations:
  • Recovery Coach (for substance abuse and addictions services);
  • Medical Assistant;
  • Certified Nursing Assistant; or 
  • Home Health Aide.  
The purpose of the Health Care Jobs Pipeline Grant funding is to support the recommendations of the Economic Opportunity Task Force to provide support services, training, and job placement that are designed to meet the needs of these targeted populations, including African/Americans/Blacks, Hispanics/Latinos, Native Americans, persons with disabilities, and Gulf War Era II Veterans. 

This solicitation is offered by the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development and is funded by the Health Care Workforce Transformation Fund and administered by the Commonwealth Corporation. 

Questions Due: Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017 @ 5:00 PM
Deadline to Submit Proposals: Tuesday, Jan. 31. 2017
Applicants Notified of Status: March 2017

For more information and to download a copy of the Request for Qualifications visit Commonwealth Corporation's Available Funding webpage.

Contact Information:
Karen Shack
kshack@commcorp.org
News Articles
EHR Intelligence | December 13, 2016

Healthcare IT News | December 16 , 2016
Upcoming Industry Events 
Registration is Open for NEHI's Annual Spring Conference


The Network for Excellence in Health Innovation (NEHI)  is hosting their annual event in the spring. NeHI is a diverse, multi-stakeholder organization dedicated to identifying, analyzing and resolving critical health issues is where collective problem solving continues to takes place. This organization provides the space, expertise and a vibrant network of over 90 member organizations to explore areas of consensus to advance innovation.

The theme this year is "Fresh Starts, Enduring Challenges". Speakers will explore the major debates that will take place over multiple aspects of health care in the new Congress and Administration. 

The event will feature:
  • Speakers from different sectors with demonstrated experience in advancing innovation through collaboration;
  • Panels that feature NEHI research and experts from across sectors to discuss pressing issues such as breakthrough therapies, new payment models and personalized medicine;
  • Opportunities to network with executives and policy experts from NEHI's 90+ member organizations and other health care organizations; and
  • High value innovations that radically reduce costs and improve access to care.

WHEN:
Wednesday, April 26, 2017
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

WHERE:
Washington Hilton
1919 Connecticut Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20009

For more event details, visit the event website here.

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Massachusetts eHealth Institute
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