POLL 1
ICD-10 Deadline
A coalition of groups is asking HHS to extend the October 2011 deadline for implementing ICD-10 code sets for e-health transactions. Do you support this?
Yes, the costs involved are higher than what was originally outlined 47.73%
No, the costs will only rise the longer the process is delayed 47.73%
Not sure, it's too soon to tell 4.55%
Poll Comments:
10/17/08 — We are the only country which does not use ICD-10. The longer we wait, the higher the costs. The U.S. needs to quit procrastinating, shut up, and get on board.
10/17/08 — Plus, no country moving from 9 to 10 has been able to retain longitudinal data. The break will just become harder. Do it now!
10/17/08 — This implementation is inevitable and not as complex as the naysayers believe.
10/17/08 — Costs involved are higher than what was originally outlined is the consensus among Medicaids. Will small health plans and large health plans be ready for ICD-10 on the same date to avoid having to maintain two payment processes?
10/17/08 — I am completely against delaying past October 2011. We have been waiting for the “right time” to adopt ICD-10 since 1992 and extensive groundwork has been completed by many major agencies, including HHS. I recommend that the coalition investigate the years of testing, preparation and other countries' experiences and think they will be reassured that three years is the right amount of preparation time. Delaying any further will only increase the procrastination that we have already experienced since 1992.
POLL 2
Crucial Measures
Which of the following measures do you think will play the most crucial role in advancing e-health in the United States?
Accelerate e-prescribing 50.00%
Address consumer privacy 16.67%
Both (they will play equal parts) 16.67%
Neither 16.67%
Poll Comments:
9/26/08 — E-health will become a reality when the primary care physician population becomes more IT capable.
9/26/08 — On-demand training will be a critical component.
9/29/08 — Advancing e-health is driven primarily by money and workflow for the offices and practices that have to manage the data and applications. Consumer privacy goes with the territory and cannot be ignored. The cost of change to convert traditional practices to e-health ones is the biggest hurdle.
POLL 3
Health-e IT Act
The recently introduced Health-e IT Act includes incentives of up to several million dollars for hospitals that install and utilize approved EMR systems. Will this result in increased adoption?
Yes 55.17%
Possibly 31.03%
No 13.79%
Poll Comments:
9/19/08 — It would be beneficial.
9/19/08 — Easy, Paperless, Cost effective and Reliable.
9/19/08 — While well intentioned, this approach fails to place the incentive on the only group who, at this point, can drive increased e-health — the consumer. We have been trying the tops down approach for more than 20 years (MRI/TEPR). It's time for a true paradigm change — patient engagement and patient control of their health and health are. Provide an incentive for patients to adopt a PHR/PHMS and we'll see global change within a few years. Provide choice to the consumer as to where to store their PHI, their own PC, a flash drive or Web sites and adoption will leap forward! Demand drives change.
9/19/08 — The incentives have to offset the costs of implementation. This is still a steep barrier.
