Mon, 22 Mar 2010 09:22:22 -0400 Bob Bucceri http://www.chaddsfordplanning.com Podcast Maker v1.4.0 - http://www.lemonzdream.com/podcastmaker en http://www.chaddsfordplanning.com/Test%20Back%20Story%20Podcast%20Cover_144.jpg http://www.chaddsfordplanning.com 111 144 Business News no Chaddsford Planning Associates In a 20-minute interview, Magistro discusses the goals of the organization, past successes and the status of recent efforts focused on the broader adoption of health information technology, especially surrounding the strategic plan for PHIX, the Pennsylvania Health Information Exchange. Magistro explains the relationship of these initiatives to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and the activities coming out of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC). 1:05 - Magistro discusses the role of the Governor’s Office of Health Care Reform, its objectives and progress to date. 2:10 - The Pennsylvania Health Information Exchange (PHIX) initiative, its strategic plan, federal funding of $17.1 million and next steps are discussed. 4:30 - The PHIX strategic plan initially proposed piggybacking on the Delaware Health Information Network as a means to expedite the development of PHIX. Magistro shares how those plans have changed to the standard RFP procurement process. 6:30 - Magistro talks about PHIX and its relationship to the HITECH Act, the proposed Meaningful Use criteria and what providers can expect with being able to meet the proposed deadlines for compliance. 8:00 - PHIX and its relationship to other HIEs is discussed. 11:30 - Magistro provides some guidance on how healthcare stakeholders can keep abreast of changes to the PHIX strategic plan and other initiatives coming out of his organization. 12:20 - Magistro discusses the importance of advocacy and the need to make sure legislators know what is supported as well as any objections or concerns stakeholders may have. 14:00 - The need for an authority to govern PHIX, to include quality initiatives and tie in to the Chronic Care Initiative is discussed. 14:35 - Magistro shares some examples of quality improvements across the state that have also had a strong, positive affect on cost savings and demonstrate the potential benefits that health information exchange can have on a statewide level. 17:10 - Magistro discusses the need for a sustainable financial model and the different funding streams required for the initial infrastructure and ongoing operations. 18:35 - The conversation wraps up with how stakeholders can get and stay engaged in the state legislative process.]]> In a 20-minute interview, Magistro discusses the goals of the organization, past successes and the status of recent efforts focused on the broader adoption of health information technology... Philip Magistro is the Deputy Director, Program Implementation and State Government HIT Coordinator for the Governor’s Office of Health Care Reform <"http://www.ohcr.state.pa.us> In a 20-minute interview, Magistro discusses the goals of the organization, past successes and the status of recent efforts focused on the broader adoption of health information technology, especially surrounding the strategic plan for PHIX, the Pennsylvania Health Information Exchange. Magistro explains the relationship of these initiatives to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and the activities coming out of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC). 1:05 - Magistro discusses the role of the Governor’s Office of Health Care Reform, its objectives and progress to date. 2:10 - The Pennsylvania Health Information Exchange (PHIX) initiative, its strategic plan, federal funding of $17.1 million and next steps are discussed. 4:30 - The PHIX strategic plan initially proposed piggybacking on the Delaware Health Information Network as a means to expedite the development of PHIX. Magistro shares how those plans have changed to the standard RFP procurement process. 6:30 - Magistro talks about PHIX and its relationship to the HITECH Act, the proposed Meaningful Use criteria and what providers can expect with being able to meet the proposed deadlines for compliance. 8:00 - PHIX and its relationship to other HIEs is discussed. 11:30 - Magistro provides some guidance on how healthcare stakeholders can keep abreast of changes to the PHIX strategic plan and other initiatives coming out of his organization. 12:20 - Magistro discusses the importance of advocacy and the need to make sure legislators know what is supported as well as any objections or concerns stakeholders may have. 14:00 - The need for an authority to govern PHIX, to include quality initiatives and tie in to the Chronic Care Initiative is discussed. 14:35 - Magistro shares some examples of quality improvements across the state that have also had a strong, positive affect on cost savings and demonstrate the potential benefits that health information exchange can have on a statewide level. 17:10 - Magistro discusses the need for a sustainable financial model and the different funding streams required for the initial infrastructure and ongoing operations. 18:35 - The conversation wraps up with how stakeholders can get and stay engaged in the state legislative process. http://www.chaddsfordplanning.com/Backstory_Episode_4.m4a Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:30:16 -0400 Business News no 00:20:42 Bob Bucceri In a 38-minute interview, Gwendolyn Lohse discusses what CORE is and how it helps reduce the burden of healthcare administration by making it easier for providers and payers to exchange data. Gwendolyn Lohse is the Managing Director of the Committee on Operating Rules for Information Exchange (CORE) at CAQH, a nonprofit alliance of leading health plans and industry trade associations located in Washington, D.C. (www.caqh.org) In a 38-minute interview, Lohse discusses what CORE is and how it helps reduce the burden of healthcare administration by making it easier for providers and payers to exchange data. She shares a recent independent study that shows how CORE saves providers and payers time and money; makes it easier for providers to meet the HITECH Meaningful Use criteria recently released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and facilitates the move to HIPAA 5010. 1:26 Lohse discusses CORE, which was launched five years ago as a set of voluntary operating rules to improve the interoperability of healthcare systems between stakeholders. 2:30 The mission of CORE is to reduce the administrative burden of delivering healthcare and improve the revenue cycle process for providers and payers. 3:20 Lohse provides an overview of who participates in CORE, the vendor and technology neutral approach, the different phases of CORE and the certification process. 11:50 An independent study by IBM of organizations that have adopted CORE reveals how the industry can save billions. Detailed results of the study include the average return on investments for payers and providers, as well as reduced claim denials and other outcomes. 16:35 With patients increasingly absorbing a greater share of financial responsibility through increased co-pays, deductibles, high deductible health plans (HDHP) and self-pay, Lohse shares how CORE Phase I and Phase II certification can help providers increase patient collections and minimize bad debt. 18:35 Lohse discusses how CORE Phase II adds on YTD deductibles, greatly improves patient identification with new rules that improve accuracy and provides more efficient claim status information. 21:42 CORE Phase III rules and the 2010 timeframe for adoption are discussed. 23:05 CORE certification can make it easier to achieve Meaningful Use as providers move to implement EMRs in time for CMS incentive payments. 24:20 How CORE fits in with the HITECH act - Lohse explains how CORE connectivity rules in Phase II have been recommended as one of the infrastructure rules for HIE by HITSP. 28:40 Lohse discusses how CORE rules are complementary to an organization’s implementation of HIPAA 5010. http://www.chaddsfordplanning.com/Backstory_Episode_3.m4a Thu, 14 Jan 2010 10:24:38 -0500 Business News no 00:38:38 Bob Bucceri Peter Quadagno is the president of Quadagno & Assoc, Inc., in a 38-minute free-ranging interview he analyzes technology trends in electronic payments over the last year, and what to look for in the upcoming year. Peter Quadagno is the president of Quadagno & Associates, Inc. (www.quadagno.com), a electronic payments consulting firm based in West Chester, Pa. He has more than 30 years’ experience in the electronic payments industry, with a list of clients that has included MasterCard, American Express, telecommunication giants GTE, MCI and Quest Communications, as well as the Metropolitan Transit Authority and MARTA transit agencies. In a 38-minute free-ranging interview he analyzes technology trends in electronic payments over the last year, and what to look for in the upcoming year. 00:53 Quadagno is teamed with another industry veterans Paul Martaus (http://paulmartaus.blogspot.com/) and Patti Murphy on a blog (www.paymentsystemsgotoguys.com) that provides “no punches pulled” analysis of the electronic payments market. The “go to guys” cover all the leading news in the payments sector in an honest and forthright manner. 2:45 Quadagno discusses the near term prospects of mobile payments and commerce, including the use of ubiquitous smart phones as payment devices. He comments on the infrastructure problems that may hinder development in the short term and the prospects for smaller retailers profiting from the mobile revolution. 5:32 The role of banks in mobile payments. Banks have a role to play in mobile, says Quadagno, but it may not be the traditional role that banks have traditionally played. Or the role they may want to play in mobile payments. 8:50 Who will ultimately end up owning the mobile space? Will it be banks? Mobile telecommunications carriers? Retailers? Cell phone manufacturers? 9:50 The unsettled business issues of mobile commerce and banking are reflected in the regulatory environment. Multiple Congressional committees have looked at regulatory issues involving mobile commerce and banking but to date have not resolved which committee would have jurisdiction over any legislation that would provide a regulatory framework for the sector. 12:28 The security framework for mobile commerce. Does the onboard intelligence of a mobile device provide sufficient transaction security, or does the confluent nature of the technology provide security gaps that can threaten the industry? 14:15 Mobile technology and unbanked consumers. The ubiquity of mobile phones makes them a compelling payment vehicle to be used by unbanked or underbanked consumers without access to demand deposit accounts that are necessary for credit and debit cards. What kind of marketing opportunity will this create in the near future? Will it drive a convergence of mobile and contactless technology to create another payment type? What changes will take place in order for mobile devices to act as contactless debit cards? 17:05 Scalability. The mobile landscape right now is dominated by a handful of large media/Internet companies like Google and Yahoo. How do smaller retailers find a play in mobile commerce? 18:22 What are the near term prospects for decoupled-debit? Is decoupled debit “disruptive” technology?" 23:43 Quadagno discusses general-purpose prepaid card reloading, security challenges and money services businesses. 26:15 Will prepaid debit card reloading services provide a sufficient boost to renew interest in ATM ownership a growth area? 28:53 Quadagno discusses Fiserv’s (www.fiserv.com) foray into Internet PIN debit processing using technology developed by Acculynk (www.acculynk.com). http://www.chaddsfordplanning.com http://www.chaddsfordplanning.com/Backstory_Episode_2.m4a Thu, 31 Dec 2009 12:31:01 -0500 Business News no 00:38:36 Nancy Bucceri Financial Industry Re-Regulation: Will Increased Consumer Protections Stifle Innovation in the Creation and Marketing of New Financial Products? Kurt Helwig is the president and CEO of the Electronic Funds Transfer Association, a 30-year old trade association that represents organizations involved in electronic consumer financial products. In a wide ranging interview, he talks about what might be the “unintended consequences” of what he calls an “unprecedented” shift in Congressional focus on the financial industry. For the last 25 years, the federal approach to financial services such as bank cards, loans and mortgages has been to provide a regulatory environment that would encourage innovation and creation of financial products for consumers. However, amid charges that this environment has put the nation’s financial system at risk, that has changed. Under the Obama administration, Congress has taken up a flurry of proposed legislation that provides for greater control and regulation of financial services companies. Through its bailout of the financial industry, especially a number of large banks, the federal government now have an unprecedented financial stake in the industry, giving it leverage over product development, marketing and pricing issues, all formerly the province of the free market. Bills like the new Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2009, The Overdraft Protection Act of 2009, and stripping the Federal Reserve of much of its regulatory powers and putting them in the hands of yet another new agency, mark a sea change in government financial policy. Will this increased oversight limit the creation of new and innovative financial products? Will it limit consumer credit? Will it result in an exodus of companies from the financial services market place? In a freewheeling interview Helwig discusses these and other issues shaping the new financial landscape. http://www.chaddsfordplanning.com http://www.chaddsfordplanning.com/Backstory_episode_1.m4a Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:27:49 -0500 Business News no 00:38:36 Bob Bucceri Interview with Newt Gingrich http://www.chaddsfordplanning.com/podcasts/GingrichInterview.pdf Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:46:25 -0500 Business News no 00:00:00 Gingrich,