Last week, the federal HHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) gave the greenlight to allow a virtual care company and pharmaceutical manufacturer to loan patients free smartphones, so the patients (which include Medicare beneficiaries) could use the smartphones to track their drug therapy adherence via a mobile digital health app. The OIG’s recent Advisory Opinionmarks the sixth favorable telemedicine/digital health advisory opinion issued by OIG to date. This article describes the drug and digital health technology, outlines the proposed program for free smartphones, and explains why OIG issued a favorable advisory opinion.
Rhinogram Telehealth Capabilities Now Integrated Into Cloud 9 Software Practice Management Solution
Rhinogram, a leader in cloud-based, HIPAA-compliant, telehealth solutions, today announced the seamless integration of their telehealth solution with the Cloud 9 practice management software. Through the collaboration with Rhinogram, Cloud 9 now offers practices the ability to communicate with patients in real-time via simple texts (SMS) and multimedia texts (MMS) or one-tap access directly from a practice’s Facebook ad, giving the practice the ability to better engage with patients while streamlining workflow.
Women’s Excellence in Obstetrics and Gynecology Announces New Telemedicine Program
Women’s Excellence is excited to soon offer a new Telemedicine program for women. Telemedicine visits allow patients to meet with a provider virtually utilizing a computer or mobile device with video and microphone capabilities. The Telemedicine program is scheduled to launch by April of 2019.
Apple, Aetna collaborating on new Watch-driven wellness rewards program
This morning Aetna and Apple announced a new wellness program that will leverage health data, a custom app and the Apple Watch. Called Attain by Aetna, the voluntary program will deliver personalized health goals, recommendations and rewards based on members’ daily activity.
Do You Really Want Your Insurer Buying You An Apple Watch?
According to a CNBC report, Apple is currently in talks with private Medicare plan providers to come up with ways to subsidize their watches and get them onto the wrists of senior citizens. Apple already has partnerships with Aetna and United Healthcare to provide such subsidies.
Philips launches app-based hub for its senior caretaking products
This week at CES 2019, Royal Philips unveiled a new app platform that links the company’s senior care products into a single digital ecosystem for family caretakers. Called Philips Cares, the app includes a range of features to track and manage a senior’s care, such as reminders, scheduling tools and access to emergency services.
Statement from FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D., on the agency’s new actions under the Pre-Cert Pilot Program to promote a more efficient framework for the review of safe and effective digital health innovations
Digital technologies create new opportunities to transform health care and empower patients to make better informed decisions about their health. Digital tools are rapidly evolving, and to keep pace with this promising innovation, the FDA must modernize its approach to regulation.
Change Healthcare acquires blockchain API startup PokitDok’s IP, staff
Change Healthcare — a provider of health IT software that ranges from network data analytics to revenue improvement — announced this morning the acquisition of several key assets from blockchain-focused API startup PokitDok, including its software, IP and employees. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
How and why startups are using blockchain to tackle healthcare hurdles
It’s hard to have a conversation about technology innovations in 2018 without stumbling into the realm of blockchain. Since it first appeared on most people’s radars — thanks to the ever-turbulent bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies — financial organizations, major retailers and even governments have investigated whether or not the trendy technology has something to offer.
Google exec says health orgs should key in on data management and advanced insights
Google Cloud will be focusing on, among other things, data management and advanced data insights at HIMSS19 — two areas it sees as important trends for CIOs and other IT executives to stay focused on in the year ahead.
As the amount and types of healthcare data grow, it is becoming increasingly complex to manage, and ironically more complex to use for insight generation, said Dr. Gregory Moore, vice president of healthcare at Google Cloud.