Modernization

New Labor dashboard to cut waste, fraud

The Labor Department and White House are using a new online dashboard to highlight states in which a high percentage of unemployment benefit payments are improper.

Modernization

CMS solicits contracts for data center project

CMS hunts for contractors for virtual data center.

Digital Government

CMS' antifraud systems are underused, GAO says

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services installed two anti-fraud systems in 2006, but neither is fully functioning as intended, a report says.

Digital Government

Looking for help from veterans (again)

FCW wants to know what you think of the VA's new Blue Button personal health record Web application.

Digital Government

CMS, DOD officials honored for security work

C. Ryan Brewer, CISO at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and Deputy Defense Secretary William Lynn won awards at the RSA Conference.

People

HHS boosts rate for Medicaid enrollment IT systems

The Health and Human Services Department will increase the money paid to help states establish insurance exchanges.

Digital Government

For continuity, build telework into operations

The technology is available to enable secure, efficient access for remote working emergencies and day-to-day operations, but planning ahead is critical. Two agencies show that it can be done.

Acquisition

Focus on error-prone contractors to find improper payments, HHS IG says

Medicare could do better at identifying improper payments by looking to providers who are most likely to make errors, according to the Health and Human Services inspector general.

People

CMS puts thinking cap on, will launch new innovation center

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will spend $10 billion during the next nine years on research into how to reduce health care costs while improving quality of care.

Modernization

CMS puts Medicare personal health data at your fingertips

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services rolls out a new download capability to grant 47 million Medicare patients online access to their medical records.

Digital Government

VA, Markle push blue buttons to download personal health data

The Veterans Affairs Department and the Markle Foundation are promoting "blue button" applications that would allow patients to download their personal medical data from providers and insurers.

Digital Government

HHS tailors EHRs for children

A federal advisory group today examined whether health information technology should be adapted to meet the needs of pediatric patients and other groups.

Digital Government

New center to spur innovation in health care

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will test new ideas for saving money while preserving quality of care.

People

HHS emphasizes dashboards, new datasets in transparency plan

The Health and Human Services Department is launching two new performance management dashboards and releasing new Medicare patient data as part of its transparency effort.

Digital Government

How the VA VistA system is like a fighter jet

Dr. Steve Ondra's metaphor comparing the VA's electronic health record systems to fighter jets took wing at the AFCEA Health IT Day today.

People

Health IT data security crude in some companies, says CMS CIO

Julie Boughn, the chief information officer for Medicare and Medicaid, says companies that want to work with her agency often display amateurish data security.

Digital Government

Obama sets sights on next Medicare administrator

Though the White House has not made it official yet, President Obama reportedly knows who he wants to run the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid.

Digital Government

Federal 100: Julie Boughn

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Digital Government

Doctors frustrated by Medicare quality reporting data program

Some doctors' practices were dissatisfied with the reports they got for participating in a Medicare quality reporting program, according to a new survey.

Digital Government

Grassley suspects health IT may cause medication errors

It seems counter-intuitive, but a Senator believes technology might be adding to health care problems rather than solving them.