HHS to Rework Final Breach Rule

July 30, 2010 - The Department of Health and Human Services' Office for Civil Rights has temporarily pulled a final breach notification rule it has developed but not yet published, according to an HHS notice. The rule had been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget for review before publication. It now is being withdrawn for further consideration based on OCR's experience thus far in administering the notification rule under an interim final rule.

Feds Want Help With Insurance Exchanges

July 30, 2010 - An agency of the Department of Health and Human Services is seeking public comment on issues related to state insurance exchanges, mandated under the health reform law to be Web-based, one-stop shops for consumers to compare and purchase health insurance coverage.

Vendor, Oncologists Align for Guidelines

July 30, 2010 - Decision support software vendor Proventys Inc. has partnered with the National Comprehensive Cancer Network to develop evidence-based treatment guidelines at the point of care.

Tepid Numbers for McKesson

July 30, 2010 - Operating profit plummeted for the technology solutions division of McKesson Corp. as revenue barely grew during the first quarter of fiscal 2011, ended June 30.

Investors Like CPSI's Quarter

July 30, 2010 - After missing profit expectations for the two previous quarters, community hospital software vendor Computer Programs and Systems Inc. beat expectations in the second quarter of 2010. Consequently, the company's stock price was up nearly 9 percent in morning trading on July 30.

Equity Firm to Buy Health Grades

July 29, 2010 - New York-based private equity firm Vestar Capital Partners will acquire consumer health care content vendor Health Grades Inc. for $294 million.

Good Numbers for Cerner

July 29, 2010 - The stock price of Cerner Corp. rose about three percent on July 29 after the Kansas City-based vendor reported second quarter financial results that exceeded investment analysts' expectations.

Private HIE Market Growing

July 29, 2010 - The federal government may be pouring $548 million of stimulus funding into state-level health information exchanges, but there are a growing number of private HIEs emerging, where an integrated delivery system may link its owned and affiliated providers, or, in some cases, local competitors, to cooperate on data exchange.

European Firm Buys U.S. Market Share

July 29, 2010 - Cegedim, a software vendor serving 119,000 physicians and 16,000 pharmacies in seven European nations, has entered the U.S. market by acquiring Pulse Systems Inc., which sells ambulatory practice management and electronic health records software. Paris-based Cegedim expects to benefit from a rapidly growing U.S. market because of meaningful use incentive funds.

Rite Aid to Pay $1 Million to Settle HIPAA Privacy Case

July 28, 2010 - Rite Aid Corporation and its 40 affiliated entities have agreed to pay $1 million to settle potential violations of the HIPAA Privacy Rule, HHS announced.

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