FARMINGHAM, MA – The federal stimulus package for healthcare IT targets providers, but the influx of funding is in areas where payers have been active.

"Payers should reassess their efforts against the incentives and context of the stimulus package to align investment programs and incentives," said Janice Young, program director for Health Industry Insights.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts is supporting several provider-specific IT initiatives as part of its corporate eHealth strategy, said Greg LeGrow, director of eHealth Innovations.

To support its prerequisite of implementing and using e-prescribing technology in the ambulatory setting by 2011 to participate in its physician incentive programs, BCBSMA will be underwriting e-prescribing license fees for several hundred physicians who have not adopted the technology yet.

"We see ePrescribing as an on-ramp to the adoption of full EMRs," LeGrow said.

BCBSMA also is piloting two technologies that address barriers such as workflow disruptions and upfront capital costs to enable full EMR adoption by network physicians.

"There are no specific IT initiatives that we have altered based on either the economy or the stimulus plan," said Nick Coussoule, chief information and strategic technology officer for BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee.

At the same time, he noted that its current strategy of getting closer to members and providers, and leveraging technology to enable affordable healthcare "are only validated by the focus on health IT within the administration's program."

BCBST's ultimate goal in IT investment remains in its ability to make the payer more efficient and effective in providing affordable healthcare, he said.

Jana Skewes, president and CEO of Shared Health, a private/public medical data-sharing entity, noted that the federal stimulus package signals Obama's top priority of helping deliver safer, more effective healthcare.

"Shared Health is pleased by these priorities and has already taken steps to ensure we are developing and implementing forward-looking technologies that help meet these goals," she said.

In addition to funding e-prescribing, clinical decision support systems and chronic condition management registries, Shared Health recently launched a population management tool for improved outcomes.

"Healthcare payers have a unique opportunity to leverage the federal incentives for EHR and EMR adoption," Young said.

"Understanding and incorporating more and better effectiveness and outcomes data into all business and clinical processes and stakeholder interactions is the next key initiative to improve healthcare costs, quality and outcomes, and a future differentiator in the healthcare payer market," she said.

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