MedStar Newsletter - August 2009

IN THIS ISSUE:

• Patients Receptive to Telehealth Services
• House Introduces New Health IT Grant Legislation
• New Cybernet Medical Financing Options
• Support, Feedback, and Newsletter Subscription Info

PATIENTS RECEPTIVE TO TELEHEALTH SERVICES

Three-fourths of American consumers would use telehealth services to track their condition and vital signs, and half are willing to seek healthcare through the Internet or other computer technology in place of a face-to-face visit during non-emergencies, according to a study by the Health Research Institute of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. The survey also found that more than one-third of respondents would consider alternative appointment methods, such as a worksite clinic or retail clinic, and more than one-fourth of consumers would participate in shared medical appointments, if it meant keeping their medical care costs from going up. But 55 percent of respondents believe that if Congress passes universal health insurance coverage, there will not be equal access to care because of capacity constraints at hospital emergency departments.

If you are interested in learning how Cybernet Medical's products can help provide telemedical services to your patients, contact us at:

1-800-CYBERNET or e-mail sales 'at' cybernetmedical.com

To view the entire article referenced above, visit:

www.pwc.com/US/en/press-releases/2009/worry-over-universal-healthcare.jhtml

HOUSE INTRODUCES NEW HEALTH IT GRANT LEGISLATION

Lawmakers are reviewing legislation to help implement electronic health records and establish a $7 million health information technology grant program for certain public and nonprofit healthcare providers. The “Health IT Public Utility Act of 2009” (H.R. 3124) by Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-OH) establishes the Federal Consolidated Health Information Technology Board, which would help promote interoperability between the Veterans Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture (VistA), and Resource and Patient Management System. The board would also oversee the “21st Century HIT Grant Program,” which would offer funding to secondary education institutions, community health centers, local health departments and agencies, nonprofit hospitals, rural health clinics and other healthcare providers to implement health IT technology programs. The bill is under review by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and the Committee on Veterans Affairs and Natural Resources.

To view the entire article referenced above, visit:

telemedicinenews.blogspot.com/2009/07/new-legislation-introduced.html

For more information on H.R. 3124, visit:

www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-3124

NEW CYBERNET MEDICAL FINANCING OPTIONS

The American Recovery & Reinvestment Act appropriates $19.2 billion dollars to encourage the adoption of electronic health records as part of its incentives for health IT adoption. The packages offered are sufficient to completely pay for conversion to electronic medical record systems in many cases.

However, since most of the payout incentives require existing use of such systems, there is still a need to invest up front to take advantage of the program -- and this presents a difficulty to many organizations in the current economy. To help solve this problem, Cybernet Medical has teamed up with Fidelity Capital to offer financing options for purchases of our MedStar monitoring packages and kiosks.

Additionally, Cybernet Medical is now offering our MedStar Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system as a standalone service option, to assist organizations that do not require a complete system to take advantage of the stimulus package. Company branding options are also available upon request.

If you are interested in discussing how Cybernet Medical can help you take advantage of this program, please contact us at:

1-800-CYBERNET or e-mail sales 'at' cybernetmedical.com

SUPPORT, FEEDBACK, AND SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

We want to hear from you, not just when you need help, but when you have comments or suggestions! You can reach the MedStar team via the following methods:

For Support:
1-800-CYBERNET (1-800-292-3763)
support 'at' cybernetmedical.com

For Sales:
1-800-CYBERNET (1-800-292-3763)
sales 'at' cybernetmedical.com

For Feedback:
www.cybernetmedical.com/maillist.html

MedStar customers and those who have asked for information from Cybernet Medical receive the MedStar Newsletter. If you would prefer not to, or would prefer it to be sent to a different address, send an e-mail telling us so to:

opt-out 'at' cybernetmedical.com

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