More Screaming Substantiation To Fund “And Use” the Office of Technology Assessment For Congress-Come On Folks Get Yourself Some Help and Ditch This Haunting “Sebelius Syndrome” Of Artificial Perceptions…

<p>I swear anymore with some of the news we read people have really fallen into this Sebelius Syndrome of perceptions that are just not true.  Of course the press feeds this too as of late some of their perceptions and articles (and not all as there’s a ton of good stuff out there too) it putting some nutty stuff out there too.  Recently I said the Supreme Court decision about the Affordable Care Act was being discussed like a<img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="99" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-n42x8-ryF7s/VPx5zhsBRII/AAAAAAABMFo/OMI7oItOHXo/image%25255B4%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" title="image" width="280" /> bunch of morons, and it’s still rolling out there.  It’s getting old and sometimes just flat out hilarious to hear the perceptions on technology from the novice who has no clue.  Anyone want to discuss Hillary email servers and her spam filters…well why not..we’re hearing all kinds of other nutty stories about it:)</p> <p>Seriously on the Affordable Care Act, everyone wrote like the code issues on Healthcare. Gov was a one time issue..wrong…it lives forever anytime you need to make changes as the machines run most of the functionality of the program.  </p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2015/02/why-do-we-discuss-supreme-court-ruling.html">Why Do We Discuss Supreme Court Ruling On Affordable Care Act Like a Bunch of Morons? Want to Make Changes and Review Legal Interpretation? Bring Code Please</a></h5> <p>Now we have four senators wanting even greater specifics on the ONC interoperability roadmap?  They have no clue what they really want and if they did a better job on keeping up to date with technology, we would see less of this nonsense type of perceptions and demands.  Even the tech folks can’t give you specifics as it’s the way the world works today as some algorithmic formula jumps out of left field to make major unexpected changes all the time.  It happens daily in the stock market.  We’re just humans and really don’t know exactly how all of the complex algorithms will always play out.  </p> <p>These folks everywhere, DC and local governments are finding out that extreme complex legal verbiage doesn’t always govern and regulate algorithms and code as tech folks and quants do and have for years, just model around it.  When it circles back around lawmakers everywhere scratch their heads and can’t figure out what happened?  The code ran hog ass wild with an interpretation of technologists and quants that would work, in other words risk fiddling and proprietary code working in the background that the “verbiage only” guys can’t or choose not too see.  <img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="126" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-vW4TwnpauA4/VPx50kS8LJI/AAAAAAABMFw/xWudQnGppZM/image%25255B8%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" title="image" width="270" />Heck if I were an evil person, who wouldn’t be rolling up a lot of cheating code in a compiler where nobody ever gets to see it, and that’s the reality of the world today.  Yes there is a lot of code that needs to be protected that is increasing efficiency but the perceptual crap of those stuck with “Stat Rat Fever” needs to be out there to be verified.  </p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2015/03/its-time-to-look-at-some-of-proprietary.html">It’s Time To Look At Some of the Proprietary Code Running in the US–Too Many Companies and Banks Are Playing “Techno-God” Saying “Trust Me” With the Numbers and Stats…</a></h5> <p>So again, hey four Senators, get that agency funded and have a smart group do the real hard research for you.  If I were serving in Congress I would want that agency as we live in the most complex times ever and many are starting to look “stupid” as they yield out more and more whacky perceptions that technologists just roll on the floor reading about in the news.  Don’t do this to yourself and get some respect back as we as constituents would like to support you but like the rest of us, get your perceptions back in line with the real world and don’t let the media stuff make the confusion even worse.  </p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/07/bill-to-restore-office-of-technology.html">Bill To Restore Office of Technology Assessment Was Defeated Again This Year As Congress Chooses to Remain In the Dark With Technology At A Time When Private Industry Is Doing Just the Opposite - “The Grays” Live On…</a></h5> <p>At this point I’m really asking “how long do some folks want to remain dumb and bliss”?  If myself and others as technologists started talking like experts on automobiles nobody would stand for it as it’s not our field; however we certainly seem to have a high tolerance<img align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-0uYxyjnEZEM/U8_UziEVWBI/AAAAAAABK30/8jhFku4xJPg/image%25255B10%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="float: right; display: inline" /> for people who can’t tell the difference between a virtual or real world value.  This is getting to be a dangerous game as some of those virtual values are stepping over into the real world and really hurting consumers right and left, so fix it would you?  I’m being fair here and not doing any individual attacks but damn, you even see the same behavior from the White House, those living too virtual and stuck “Stat Rat Fever” perceptions…just throw any old numbers out there as we know the public is dumb and they’ll suck up anything.  </p> <p><strong>The problem is not everyone, like me for example, thinks this is a good idea but rather shows how “duped” everyone really is and that scares me.</strong>  You just have to laugh when you see stuff coming out of the White House that says 3300 fewer hospital admits will occur with Climate Control…well..duh!  Of course we know and want to improve things but damn don’t send stuff out that shows the further persistence of the Sebelius Syndrome of perception madness, backed up with a big case of Stat Rat Fever with the text.   </p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/06/junk-science-appearing-everywhere-even.html">Junk Science Appearing Everywhere, Even The White House “PR Templated” Correspondence Creates Spurious Correlations…</a></h5> <p>We end up with the Democratic Dupers that suck in any numbers and the GOP on the other end that accepts no numbers..WTF?  BD  </p> <p> <hr />While the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT’s draft <a href="http://www.healthdatamanagement.com/news/ONC-Issues-Draft-Interoperability-Roadmap-49712-1.html">Interoperability Roadmap</a> attempts to define a framework for interoperable electronic health records, five Republican Senators charge that the document is heavy on generalities and light on specifics.</p> <p>“The ONC roadmap provides a framework for responsibility, governance, and accountability in regard to the future development and implementation of interoperable EHRs. But instead of offering specific objectives, deadlines, and action items, ONC’s roadmap falls short on the nitty gritty technology specifics that vendors and providers need when developing IT products,” write Senators Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), and John Thune (R-S.D.) in a <a href="http://healthaffairs.org/blog/2015/03/04/where-is-hitechs-35-billion-dollar-investment-going/">blog</a> published by <em>Health Affairs.</em></p> <p>The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, which is chaired by Alexander, was scheduled to hold a March 5 hearing on “America’s Health IT Transformation: Translating the Promise of Electronic Health Records Into Better Care.” However, it was postponed. Despite the delay, Alexander and his colleagues will no doubt keep the interoperability of EHRs on their legislative agenda in the new Congress. </p> <p><a href="http://www.healthdatamanagement.com/news/Senators-Blast-ONC-Interoperability-Roadmap-for-Lack-of-Details-49948-1.html?utm_campaign=daily-mar%206%202015&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&ET=healthdatamanagement%3Ae3956161%3A3697393a%3A&st=email">http://www.healthdatamanagement.com/news/Senators-Blast-ONC-Interoperability-Roadmap-for-Lack-of-Details-49948-1.html?utm_campaign=daily-mar%206%202015&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&ET=healthdatamanagement%3Ae3956161%3A3697393a%3A&st=email</a></p>

More Screaming Substantiation To Fund “And Use” the Office of Technology Assessment For Congress-Come On Folks Get Yourself Some Help and Ditch This Haunting “Sebelius Syndrome” Of Artificial Perceptions…

I swear anymore with some of the news we read people have really fallen into this Sebelius Syndrome of perceptions that are just not true.  ...

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CMS to Rerun the Medicare Advantage Risk Scores–Dating Back to 2008 To Catch the Automated Risk Fiddlers of Said Insurer Fraud Amounting to Around $70 Billion–Be Ready For It…

<p>I have covered this a couple of times and it appears now that Medicare is wanting get their money back from the risk fiddling insurers and when it comes to algorithms and fraud, nobody does it better, right?  Well they have all the secrets as they audit their own claims and files for the same thing so they kind of know what can be buried in a bunch of algorithms.  It took CMS 5 years to figure it out.  Now that we<img align="right" height="56" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRp9TBlvWqtr16ku9oa-uGY_yLITLV9hYmtozmPi5XdbJ5RW7Sm" style="float: right; display: inline" width="142" /> have Andy Slavitt running CMS, who’s totally a numbers guy and did some of the same modeling at Ingenix, well here it comes.  </p> <p>We can all go back to the Ingenix legal cases to where they used algorithmic formulas, many of which turned up false positives to accuse folks of cheating and I’m sure there were some that did, but long and short the AMA class action suit proved that Ingenix was using risk fiddling factors that short paid doctors and patients on out of network charges for 15 years.  So my opinion here on this is now we have the expert at the helm of such models and a rerun of risk fiddler factors is in the works.  </p> <p>I just might add that perhaps the insurers didn’t expect CMS to ever take any action on this as there’s the big possibility of benefits to be cut from seniors covered or a hike in premiums.  Nothing’s for free out there today and those are the normal paths taken to recover money and people get the losing end of big business fiddling with algorithms and code.  </p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/08/cms-discovers-that-insurers-offering.html">CMS Discovers That Insurers Offering Medicare Advantage “Really Know How To Sharp Shoot A Model With Adjusting Risk For Profit”, A Common Everyday Occurrence in Financial Markets… </a></h5> <p>This is also being pushed I think due to the whistle blower suits that are being filed as well stating that there were automated risk fiddler factors built in and I remember seeing a news article talking about how seniors had more alcohol problems than we thought..so we might ask the question here, do they really or was it risk fiddling to put the payments into a higher bracket..hmmmm…what a question.  </p> <p>So again what’s the exposure here for providers and patients.  That remains to be seen as you don’t think insurers are going to eat all of this even though they may have been proactive in promoting risk fiddling do you?  Of course not as so many of them are <img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="114" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-6VfPfsMlP2s/VPppHHVXgSI/AAAAAAABMFU/hojbfbnGAH8/image%25255B3%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" title="image" width="209" />involved in stock buy backs now (which you also pay for) to increase the value of their stock and and enrich CEO compensation.  <strong>Maybe we should ponder this, can the networks get any narrower with insurer quants squeezing out every dime they can find?  </strong></p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/12/insurance-carrier-stock-buy-backs.html">Insurance Carrier stock Buy Backs Continue to Rise While Consumers Are Finding It Harder to Afford Some Policies and Care With Dealing With High Deductibles And Narrow Networks…</a></h5> <p><strong>In the financial world you don’t change the portfolio to squirrel around with risk to attain profit, you just change the math.  In the insurance world you don’t squirrel around with the policy, you just change the math, same thing and put people through absolute misery to do this.</strong></p> <p><em>“<a href="http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Stories/2014/August/07/Medicare-advantage-plans-exaggerate-diseases-to-make-money-says-study.aspx?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+khn+%28All+Kaiser+Health+News%29">Medicare pays the Advantage health plans</a> higher rates for sicker patients and less for healthy people using a complex formula called a “risk score.” But the HHS study spells out several ways health plans have inflated those scores, from reporting surprisingly high levels of medical conditions such as alcohol or drug dependence to billing for an inordinately high number of patients with complications of diabetes.”</em></p> <p><strong>Stay tuned as to the progress on when this is going to occur this year and you might want to see what your exposure could be as a provider or a patient even if you had some major bills.  I thing the government might be easy on the patients though.  </strong>From what I read from the letter, CMS is going to deduct from future payments.   It’s the same old nightmare United does in taking money from current claims to charge back old claims and it’s a nightmare for physicians in their accounting everywhere. </p> <p><em>“CMS will sweep diagnoses submitted for a prior payment year as of the deadline. MA Organizations should look to the monthly payment letter to determine when adjustments will be applied to payments.”</em> </p> <p>So here’s job one from Andy Slavitt, the new CMS director with the Medicare Advantage money take back.  Again when Andy Slavitt was with Ingenix, this was a primary function that company (a sub of United) provided to audit for fraud, just now the tables are turned and he’s going to be running algorithms to raise money for the government.  A while back both Humana and United discussed setting some money aside for this.  BD  </p> <p> <hr />On March 3, Cheri Rice, CMS’ Director of Medicare Plan Payment Group, <a href="https://www.gormanhealthgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/HPMS-Memo-2015-Rerun-Schedule.pdf">released a memo </a>notifying all Medicare Advantage Organizations, PACE Organizations, and certain Demonstrations of its intent to rerun risk scores during the calendar year 2015.</p> <p>The memo was brief and a bit vague, but the impact to health plans and providers could not be clearer. CMS will be rerunning risk score data and the corresponding payments made to plans dating back to 2008 Dates of Service (DOS), payment year 2009. Additionally, the memo anticipates that plans will clean up their data by submitting deletes. This could raise the specter of false claims if a plan fails to submit deletes when they knew, or should have known, of unsubstantiated risk adjustment submissions. This could get ugly, and fast.</p> <p><a href="http://www.healthcarepayernews.com/content/money-grab-cms-rerun-risk-scores-recovery">http://www.healthcarepayernews.com/content/money-grab-cms-rerun-risk-scores-recovery</a></p>

CMS to Rerun the Medicare Advantage Risk Scores–Dating Back to 2008 To Catch the Automated Risk Fiddlers of Said Insurer Fraud Amounting to Around $70 Billion–Be Ready For It…

I have covered this a couple of times and it appears now that Medicare is wanting get their money back from the risk fiddling insurers and w...

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Senators Create a Bill to Go After the Data Brokers Selling Our Personal Data But It Doesn’t Go Far Enough-Tons of Companies And Banks Are Also Selling Our Data and Repackaging Information About Us…

<p>If you read my blog often enough then you know I am the accidental privacy advocate around here.  I have had my own issues and the last one was a company that was obviously off shore calling me on the phone about a clinical trial.  Now I know the blind calls where they are fishing <img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="241" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-BjX_vsYCQmM/VPlWO5RmzHI/AAAAAAABMEk/u4zAu7a3aZ0/image%25255B9%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" title="image" width="360" />but this caller had my name and information and records they said that showed I took blood thinners and there’s nothing farther from the truth.  This is another issue with data selling, the flawed data and sloppy data work that takes place when your information is repackaged.  It happens all the time.</p> <p>Granted the data brokers are a huge issue and good they are addressing this but it leaves out a lot of the other data sellers that exist out there too, so now what?  We put one band aid on one group and let the rest ride?  That’s about what I can make out of reading this article here.  We need to index and license all data sellers and this article proves it all the way around as there’s only a portion of the problem being addressed.  I made another post related to “repackaging” our data relative to the Anthem breach.  All the hackers need is some basic SQL skills and your data is sold off in a new data base with no records of where it came from and there’s websites now opening up to barter and sell data.  Read this link below for more on that.  With 80 million files they could spoof and create legit looking data for sale that was stolen.  Anyway, this law will do nothing in that area at all.</p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2015/02/the-data-exchange-buy-and-sell-data-on.html">“The Data Exchange” Buy and Sell Data on Self Service Website, One More Reason to Index and License Data Sellers-This Appears to be Open Game for Selling Repackaged Personal Data-No Privacy At All</a></h5> <p>Who are all the data sellers?  We don’t know and why having a licensing and indexing law would really help.  ABC company may not be a data broker and they might sell tons of your data.  What about United Healthcare?  They sells tons of our data and have for years, usually under one of their subsidiaries of which they have armies of.  As a matter of fact, that’s how health insurers work it with subs so you don’t see or recognize those activities that take place there.  </p> <p><strong>Three years ago I started talking about licensing data sellers and have tons of blog posts on that topic.  Nobody listens and so the data selling business is continuing to be sending out flawed information which we can’t find the origins to fix and have no way of tracking it, so as a consumer you are screwed and have to explain and live with the flaws they make.  By the way, you do the fixing on your own dime while they make millions.</strong> </p> <p><a href="http://www.youcaring.com/other/help-preserve-our-privacy-/258776">Here’s the campaign that has more links and videos that explain this awful epidemic that hurts all of us.</a> </p> <p> The data selling business, which is a for profit epidemic in the US is worth about $180 billion a year and growing.  All the lawyers who have worked on privacy over the years have failed as their perceptions of the business being able to self regulate are wrong.  We go back again and visit <img align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ljV2UEat9qI/VOkMeroWg2I/AAAAAAABL9M/YEJM2Ndokzw/image10.png?imgmax=800" style="float: right; display: inline" />the Sebelius Syndrome again with whacked out perceptions and people doing laws that do not understand data mechanics and thus we get laws that do little.</p> <p>Shoot I even have the Anonymous folks telling me how the new hackers today are math experts and do all the work that data scientists do all the time.  Mathematicians and Quants repeat me on Twitter all the time about indexing too as this is data base 101 and again the perceptions of the lawyers here is why nothing have moved on this very quickly as they don’t get it.  When you have worked with data bases first hand, and I have in the past with legit business contracts, it’s not hard to see how the “jerks” would do their end of the business to make money.  You just put on a temporary jerk hat and think about some data mechanics and the answers are right in front of you, like thinking like an under cover cop in a way if you will.  </p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2015/02/anthem-data-breachcrooks-want-to-sell.html">Anthem Data Breach–Crooks Want to Sell Data Too–The Impact of the “Data Selling For Profit Epidemic” That Exists in the US With Scoring Consumers Removing Access and Human Dignity</a></h5> <p>Best I can figure is that we still all want to be “data dumb” and try to control some of this with legal verbiage only.  That doesn’t work as<img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="256" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Z02yWfgwPcA/VPlWQUZ3t9I/AAAAAAABMEs/n1eCg1sBwfI/image%25255B3%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" title="image" width="340" /> all you have to do is look at banks and Wall Street and high frequency traders for that matter.  Their brains are their tools and they know how do a dupe and make you feel your verbiage is ok, while at the same time the back end runs algorithms up the ying yang and the folks with the flawed perceptions think they really did something..well not really, they were just algo duped.  </p> <p>These are the folks that stick with verbiage only and forget there’s code that needs to go along with their laws to make things work. <strong>Remember Healthcare.Gov?  It’s still not finished.  Want to repeal Obamacare?  Bring in some good coders ok, no matter which way things go</strong> (lol), this is the reality folks.  The short order computer code kitchen burned down years ago all of this takes time.   </p> <p>After you read about Argus at the link below, <a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2012/08/e-scoring-credit-algorithms-invisible.html">here’s another outfit like them called E-scoring</a> who does the same stuff and skirts out from under federal laws in how they classify their business.  This law would not touch these folks at all and the credit car folks like MasterCard and Visa are on a roll to sell your transactions where ever they find a buyer.  At the Argus link below, look at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, doing the same thing buying up our personal data so they would need to be licensed too.  Richard Cordray as I have said many times is so slow with no data mechanics logic and is pretty much just a “low hanging fruit” guy.  </p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/08/argus-analytics-produces-share-of.html">Argus Analytics Produces “Share of Credit Card” Data On Consumers - Digs Up The Dirt on Your Credit Card Behavior Patterns-US Consumer Protection Agency Is A Client-We Are Paying for Richard Cordray’s Slow Education Process</a></h5> <p>I have had a couple conversations with the World Privacy Forum and they too think licensing is a good place to start as again, who are all the data sellers?  We need to know so we can go back and get the flawed data they sell about us fixed.  Right now on some of the repackaging, we’re screwed as we can’t find the origin and even if we do, we may have been sold a half a dozen times since then and there’s no connection to get to all of them, so when you least expect it, the flawed data you thought you had fixed, well it pops up again!  </p> <p>Here’s my fund raiser campaign where I have been writing to various members of Congress and to the FTC for about 3 years now and am just trying to get a little compensation of sorts for my time as well as support as nobody else seems to get the full impact and the big picture here.  I sure wish Congress would fund the <a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/07/bill-to-restore-office-of-technology.html">Office of Technology Assessment</a> so they would have an agency tool to help them instead of being in the technological dark all the time and missing half the story.  It would really help a lot I think.   Watch this video of the Game “Data Dealer” and you’ll see how limited this Senate bill really is and how much they miss of the big picture. </p> <p><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/x2eCAgQ1DTo" frameborder="0" width="560" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p>So once again, where’s the licensing here?  Like all other bills it will more than likely fail as it’s only verbiage again and not addressing the very smart folks who do the data work and the lobbyists who make money from selling data will be right there to make sure most if not all of it fails.  Again, how can you even think about regulating without knowing who the players are?  Do we expect stock brokers to self regulate, of course not and they couldn’t if they tried as they are very math model savvy and just look at high frequency traders on how the code hose the SEC and more.  </p> <p>Without data base rules 101 with identifying who the sellers are and what kind of data they sell, look for yet one more sinker here and a lot of wasted time once again as we have seen this so many times at both state and federal levels.  In addition we do not have enough trained people who know how to work with flawed data and they frigging believe everything on that computer screen put in front of them and often add the wrong type of context to their findings as well, so bottom line, you’re screwed again.   BD  </p> <p> <hr />Four U.S. senators have resurrected legislation that would allow consumers to see and correct personal information held by data brokers and tell those businesses to stop sharing or selling it for marketing purposes.</p> <p>The Data Broker Accountability and Transparency Act, introduced by four Democratic senators Thursday, also would require the U.S. Federal Trade Commission to craft rules for a centralized website for consumers to view a list of data brokers covered by the bill.</p> <p>Data brokers collect personal information about consumers, often without their knowledge, and resell it to other businesses.</p> <p>The bill is needed because data brokers are a “shadow industry of surreptitious data collection that has amassed covert dossiers on hundreds of millions of Americans,” Senator Edward Markey of Massachusetts, a co-sponsor of the bill, said in a statement. “Data brokers seem to believe that there is no such thing as privacy.”</p> <p><a href="http://www.pcworld.com/article/2893672/lawmakers-target-data-brokers-in-privacy-bill.html">http://www.pcworld.com/article/2893672/lawmakers-target-data-brokers-in-privacy-bill.html</a></p>

Senators Create a Bill to Go After the Data Brokers Selling Our Personal Data But It Doesn’t Go Far Enough-Tons of Companies And Banks Are Also Selling Our Data and Repackaging Information About Us…

If you read my blog often enough then you know I am the accidental privacy advocate around here.  I have had my own issues and the last one ...

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Zoeticx Care Connect Update–Interoperating Medical Records Using Middleware As No HIE Connection is Required-And A Bonus for Patients With One Time Secure Token Identification To Give Access Permission

<p>Than, the CEO of Zoeticx has created a new video to give us some updates on what’s going on at Zoeticx.<img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="181" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-BXzcsNBzGAg/VPiq_XuFTNI/AAAAAAABMA8/O9lC8f0DCT0/image%25255B21%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" title="image" width="284" />  For the demonstration he’s using an Allscripts demo and if you visit the Allscripts store you can find Zoeticx as a “certified” application.  I might want to add here that Than has had exposure and experience on multi levels with his background both at Borland and at BEA Software, which produced the Aqua Logic server which was sold to Oracle a few years ago and is  now the famous Weblogic server that many use every day with Oracle.</p> <p>the Zoeticx platform does confuse folks at time because it’s new and many have not seen engineering that allows medical records to interop “on the fly” if you will without the use of an HIE.  It does exist and Zoeticx is also flexible enough to be a Federated HIE platform that can also make use of an HIE as a data source so you get the best of both worlds.  When you stop and think about all the hacking that’s going on today, HIEs are just yet one more big target sitting out there for breaches, if you will, so “on the fly” interops gives you another solution with security.  When I mention “security” here, it’s like a phone call, live while the session is on going, and then dead (like a phone call hang up) when done.  I think this would appeal to many as we all know that the odds go down a bit when you don’t have a constant “live” connection.  Some HIEs use pointers as well and kill a constant connection too so there’s that side of it.  As a patient if you don’t understand how your medical records are shared, use the link below for a good explanation with videos on how this works. </p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/10/how-to-request-all-medical-records-that.html">How To Request All Medical Records That Have Been Exchanged With an HIE–Maybe Yes and Maybe No, But New Engineering for Medical Record Sharing Is On the Way For Better Privacy, Care and Actionable Use For Providers</a></h5> <p>Below is a recent video that gives some really good visuals on how some of the Care Connect features work.  Again keep in mind Than <img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="148" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-8ZjG-CJ2VrA/VPirAAQxxCI/AAAAAAABMBE/s9Jpkt6krzw/image%25255B9%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" title="image" width="206" />is an engineer and thinks like one, so you may have to watch this a couple of times to pick up on everything.  I used to  be guilty of that myself when I did demos too:)  The real deal here is not having a “split screen” to view with the sources of data all under one interface on the IPAD, which is nice and I’m sure doctors will appreciate this by all means.  </p> <p>The Zoeticx platform sits on top of EHRs so the medical record programs are not going anywhere but the platform allows the use of the data in a much better actionable process.  This is what we want to provide good care.  In the second half of the video is where you see the “token” authentication that patients can use to give doctors permission to access their records.  In addition, I should also say this is not stored on the phone but rather on the Zoeticx server so no HIPAA issues there and it uses the “fingerprint” from the IPhone.  </p> <p><iframe style="height: 277px; width: 492px" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Cr9oAUaU_6Y" frameborder="0" width="560" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p>In addition, Than just informed me that they have now built an API for Athena Health medical records.  <img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="265" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-BLTLc6EGcII/VPirAxWBwPI/AAAAAAABMBM/Rgjpe43t830/image%25255B13%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" title="image" width="218" />If you remember just a few weeks ago, <a href="http://geekdoctor.blogspot.com/2015/02/the-athenahealthbidmc-collaboration.html">Dr. Halamka gave their “home grown” medical records program to Athena</a> for further development after being in house for years at Harvard, short quote below from the doctor’s blog. </p> <p><em>“Over the next 5 years at BIDMC, we will select the best products and best services that meet the needs of our highly diverse network.   athenahealth products will be piloted in outpatient and inpatient locations.”</em></p> <p>If you want a little more history on the development and details of the platform, here’s a prior post I made a short while back that focuses on “actionable” information and risk management.   </p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/09/zoeticxehr-agnostic-clarity-healthcare.html">Zoeticx–EHR Agnostic Clarity Healthcare Platform, An HIE Requiring No Data Warehousing For Interoperability, Answers The Call for Less Disruption With Actionable Medical Information Flow</a></h5> <p>This is actually pretty slick using the Apple one time token authentication as you may or may not have read, the token is good for access one time only so again that helps in keeping hackers out of the system.  </p> <p>Again the Zoeticx Interoperation platform is agnostic and can connect any medical records system with an API built gateway.  Currently they have an API built for Epic, Allscripts of course, a generic JSON (can be used with DOD/VA for example) and now Athena Health as mentioned above.  Again with all the data breaches and expense of HIE facilities which are yet another big hacker target, I think interoperating “on the fly” makes sense and sure there would need to be a network of Zoeticx servers installed, but you can do quite a few of them compared to the cost and upkeep of one HIE facility.  In California both Blue Cross and Blue Shield sunk around $100 million into a state wide HIE, and right now with the Anthem breach, we have the Consumer Watchdog advising patients “wait a minute” and let’s ask for some additional security questions.  Even before the breach I had my reservations as well.  </p> <p><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/09/health-insurance-business-is-driving.html">Insurers seem to be driving themselves off the cliff these days</a> with too much “non relevant” data when it comes to paying claims it seems, like buying up all our credit card transactions for one.  Claim data is good and tells a lot but it’s not as good as clinical data and you always have this<img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="207" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-eAri7-L-QDQ/VPirB2fMjPI/AAAAAAABMBU/2umBEAhwz_Q/image%25255B17%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" title="image" width="307" /> debate it seems with doctors and insurers.  Claim data can be changed in context at times just to get it paid and you miss the real clinical details.  </p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/08/anthem-blue-cross-blue-shield-of.html">Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield of California Going to Create “Yet Another Big Data Base of Patient Medical Records” - Be Ready for Premiums to Go Up As Health IT Eats Up the Healthcare System</a></h5> <p>I know we all have standards and HL7 and the new up and coming FHIR are important as the EMRs need this; however when you use a platform like Zoeticx to interop, being the EMRs have the standards built in, the platform can bring all the data together.  There’s a lot of debates going on out there on Health IT for sure and some outside the industry don’t understand the complexities that make healthcare different for sure.  When you talk about the importance of accuracy, medical records standards are at the top as “it’s all about us”.  There are the CCR and other formats that produce basically a continuity of care record which pretty much has been used for giving to patients and in some instances to export and import basic patient medical record information.  This is where there has been some snags with the mappings with some vendors and it’s not an easy job by all means.  </p> <p>Again using a platform like Zoeticx can get rid of some of this rhetoric with interoperating.<strong>  I keep reading about “punishing” the EMRs that don’t interoperate and I just can’t get my head around that political agenda at all and think it’s kind of stupid in the long run.</strong>  Now if you have platforms, be it Zoeticx or another one to where the EMR vendors refuse to create a gateway, now you have “real” folks resisting and not the fairly tale version we seem to keep hearing circulating around Washington DC.  Every time I read something on that topic I just start thinking about how Congress really needs to fund and use that Office of Technology Assessment so we don’t get the tech BS in there making a mess of things too, you  think? </p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/07/big-clinical-data-registries-next-why.html">Big Clinical Data Registries Next? Why Doesn’t Congress restore the Office of Technology Assessment? More Proof that It’s Needed As This Is Yet One More Complex IT Project That Will Not Contribute Good Care, Just An IT Expenditure With a Lot of Quantitated Justifications Tossed In</a></h5> <p>In addition in the archives here at the Quack, Zoeticx had created their own unofficial challenge to the ONC on their interop timeline.  <img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="182" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-jW-8YtCmVxI/VPirCwR4QZI/AAAAAAABMBc/JUAjllMj0mk/image%25255B25%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" title="image" width="301" />As I understand it, the ONC has had a fairly recent demonstration of the Zoeticx platform and I think it was positive overall too.  </p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/07/zoeticx-clarity-server-middleware-hie.html">Zoeticx Clarity Server - Middleware HIE Will Save Millions Maybe Billions With HIE And Has 3-6 Year ONC Compatible Time Line, Works Using APIs, Web Apps Where Nobody Has to Swap Out Their EHR…</a></h5> <p>So again as hackers are driving a lot of decisions today, perhaps the interops of medical records “on the fly” might have a real place soon as at some point how many more HIEs can we build and afford?  Sure there will always be some but it’s getting expensive and they are great targets for hackers so maybe it’s time to shift our thinking a little bit on how the future of interoperating medical records is going to take place?  I’m sure I’m not the only one pondering this question as well and I still do see the Zoeticx platform as a valuable answer, again going JSON to JSON, which works with HL7 and FHIR to interop medical records and most importantly give the doctors the data they need to provide good care without a lot of hassle.  </p> <p>It’s a win-win for patients too as this type of interoperation also assures them that their records never leave their “home domicile” either whether it’s the doctor’s office or the hospital, they all go home after the interop session.  For doctors that would seem to be an easy explanation on record sharing it seems to me.  They never leave home and just take a short vacations with a lot of privacy:) BD</p>

Zoeticx Care Connect Update–Interoperating Medical Records Using Middleware As No HIE Connection is Required-And A Bonus for Patients With One Time Secure Token Identification To Give Access Permission

Than, the CEO of Zoeticx has created a new video to give us some updates on what’s going on at Zoeticx.   For the demonstration he’s using a...

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It’s Time To Look At Some of the Proprietary Code Running in the US–Too Many Companies and Banks Are Playing “Techno-God” Saying “Trust Me” With the Numbers and Stats…

<p>Well somebody had to say it and I know I’m not alone and it is not only healthcare but the financial markets as well.  How much have we read about high frequency trading and how they “rig” everything..tons of it and Michael Lewis even wrote a book.  Not all proprietary code is bad but there’s enough criminal type activity going on out there with the ones who are.  What a great game they have going as their <img align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-fpaB8yOE0io/USv18tNlXUI/AAAAAAABFxM/25MkrAmeTq8/AlgoFairy1%25255B11%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="float: right; display: inline" />code is compiled and nobody ever gets to see it.  That’s how software works.  We’re a far cry from where software began to increase efficiencies, which was the purpose to help us be more efficient.  Now it’s just a game of who’s code can outdo someone else’s code.  </p> <p>That’s not the way it’ supposed to work out there.  Some algorithms are crossing the line and are becoming a menace to society as well.  This really sucks and until someone says something, nothing changes.  I’m tired of reading about the folks in DC not liking this or not liking that and picking on each other as this does nothing.  A while back I made a post saying “somebody needs to start calling foul” on some of this.  Don’t get me wrong, I like technology that helps me and makes me more efficient but too many are crossing that line and becoming “Techno-Gods” with their so called “algorithms”.  Like most I think I do a good job in pretty much telling the difference, after all I used to be a developer and wrote enough code and it’s like anything else in life, you can do the right thing or you can cheat.  We have too many cheaters out there today.  Everything does not have value.  </p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/08/somebody-needs-to-start-calling-foul-on.html">Somebody Needs to Start Calling “Foul” On Proprietary Predictive Algorithms When They Cannot Be Replicated For Accuracy As This Accelerates Inequality and Promotes Even More Data Selling For Profit</a></h5> <p>Software builds on itself and thus we have this complex world of algorithms that most are finding hard to navigate.  If it keeps going without removing the stuff that’s not helping us, everything will eventually come to a stop.  Nobody knows what to do with it anymore, or they cheat and write some study with some off the all inflated P-Value that makes a case for their cheating code.  We see this all the time with studies and abstracts that are recalled.  Somebody decides so go off the deep end with their model and the correlations become so spurious that nothing makes sense. <img align="right" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRp9TBlvWqtr16ku9oa-uGY_yLITLV9hYmtozmPi5XdbJ5RW7Sm" style="float: right; display: inline" /> I’m not that smart but I see this out there and why isn’t anyone else speaking up?  Actually over two years ago I warned about this impact on consumers before it really got out of hand.  Maybe because  I’m not making any money from risk fiddled models or algorithms is the reason?</p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2012/11/big-dataanalytics-if-used-out-of.html">Big Data/Analytics If Used Out of Context and Without True Values Stand To Be A Huge Discriminatory Practice Against Consumers–More Honest Data Scientists Needed to Formulate Accuracy/Value To Keep Algo Duping For Profit Out of the Game</a></h5> <p>Here’s a good example of what I am talking about and there’s lots more like it but who is giving FICO the authority to use their proprietary code to be the Techno-Gods with their predictive scoring on who’s going to take their meds?  They say all they need is a name and an address on a person <a href="http://www.ducknet.net/attack-of-the-killer-algorithms/"><img align="right" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-6HDDm04lOwA/Ts0zq-EuFHI/AAAAAAAA4d8/nMT-KL0JEDY/image_thumb%25255B12%25255D.png?imgmax=172" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" /></a>and they can rip up a score between zero and 500 to create a score on anyone.  </p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/06/fico-medication-adherence-scoring.html">FICO Medication Adherence Scoring Should Be Banned As It’s Quantitated Justifications for Profit That Hurts US Consumers Using Proprietary Algorithms That Cannot Be Replicated For Accuracy or Audited</a></h5> <p>Again, anymore with some of what we are seeing today, things have changed out there and you can be code hosed and not know it at all, just by buying in to the numbers that are given to you.  A long time ago a sales manager told me “Barbara, just throw numbers at them, even if you have to make them up and you’ll get your sale”…and those words ring loud and clear today except we have a ton of technologies that do it by the algorithms.  If some of this has perked some interest, head on over to the <a href="http://www.ducknet.net/attack-of-the-killer-algorithms/">Killer Algorithms page</a> and watch some videos from folks a lot smarter than me…and video #1 “Context is Everything” sets the tone for you.  BD  </p>

It’s Time To Look At Some of the Proprietary Code Running in the US–Too Many Companies and Banks Are Playing “Techno-God” Saying “Trust Me” With the Numbers and Stats…

Well somebody had to say it and I know I’m not alone and it is not only healthcare but the financial markets as well.  How much have we read...

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Colon Cancer Screening Without the Colonoscopy–ColoGuard-Approved By Medicare And Some Insurers

<p>I did not know this existed until a doctor wrote to me today and said he thought the screening was much better than a <img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="119" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-MKMWIWIyZgg/VPUP1Q3LT-I/AAAAAAABMAg/t0cT6V7YpMY/image%25255B3%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" title="image" width="236" />colonoscopy.  That is his opinion and the test has been approved by the FDA as well.  Below the line I did a copy and paste of a few of the FAQs as information.</p> <p>One thing for sure, it’s not like preparing for a colonoscopy that’s for sure and who would miss that!  There are all types of disclaimers here as there has to be and again depending on results, etc. a full on colonoscopy could still be in the plan.  If you are a doctor and have not heard about the test, <a href="http://www.cologuardtest.com/hcp">follow the link here.</a>  </p> <p><em>Traditional Medicare (Part B) patients will not have any co-pays, deductible amounts, or co-insurance for Cologuard. </em></p> <p><em>Medicare Advantage patients may be subject to laboratory co-pays or co-insurance as determined by your plan. For details, please call your plan provider.</em></p> <p><strong><u>Here’s the drill on the test results..</u></strong></p> <p>What Does a Positive Result Mean? <br />• A Positive result means the test detected abnormal DNA and/or blood that could be <br />caused by precancer or cancer in the colon. <br />• The test can also have a Positive result that is incorrect (false positive). This means the <img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="272" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Optmu7geubc/VPUP2LXtedI/AAAAAAABMAo/l7Z5jeaqhYg/image%25255B8%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" title="image" width="391" /> <br />test result is Positive, but no cancer or precancer is actually present. <br />• Any Positive result should be followed by a colonoscopy. <br />• Talk about your test result with your doctor to find out if additional testing is needed. <br />  <br />What Does a Negative Result Mean? <br />• A Negative test result means the test did not detect abnormal DNA and/or blood in the <br />sample. <br />• The test can also have a Negative result that is incorrect (false negative). This means the <br />test result missed a potential cancer or precancer. For that reason, it is recommended <br />that you schedule regular screenings. <br />• Talk to your doctor about your test result. Your doctor will recommend a screening <br />schedule that is best for you. <br />  <br />What Does No Result Obtained Mean? <br />• A “No Result Obtained” means the test was not able to provide a result. <br />• If this happens, your doctor will talk with you about</p> <p>Again this was a product that a doctor told me about today that he thought was worth a mention so I’m passing it on in case you were not aware.  Again you have to talk to your doctor to see if you are a candidate and I think most are unless you have some past history or some other bowel related issues or diseases.  BD </p> <p> <hr /></p> <p>In a study of 10,000 people of average risk for colon cancer, Cologuard found 92% of cancer. Cologuard was negative in 87% of patients without the disease.</p> <p>Cologuard must be ordered by your doctor.  Most commonly, you would discuss screening with your primary care physician, nurse practitioner, or other healthcare provider as part of a regular wellness appointment. Cologuard cannot be purchased over the counter.</p> <p>If your doctor would like to know more about Cologuard, please encourage him or her to contact us at 1-844-870-8870.</p> <p>Cologuard was approved by the FDA on August 11, 2014, and it is now available in all U.S. states and territories. As of October 9, 2014, Exact Sciences Laboratories is licensed in New York state.</p> <p>No. Cologuard does not provide information about inherited DNA changes. The DNA alterations and mutations used in Cologuard are acquired over time, not inherited, and can be associated with the presence of colon cancer and precancer.</p> <p>Cologuard is a screening test. Any positive result should be discussed with your doctor and followed by a diagnostic colonoscopy.</p> <p>After our lab receives the order from your doctor, we will call you to verify your address, then we will send the Collection Kit. It will include instructions for collecting a sample, a prepaid return label, and our phone number, in case you have any additional questions.</p> <p>Our lab needs to receive the sample within 72 hours following collection to ensure test accuracy, so we recommend shipping it within 24 hours of collection.</p> <p>A positive result means the test detected altered DNA and/or blood that could be caused by cancer or precancer in the colon or rectum. Any positive result should be followed by a diagnostic colonoscopy. </p> <p>The test can also have a positive result that is incorrect (false positive). This means the test result is positive, but no cancer or precancer is actually present. Talk about your test result with your doctor to find out if additional testing is needed.</p> <p>A negative result means the test did not detect altered DNA and/or blood that could be caused by cancer or precancer in the colon or rectum.</p> <p>The test can also have a negative result that is incorrect (false negative). This means the test result missed a potential cancer or precancer. For that reason, it is recommended that you schedule regular screenings. Your doctor may recommend an alternative screening method. Talk to your doctor about your test result. Your doctor will recommend a screening schedule that is best for you.</p> <p><a href="http://cdn2.hubspot.net/hub/377740/file-1661056668-pdf/patient_guide_09SEP2014.pdf?t=1411149449461&__hssc=76129098.40.1425345067829&__hstc=76129098.323cedcc0fefdfd341a93699c12b0306.1425336821236.1425336821236.1425345067829.2&hsCtaTracking=2f97e3f1-3a38-4278-867b-d19372282548%7Cca35a908-5b27-4804-8f9c-9e15d015a3cd">http://cdn2.hubspot.net/hub/377740/file-1661056668-pdf/patient_guide_09SEP2014.pdf?t=1411149449461&__hssc=76129098.40.1425345067829&__hstc=76129098.323cedcc0fefdfd341a93699c12b0306.1425336821236.1425336821236.1425345067829.2&hsCtaTracking=2f97e3f1-3a38-4278-867b-d19372282548%7Cca35a908-5b27-4804-8f9c-9e15d015a3cd</a></p>

Colon Cancer Screening Without the Colonoscopy–ColoGuard-Approved By Medicare And Some Insurers

I did not know this existed until a doctor wrote to me today and said he thought the screening was much better than a colonoscopy.  That is ...

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United Healthcare Denies Diabetes Pumps for Insured Members That Other Insurers Cover–Medtronic MiniMed 530G

<p>There has to be a way to keep shareholder interesting rolling right?  What makes this story interesting is the fact that other insurers are already covering the device and United, who preaches preventional  medicine doesn’t seem to be in line<img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="162" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-cbj5qEwuYkc/VPIGQF8EJYI/AAAAAAABMAE/55XcbnHhlVs/image%25255B3%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" title="image" width="248" /> with what most of what they write today?  You can read the article below on how algorithmic decisions on expenses are weighing heavily on what decisions they make.  What makes this device unique is the fact that it monitors dropping sugar levels and that’s a big deal for those with diabetes too.  As I commented below, is this move one for keeping more money available for stock buy backs?  </p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2015/02/united-healthcare-to-now-require-prior.html">United Healthcare To Now Require Prior Approval on Non Vaginal Hysterectomy Procedures–Laparoscopic Power Morcellator Controversy Fueled the Fire And Now More Savings To Facilitate Bigger Stock Buy Backs?</a></h5> <p>The video here discusses how the device costs $10,000 for the patient to buy on her own.  Ok that is the “stock” price and we all know that insurers via purchasing associations and hospitals do not pay that price, so overlook that in the video if you will as far as  being what the insurer, United  would pay.   Look at this from last year in New York, United has no problem kicking out a huge check for a $175,000 hammer to procedures that normally runs between $10-20k as an average.  </p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/03/17509880-to-fix-hammer-toe-billed-by.html">$175,098.80 To Fix A Hammer Toe Billed by New York Podiatrist And the Insurer Paid It, Well Sort Of As They Sent the Check to the Patient By Accident, A New Investigation For “Out of Network” Charges Has Resulted</a></h5> <p>Well let’s take one more look at a similar case in California with lap bands and this one is very<img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="166" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-asDNy_SeDeQ/VPIGRDoz71I/AAAAAAABMAM/XOLO_KElxSg/image%25255B7%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" title="image" width="230" /> interesting for sure as the corporate lawyer in their defense seems to be totally unaware that United sells and markets anti fraud software and has for years, so even their own lawyers don’t understand the armies of subsidiary companies that United runs.  </p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/09/lap-band-surgeries-go-full-circle-with.html">Lap Band Surgeries Go Full Circle With Lawsuits–Now United Who’s Being Sued, Files Case Against Company Who Provided the Advertising and Services</a></h5> <p>Again I look at the entire company as a whole and look at what each subsidiary does and United has a big stock buy back program going on as well as a dividend offering to shareholders so don’t let this side of the business decisions pass you up as it does have impact.  Al the major insurers are listed on the  S and P 500 and recently Bloomberg came out with an article that said 95% of the profits made by S and P 500 companies were going back into stock buy backs…so you put the two together here ok?  Don’t’ be naïve on some of the decision making as there’s 2 sides to every story.  </p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/12/insurance-carrier-stock-buy-backs.html">Insurance Carrier Stock Buy Backs Continue to Rise While Consumers Are Finding It Harder to Afford Some Policies and Care With Dealing With High Deductibles And Narrow Networks…</a></h5> <p>So as it goes different insurers can make different decisions, so according to this story, United has not deemed this device to be a covered device and perhaps a purchasing organization will come in to play here as again we know insurers do not pay “stock prices”.  BD  </p> <script type="text/javascript" charset="UTF-8" src="http://www.nbcchicago.com/portableplayer/?cmsID=294474351&videoID=IonJynLRpxcZ&origin=nbcchicago.com&sec=news&subsec=local&width=450&height=360"></script> <hr />A suburban mother living with Type 1 Diabetes said she is being denied a potentially life-saving medical device by her insurance provider. <p>Amy Carbone of Palos Heights said she also has hypoglycemia unawareness, a complication of diabetes in which the patient is unaware of a deep drop in blood sugar levels. She said her condition makes her more susceptible to losing consciousness.</p> <p>That’s why Carbone’s nurse practitioner prescribed her a new device called the Medtronic MiniMed 530G with Enlite. It includes an insulin pump and a continuous glucose monitoring system. The device shuts off when blood sugar gets low.</p> <p>“I’ve got other patients who are on this device who said it’s a God-send because without it they would have no idea that their sugars were dropping,” said Terese Bertucci, APN.</p> <p>Carbone’s insurance provider, United HealthCare, will not cover the device for her. The company sent a denial letter to Carbone which read the services “are not eligible for coverage because your plan does not cover unproven procedures.” The letter also stated “current medical studies have not shown that this device is equal to or better than other standard pumps” for Carbone’s condition. </p> <p>The FDA-approved MiniMed 530G with Enlite is listed online at a cost of more than $10,000. The device also requires constant supplies. But other insurance companies, including Aetna, Cigna, Humana and Blue Cross/Blue Shield, told NBC 5 Investigates they would cover the device for members who meet their criteria. </p> <p><a href="http://www.nbcchicago.com/investigations/Suburban-Mother-Denied-Potentially-Life-Saving-Medical-Device-by-Insurance-294471481.html#ixzz3T3xbjq17">http://www.nbcchicago.com/investigations/Suburban-Mother-Denied-Potentially-Life-Saving-Medical-Device-by-Insurance-294471481.html#ixzz3T3xbjq17</a></p>

United Healthcare Denies Diabetes Pumps for Insured Members That Other Insurers Cover–Medtronic MiniMed 530G

There has to be a way to keep shareholder interesting rolling right?  What makes this story interesting is the fact that other insurers are ...

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“Get Your F**king Kids Vaccinated” – Jimmy Kimmel With a “Message From Real Doctors Who Know What The Hell They Are Talking About”…

<p>This is good all the way around and what better way to share the love here.  I like the way that Kimmel emphasizes that “doctors know what they are talking about” as today we have insurers and others constantly picking them to death on their decisions.  </p> <p><img align="left" alt="image" border="0" height="122" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-qxdMW3QT8yE/VPCgXDL20XI/AAAAAAABL_w/bkblDxb6i0w/image%25255B4%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" title="image" width="246" /></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>Doctors didn’t learn about medical diseases from their Facebook friends pages:)  It’s just like a Botox shot.  Are you one of those people who knows more about doctors Kimmel asks?  “Let your kids smoke, the only ones who say not too are doctors”…again a pun and bringing to the forefront the attack of doctor knowledge..funny.  “I had to go to school for 8 f**king years to tell you this about vaccinations”…comments from doctors are great.  BD </p> <p><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QgpfNScEd3M" frameborder="0" width="560" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgpfNScEd3M&feature=youtu.be">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgpfNScEd3M&feature=youtu.be</a></p>

“Get Your F**king Kids Vaccinated” – Jimmy Kimmel With a “Message From Real Doctors Who Know What The Hell They Are Talking About”…

This is good all the way around and what better way to share the love here.  I like the way that Kimmel emphasizes that “doctors know what t...

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United Healthcare To Now Require Prior Approval on Non Vaginal Hysterectomy Procedures–Laparoscopic Power Morcellator Controversy Fueled the Fire And Now More Savings To Facilitate Bigger Stock Buy Backs?

<p>You may or may not have read about the morcellator issues with the potential to spread cancer cells, but it’s been out there and all non vaginal hysterectomies don’t require the use of that tool; however it gave United Healthcare the fuel they needed to cut costs and require approval for non vaginal procedures.  The problem stated in the story here is that there’s not enough doctors that know how to do the non vaginal procedures, so here we go with procedure needing to be approved ahead of time and the MDs having to submit data to substantiate such.  <img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="93" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ilZbQsAtu5g/VO_czBXOa9I/AAAAAAABL_U/4exIltU54IU/image%25255B3%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" title="image" width="334" /></p> <p>So once again the insurer, United says they know better than the doctors it appears.   Sure if a vaginal procedure is available and is recommended by a doctor, it’s one less item to heal but again you need the doctors trained to do so.  Sometimes a vaginal procedure may not work depending on other things going on with a woman’s health too.  </p> <p>So here we go, as they seized the opportunity to take over the decision making for the doctors and again using the morcellator as the vehicle to drive this.  United is pretty well known for driving down pay for MDs and in the OC where I am, many of them tell me the net payments from the company end up being less than what Medicare pays.  Maybe they are counting on the money saved here to help finance more stock buy backs too?  United has a  big one and also has to finance dividends for shareholders too.  </p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2015/02/united-healthcare-extending-narrow.html">United Healthcare Extending Narrow Networks in California–More Secret Scoring of Doctors in the US–Telling The Doctors If They Are “Allowed” To Be In Network…</a></h5> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/12/insurance-carrier-stock-buy-backs.html">Insurance Carrier Stock Buy Backs Continue to Rise While Consumers Are Finding It Harder to Afford Some Policies and Care With Dealing With High Deductibles And Narrow Networks…</a></h5> <p>On a related note, Johns Hopkins is taking United to court as they narrowed them out of <img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="229" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-CyHlF11dHZA/VO_c0V-l8zI/AAAAAAABL_c/CdaAiHfikQA/image%25255B7%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" title="image" width="228" />the network for some of their insured, mostly those who buy a policy from an insurance exchange, where United pays the doctors somewhere between Medicaid and Medicare rates.  </p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/11/johns-hopkins-states-insurance-plans.html">Johns Hopkins -Insurance Plans From UnitedHealthcare Bought Via Exchanges Will Not Be Able to Use Johns Hopkins Physicians or Medical System–Filed Lawsuit To Sue United, Stating Violation of 1997 Contract</a></h5> <p>When the procedures is all done, we have this United/Dignity company that’s going around looking for contracts with hospitals to take over all the revenue cycling too, which involves firing current employees (maybe hiring some back) of a hospital to do all the billing and revenue cycle work.  If they get contracts with hospitals, even outside of the Dignity chain they are doing now (Dignity is their 49% partner), they can wipe the slate clean on billing and analyzing each procedure done. <strong> There should be a law against “too big to fail insurers”, you think?</strong>  </p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2013/10/united-healthcare-adding-yet-one-more.html">United Healthcare Adding Yet One More Subsidiary to the Very Large Number of Subs They Already Own/Operate-Optum and Dignity Healthcare (A System Wide Cerner EHR Client) Form New Venture Called Optum 360–Subsidiary Watch</a></h5> <p>You can even find United aka Optum over here at SAS..selling their analytics goods too.  BD</p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2012/12/sas-adds-optum-unitedhealthcare-fraud.html">SAS Adds Optum (UnitedHealthcare) Fraud Prevention Algorithms That Includes Social Network Data Mining Analytics To Their Fraud Prevention Framework Software</a></h5> <p> <hr />The nation’s largest health insurer is imposing tighter controls on its coverage for hysterectomies after more than a year of debate over a medical device that was found to spread hidden cancer in some women undergoing the procedure.</p> <p>As of April, <a href="http://quotes.wsj.com/UNH">UnitedHealth Group </a>Inc. will require doctors to obtain authorization from the insurer before performing most types of hysterectomies, according to a <a href="https://www.unitedhealthcareonline.com/ccmcontent/ProviderII/UHC/en-US/Assets/ProviderStaticFiles/ProviderStaticFilesPdf/News/January_2015_Network_Bulletin.pdf">bulletin sent to physicians and hospitals</a>. </p> <p>Only vaginal hysterectomies performed on an outpatient basis won’t require prior approval. The method, in which the uterus is removed through the vagina, has long been considered both the least invasive and cheapest option yet is used in only about 15% to 20% of cases, according to federal data and studies. The technique hasn’t been emphasized enough in medical training, many doctors say. </p> <p>Still, prior authorization had been uncommon for hysterectomies. Among the major commercial insurers, only <a href="http://quotes.wsj.com/ANTM">Anthem </a>Inc. requires them. A spokeswoman said the company started the practice last year over concerns that doctors weren’t fully considering alternatives to hysterectomies to treat fibroids.</p> <p><a href="http://quotes.wsj.com/CI">Cigna </a>Corp. and <a href="http://quotes.wsj.com/AET">Aetna </a>Inc. said they don’t require the extra step. “We believe this is best left up to the physician and patient based on clinical circumstances,” an Aetna spokeswoman said.</p> <p><a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/biggest-u-s-health-insurer-tightens-rules-on-hysterectomy-coverage-1424990877">http://www.wsj.com/articles/biggest-u-s-health-insurer-tightens-rules-on-hysterectomy-coverage-1424990877</a></p>

United Healthcare To Now Require Prior Approval on Non Vaginal Hysterectomy Procedures–Laparoscopic Power Morcellator Controversy Fueled the Fire And Now More Savings To Facilitate Bigger Stock Buy Backs?

You may or may not have read about the morcellator issues with the potential to spread cancer cells, but it’s been out there and all non vag...

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Why Do We Discuss Supreme Court Ruling On Affordable Care Act Like a Bunch of Morons? Want to Make Changes and Review Legal Interpretation? Bring Code Please

<p>I tweeted this yesterday and I think it deserves an actual blog post to bring a little bit of reality into the picture after seeing all the “Magpie Tweets” on this topic yesterday.  Have we all forgotten about the roll out of Healthcare.Gov?  Have we all forgotten that there’s still work in progress with the website in connecting health insurance data that is not finished yet?  I ask these questions as they are relevant to making changes to the Affordable Care Act, or interpreting legal verbiage.  For some strange reason we seem to have gone backwards <img align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-eOr42zvKZnU/VF2qnyT-0QI/AAAAAAABLvU/LGJW58fwYE0/image%25255B13%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="float: right; display: inline" />with our perceptions here and are back living the “Sebelius Syndrome” of whacked out perceptions again.  </p> <p>I began calling the “whacked out” perceptions <a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/04/secretary-sebelius-at-hhs-resigns-wrong.html">“The Sebelius Syndrome”</a> a while back and she got the name as her public comments were so just off the wall and folks in tech just shook their heads in the past at what was said.  (By the way thanks to all the investors that read here that enjoy that name as I do like your comments on it:)  Again Sebelius just got the name but there’s many more suffering from the Syndrome, and all you had to do was read all the press yesterday about “there’s no fix as a back up for the insurance policies if the Supreme Court rules against them”.  Good grief, I never saw such rhetoric in my life on this topic.  </p> <p><strong>Of course there’s no back up as you need to write code based on “verbiage” that is determine as legal from the Supreme Court.  Actually a while back I did blog that too asking if the Court realized how much “code power” their verbiage has the potential to create and asked if they realized it themselves?</strong>  I’m trying to stay neutral here with opinions and just looking at the “real world” with what comes out of virtual values that will have “real” impact on consumers, ok?   I guess at this point I’m asking “how far off do you want to go with whacked out perceptions”?</p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/11/supreme-court-to-hear-challenge-to.html">Supreme Court to Hear Challenge to Obamacare Subsidies- They Hold the Code In Their Hands That Controls the All the Machines Running the Affordable Care Act..</a></h5> <p>Actually, even before I wrote that post I addressed the fact that members of Congress seem to also be oblivious to this fact as well with saying “the machines run the Affordable Care Act” and they do.  Again, let’s revisit Healthcare.Gov and notice that there’s still work in progress there and remember how bad the code was when it rolled out…need anymore proof…we need code here to change or fix things?  Geez…</p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/11/the-affordable-care-act-is-run-by.html">The Affordable Care Act Is Run By the Machines–So Now What Do Human Lawmakers Think They Are Going To Do About It?</a></h5> <p>Seriously, can’t we get out of this make believe “virtual world value” here and come back to the real world?  This is a big part of our problem today as a nation, people that can’t tell the difference between virtual and the real world values.   In many ways, it seems HHS/CMS didn’t see enough at the VA with their Stat Rat Fever issues and are still going right down the same path as well.  We have a lot of broken models and software out there as it comes down to this<strong> “People don’t work that way”..</strong>and I don’t care how hard you try to market things today, if we don’t’ work that way, our behaviors will not change or adapt to the “proof of concept” model that is touted.  Sometimes we hit the jackpot and get it right all the way around and those are joyous moments for sure.  </p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/05/va-crisis-just-tip-of-iceberg-as-us.html">VA Crisis Just The Tip of the Iceberg As US Needs a Full On Healthcare Culture Change Everywhere To Get Back In Touch With the Real World of Patients…</a></h5> <p>Actually I borrowed “People don’t work that way” from Emanuel Derman, world famous quant who’s written books on modeling.  He spoke those words during an interview in a documentary on the Quants of Wall Street and just scroll down to the bottom of this page and<img align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-4yKeXZOGJWY/U2hj_S1gpvI/AAAAAAABKL4/8L1D77wzoQY/image%25255B20%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="float: right; display: inline" /> watch video #2 if you want to read up and get introduced to the world of Killer Algorithms out there.  Mr. Derman gets it and I agree, why we have all these broken models and people that can’t work with them…<a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/11/how-many-more-bloomberg-big-gulp-failed.html">look at how Bloomberg got fooled with Big Gulp too…everyone can get fooled.</a>  </p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/05/people-dont-work-that-way-world-of.html">“People Don’t Work That Way” A World of Broken Software Models That Don’t Align To the Human Side,Too Much Push At Times With Only A Proof of Concept That Fails in the Real World..</a></h5> <p><strong>So yes a ruling from the Supreme Court without some code infrastructure will place those affected consumers into “algorithm hell”..period</strong>.  There’s no algorithm fairies out there to wave a magic wand to make the IT infrastructure work overnight?  Did you all once again forget the roll out of Healthcare.Gov?  Wake up folks, still need code and that has not changed.  We had the question too about the impact on such a decision on insurers…well same thing there with writing new code and using new math models to design policies.  If you look at the classifieds today you can see the armies of Quants that insurers have hired to model policies.  </p> <p>Actuaries of course are still very much involved in the models, but by adding Quant models to the process insurers get the forecast of the “long” of the actuary and the “short” of the Quants to also bring in analytics on the impact of policies on stock price.<strong>  Yup, get in to it as that’s the real story here and the math and code that makes all of it work for them.  Insurer models run a lot of models that parallel those of the banks, traders, hedge funds, etc. and Quants move from one to another of those verticals to do their work.  Read the post below for a discussion</strong> on the correlation of how the models are<img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="141" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-XKJUBKw32xQ/VO81AAjCufI/AAAAAAABL_A/jMHd2k8DyHY/image%25255B3%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" title="image" width="289" /> similar and how we can’t run through markets as humans like data does with stock exchanges.  They do try to use some of those financial elements but we hit the wall when we can’t change doctors, plans, and everything else they put in the model in a time frame that suits profits for share holders.  </p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/10/data-scientistsquants-in-health.html">Data Scientists/Quants in the Health Insurance Business–Modeling Beyond the Speed and Capabilities of Humans To Keep Up With The Affordable Care Act–Turning Into A World of Killer Algorithms That We All Hate..</a></h5> <p><strong>So again, can we step into the “real” world here and stop projecting a world of algorithm fairies that will step in and take care of the Supreme Court ruling should it go south?</strong>  This is is getting old, ok?  Let’s look at the “real” impact here and stop thinking that the math models and computer code are some kind of magical force out there, as it takes humans and time to create such infrastructure.  </p> <p>Can we please stop talking like morons when it comes to the Affordable Care Act and look at the real world here on what needs to be done to change, amend, repeal or whatever your heart desires? <strong>  Let’s put an end to the “Sebelius Syndrome” of whacked out perceptions once and for all and let’s get out of the virtual values that being confused with the real world.</strong>  We need both and we need balance.  I too even get tired of seeing the White House putting out emails using numbers and stats that nobody can predict, it ends up shooting them in the foot instead of being a campaign for promoting laws and issues.  This crap is everywhere and we need to take on reality here and stop writing articles that make us look like morons sometimes.  </p> <p><strong>Want to change or rule on the Affordable Care Act-where’s your code?  BD</strong></p>

Why Do We Discuss Supreme Court Ruling On Affordable Care Act Like a Bunch of Morons? Want to Make Changes and Review Legal Interpretation? Bring Code Please

I tweeted this yesterday and I think it deserves an actual blog post to bring a little bit of reality into the picture after seeing all the ...

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Does Your Doctor Share Your Medical Record Information With an HIE (Health Information Exchange)…

<p>This is a question that may come up from time to time.  Pam from the World Privacy Forum explains how it works in California.  Also you can request the Notice of Privacy Practices.  Most providers do provide this information and as she states sometimes there’s an additional statement that shows what HIE(s) the doctor is participating in.  With all the security breaches we have had, I felt this was an important item to include, so you can find out if your records are being shared and where.  BD  </p> <p><img align="left" alt="image" border="0" height="219" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-A0Q5vDDkLkA/VO5PzxvBIKI/AAAAAAABL-s/XbpEMh7IsKw/image%25255B11%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" title="image" width="509" /></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <iframe height="281" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/103497993" frameborder="0" width="500" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen"></iframe> <p><a href="https://vimeo.com/103497993">WPF: Does your doctor share your information in a health information exchange?</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/worldprivacyforum">World Privacy Forum</a></p>

Does Your Doctor Share Your Medical Record Information With an HIE (Health Information Exchange)…

This is a question that may come up from time to time.  Pam from the World Privacy Forum explains how it works in California.  Also you can ...

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Apple and Google Have Still Not Removed Dangerous App Used for Checking Blood Pressure and More “Me Too Apps” Arrive

<p>This is an interesting story here from a doctor who works in an ER and is right on top of all of this.  <img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="229" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-o2-4WoGjs3Y/VO3nXXyYxtI/AAAAAAABL-U/sLYf42SrqgQ/image%25255B3%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" title="image" width="295" />The big issue here is questioning the accuracy of the readings for the first issue with the app.  We all know how we need the blood pressure cuff to get an accurate reading and there are numerous types of home units you can buy versus this app on the phones. </p> <p>With this app you place the unit on your chest.  This is interesting as it was just in the last couple of days that we had the FTC question and fine a couple of apps that are used to detect potential skin cancer with moles too.  Perhaps the most profound statement in this entire article is this:</p> <p><strong><em>“Blood pressure management is not for “recreational purposes”. This is not entertainment. This is real life.”….<strong>Iltifat Husain, MD</strong></em></strong></p> <p>The doctor is the Founder, Editor-in-Chief of iMedicalApps.com. Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine and Director of Mobile App curriculum at Wake Forest University School of Medicine.  His credentials speak for themselves.  </p> <p>In addition, Vanderbilt and Johns Hopkins have also commented on their concern about the apps that continue to remain.  In the world of apps today, it’s interesting and and actually good that both the FDA and the FTC seem to be paying closer attention to what’s going on out there to ensure we get “real” information.  BD  </p> <p> <hr /></p> <p>For $4.99, the app promises to measure your blood pressure by using your iPhone’s microphone and LED light. You place the iPhone on your chest and it “measures” your blood pressure. Obviously — no physician or health care professional would recommend that you measure your blood pressure in this non-validated method.</p> <p>Instant Blood Pressure has now become a top 5 downloaded app in the Health section of the App Store — and is being used by tens of thousands of people to measure their blood pressure.</p> <p>Wired Magazine <a href="http://www.wired.com/2014/07/medical_apps/">picked up on</a> the story, did the developers even bother to put a disclaimer within the app. The developers were also initially implying that Johns Hopkins was supporting their claims in their App description, but were forced to remove the institutions name after Johns Hopkins found out their name was being used in an inappropriate manner.</p> <p>The developers initially asked me not to publicize the app at all, and refused to show data <img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="143" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-qzMGs2QesPo/VO3nYVkfmYI/AAAAAAABL-c/Usn8rJ_9WUM/image%25255B6%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" title="image" width="187" />or any type of study that backed up their claims, stating they were creating proprietary algorithms. They kept mentioning they would “soon release data” that showed how the app worked, but more than eight months later they still haven’t released any studies or proof showing how the app works.</p> <p><strong>Instant Blood pressure has become so popular that it has spawned a number of spin offs.</strong></p> <p><strong>Even a recent publication in the American Society of Hypertension takes aim at these apps, raising alarm at how often they are being used by patients.</strong></p> <p>The iMedicalApps team of physicians implores Apple and Google to remove these apps from the App Store.<strong> There is sufficient proof in the comments section alone that patients are using these apps not for recreational purposes, but as medical devices, having the potential to lead to disastrous health consequences. Apple and Google shouldn’t allow developers to hide behind veiled disclaimers that try to prevent FDA regulation and liability if someone were to die. If an app even has the potential to be used as a medical device using sensors on a phone, it should be regulated in the appropriate manner.</strong></p> <p>I find it fascinating that the Instant Blood Pressure app doesn’t let you store your blood pressure numbers. Clearly they don’t want you exporting or tracking your measurements if you have a poor health outcome.</p> <p><a href="http://www.imedicalapps.com/2015/02/apple-google-health-app-patients/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+iMedicalApps+%28iMedicalApps%29">http://www.imedicalapps.com/2015/02/apple-google-health-app-patients/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+iMedicalApps+%28iMedicalApps%29</a></p>

Apple and Google Have Still Not Removed Dangerous App Used for Checking Blood Pressure and More “Me Too Apps” Arrive

This is an interesting story here from a doctor who works in an ER and is right on top of all of this.  The big issue here is questioning th...

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TissuGlu Gets FDA Approval as Ground Breaking Internal Surgical Adhesive–Eliminates Need for Drainage Tubes!

<p>The video explains the difference between adhesives and sealants and I learned something by watching the video as well.  <a href="http://www.coheramedical.com/products/tissuglu"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="74" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-3GLTFoAIyVg/VOoU2Lbl6cI/AAAAAAABL90/wIDunQzfuqA/image%25255B3%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" title="image" width="187" /></a>Not having to go home with drainage tubes as a patient, this is huge, I don’t care who you are, if that’s an option, I think everyone would be for it.  </p> <p><a href="http://www.coheramedical.com/products/tissuglu">TissuGlu</a> can now begin marketing the product to hospitals.  It is a two part material with part A and part B that need to be mixed together.  It begins to cure with moisture.  </p> <p>TissuGlu already has approval in Europe.  It looks like a glue gun to put you back together again.  TissuGlu was developed by Eric Beckman, University of Pittsburgh chemical engineering professor and it consists of amino acids which are dissolved in the body.  </p> <p><iframe style="height: 309px; width: 498px" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WcqXQ6S8hpE" frameborder="0" width="560" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p><strong><a href="http://www.coheramedical.com/products/tissuglu">From the website:</a></strong></p> <p><em>“Cohera Medical’s recently completed ‘No Drain’ study confirms that TissuGlu is a clinically superior<img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="218" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Z1oLle_Wdzs/VOoU2wNutBI/AAAAAAABL98/Kwu-C75t_zQ/image%25255B8%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" title="image" width="355" /> alternative to closed-suction drains in large flap procedures such as abdominoplasty. In the pivotal clinical trial, when TissuGlu was used, patients required fewer post-operative treatments and resumed normal activities, such as going to work, showering and using the stairs, more quickly.</em></p> <p><em>Currently, most patients who undergo large flap procedures have drains inserted to remove fluid that accumulates under the skin at the surgical site. Drains are often uncomfortable for the patient and can lead to additional complications. TissuGlu forms a strong bond between tissue layers, helping to reduce the space where fluid can accumulate during healing.”</em></p> <p>Cohera Medical only has 22 employees but I would imagine they are destined to grow quickly once the product is being shipped and used by hospitals. <em> </em></p> <p>This is exciting stuff and no refrigeration is required either.  BD  </p> <p> <hr />A small North Side company, newly bestowed with FDA approval for its ground-breaking internal surgical adhesive, believes it may be tapping into a billion-dollar market.</p> <p>Cohera Medical Inc.’s lead product, TissuGlu, will be used to connect tissue flaps following major abdominal surgery, eliminating the need for patients to go home with drains protruding through their skin. Earlier this month, the company received the FDA go-ahead to begin marketing the product to U.S. hospitals.</p> <p>President and CEO Patrick Daly sees the wide-scale availability of TissuGlu as a win all around: Patients won’t face the discomfort and infection risk associated with drains, while hospitals will save money as a result of lower complication rates and fewer re-admissions.</p> <p><a href="http://www.post-gazette.com/business/healthcare-business/2015/02/19/North-Side-company-Cohera-gets-FDA-approval-for-its-internal-tissue-adhesive/stories/201502190094">http://www.post-gazette.com/business/healthcare-business/2015/02/19/North-Side-company-Cohera-gets-FDA-approval-for-its-internal-tissue-adhesive/stories/201502190094</a></p>

TissuGlu Gets FDA Approval as Ground Breaking Internal Surgical Adhesive–Eliminates Need for Drainage Tubes!

The video explains the difference between adhesives and sealants and I learned something by watching the video as well.  Not having to go ...

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“The Data Exchange” Buy and Sell Data on Self Service Website, One More Reason to Index and License Data Sellers-This Appears to be Open Game for Selling Repackaged Personal Data-No Privacy At All

<h5><strong></strong></h5> <p>I know I sound like a broken record here but there’s good reason for this.  I found this site on the web a while back and it appears to be growing and more data for sale is appearing.  There are legitimate lists here for sale that we have all seen forever on the web too.  What I want to call your <img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="93" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-8MkyHc_vJKs/VOkMeBnwbFI/AAAAAAABL9E/eTpNSPDUiJk/image17.png?imgmax=800" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" title="image" width="188" />attention too is the types of lists contained here and there’s no reference to some of the origins.  This means that more than likely the data has been repackaged and re-queried with other data.  When the Anthem breach news broke, again I took the opportunity to mention again that crooks want to sell data too.  </p> <p>Amazingly enough, my <a href="http://www.youcaring.com/other/help-preserve-our-privacy-/258776">campaign for licensing data sellers</a> has been re-tweeted and received comment from the Anonymous group on how this will and could take place with selling more data.  Read this link below and step into the real world of people who understand and know these skills and wake up to what’s going on today.  As a developer or programmer, all you have to do is put on your “jerk” hat for a while to pretty much figure out what the other side might be doing for money.  It’s worked for me for years and there’s a lot a lot of folks who are smarter than me too.  I just wish more would speak up more often. </p> <h5><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="93" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ljV2UEat9qI/VOkMeroWg2I/AAAAAAABL9M/YEJM2Ndokzw/image10.png?imgmax=800" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" title="image" width="187" /></h5> <h5><strong><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2015/02/anthem-data-breachcrooks-want-to-sell.html">Anthem Data Breach–Crooks Want to Sell Data Too–The Impact of the “Data Selling For Profit Epidemic” That Exists in the US With Scoring Consumers Removing Access and Human Dignity</a></strong></h5> <p>If you <a href="http://www.youcaring.com/other/help-preserve-our-privacy-/258776">visit my campaign</a> you can see what I’m dealing with as now I appear on a list of “known blood thinner users” that is sold all over the place.  This is due to sloppy data work and/or bad matching from social network data, blogs, and comments.  This crap follows you and you have nowhere to go to find the source and get rid of it half the time as there’s no way to find the repackagers.  The problem here is that we are consumers are totally helpless here to fix some of this.  The <a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/04/world-privacy-forum-report-scoring-of.html">World Privacy Forum</a> has also been very active in their views on the same issues, the secret scoring that takes place and you have no clue what’s gone on.  </p> <p><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="86" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-F5wTCVIuUeU/VOkMfG8SRfI/AAAAAAABL9Q/uTv5xhkFa6U/image20.png?imgmax=800" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" title="image" width="188" /></p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/11/online-data-brokers-persist-listing.html">Online Data Brokers Persist, Listing Consumers on Chronic Disease Mailing Lists And More–Need To License and Index All Data Sellers, Brokers, Banks, Companies, Otherwise You Don’t Have a Complete Listing of Who They Are…</a></h5> <p>In addition we have this recent story to where a woman who’s records were breached at a hospital who later found her information being used.  Below are a few lines from the <a href="https://digitalguardian.com/blog/court-finds-data-breach-not-imminent-risk-victim">full article.</a>  </p> <p><em>“In notifying current and former patients and employees, St. Joseph said that it wasn’t aware of any of the information being misused. Still, after Peters found that her Discover credit card information had been stolen some months later, and that hackers had tried to infiltrate her Amazon.com account — posing as her son — she was pretty sure what the source of her woes was. And she was determined to act.</em></p> <p><em>Peters filed a 13-count complaint against St. Joseph, alleging violations of the federal “Fair Credit Reporting Act” (FCRA). </em></p> <p><em>She alleged that her personal information had been exposed in the breach and then disseminated in the public domain, where it was being “misused by unauthorized and unknown third parties.” Hackers' attempts to use her son’s name to compromise her Amazon.com account was particularly damning, Peters </em></p> <p><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="90" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-hDRRZ7Bfuyc/VOkMf2qfyNI/AAAAAAABL9c/BNGVGM9bhWs/image13.png?imgmax=800" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" title="image" width="187" /></p> <p><em>claimed: that information could only have been obtained from names and next-of-kin information she provided to St. Joseph before the data breach.</em></p> <p><em>Peters also asserted that telemarketers were using the stolen information – that she had been besieged with calls and solicitations for medical </em><em>products and services companies, with telemarketers asking to speak to her and with specific family members, whose contact information was part of the record stolen from St. Joseph.”</em></p> <p>You really should read the entire article above as again it goes to show how consumers can be and are left holding the bag.  Look at all the solicitations she received and I get those and I hate them as they go on forever and are more of a nuisance now than a help.  I’ll go search when I need information, thank you.  I just recently relocated and gee I can’t tell you how many phone calls I received from folks buying lists.  I asked the one person how she got my name, “it’s on a list I buy every week” she said.  She didn’t even know where she bought the list from when I asked that question!  </p> <p>Ok let’s dig a little further here and the following link will probably really get to you a bit as this company, Argus buys your credit card transactions, and then scores you with some analytics and sells that data (and the score) to insurers and banks.  Look who else is buying up your information, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.  I said when Richard Cordray was appointed that he would be a waste pretty much as being limited to go after low hanging fruit and he proved me correct.  He’s another one afflicted by the <a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/04/secretary-sebelius-at-hhs-resigns-wrong.html">“Sebelius Syndrome”.</a>   It’s like a virus as it lives all over the White House and in Congress too.  </p> <p>These are the folks that stick with verbiage only and forget there’s code that needs to go along with their laws to make things work. <strong>Remember Healthcare.Gov?  It’s still not finished.  Want to repeal Obamacare?  Bring in some good coders ok, no matter which way things go</strong> (lol), this is the reality folks.  The short order computer code kitchen burned down years ago all of this takes time.   After you read about Argus, </p> <p><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="87" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-RFPcBnY6E7o/VOkMgqrmBfI/AAAAAAABL9k/dy0VmSJ9Fd0/image16.png?imgmax=800" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" title="image" width="187" /></p> <p><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2012/08/e-scoring-credit-algorithms-invisible.html">here’s another outfit like them called E-scoring</a> who does the same stuff and skirts out from under federal laws in how they classify their business.  </p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/08/argus-analytics-produces-share-of.html">Argus Analytics Produces “Share of Credit Card” Data On Consumers - Digs Up The Dirt on Your Credit Card Behavior Patterns-US Consumer Protection Agency Is A Client-We Are Paying for Richard Cordray’s Slow Education Process</a></h5> <p><strong>So again, three years ago I began campaigning to license all data sellers so we know who they are and can fix the flaws that are surmounting and nobody listened and so look at this site.  If you don’t think this is the perfect spot for stolen data from Anthem to appear</strong>, you better have your head examined as this is how it works and there’s no call for anyone to justify where the data came from and with 80 million files, they can sell on this site and others for years.  If you look at the prices here, it’s a bit better than the black market and that area is more for stolen credit card data anyway.  With data like you see here, the crooks can make it all look legal and make a lot of money, over and over and over.  </p> <p><strong>The Anonymous folks even hate hackers like this too and call them “digital criminals”, we had a short discussion on Twitter about this.</strong>  So <a href="http://www.youcaring.com/other/help-preserve-our-privacy-/258776">help me out here and donate to my cause as I continue to write to the FTC and members of Congress to get them moving on this.</a>  This is a huge exposure for consumers and with repackaging us and creating new data bases, it will go on forever and wait until you see all the flawed data that appears that people will use to judge you, you won’t like it as nobody likes data that is either taken out of context or just flat out wrong used to judge them, self included!  Again just like the <a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/02/kathleen-sebelius-kansas-governor-for.html">Sebelius Syndrome I called in 2009</a>, here’s another scenario of consumers being hurt and “code hosed”.  BD</p> <strong> <hr /> <p>You own the data you buy</p> </strong> <p><strong>Yes, if you have purchased a file from a Seller, you purchase ownership rights to that file.</strong></p> <p><strong>Note:</strong> the only exception to this rule is if the seller has attached a <a href="https://thedataexchange.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/201013942">Custom Contract</a> to a Sale stating that full ownership rights are not transferred by sale. Buyer's have the full opportunity to read Custom Contracts before Sales are completed.esus</p> <p><a href="https://thedataexchange.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/201078151-Data-Ownership" title="https://thedataexchange.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/201078151-Data-Ownership">https://thedataexchange.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/201078151-Data-Ownership</a></p>

“The Data Exchange” Buy and Sell Data on Self Service Website, One More Reason to Index and License Data Sellers-This Appears to be Open Game for Selling Repackaged Personal Data-No Privacy At All

I know I sound like a broken record here but there’s good reason for this.  I found this site on the web a while back and it appears to be...

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Health Insurance Companies Providing Charge Cards And/Or Coupons For Healthy Foods–More Data To Collect About You And Potentially Repackage and Sell For A Profit…

<p>We all know by now that a card or coupon is just one more way to track what you do and insurers these days can’t get enough relevant and non relevant data  to analyze.  For insurers, it works well to have these globs of data that they may not know what they will do with yet, but the complexities of building models and analytics around the users and querying with other information on file is endless.  <img align="right" height="153" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-oDB0Fd8z6HM/VAqXWED0TxI/AAAAAAABLQk/W0dF3GldbXE/image%25255B3%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="float: right; display: inline" width="210" /> Read the link below to see where banks, insurers and the CFPB are all buying up your credit card transactions.  This is a daily thing by the way, depending on the contract with how much data Argus will provide.  They do analytics and thus you end up with another one of those “secret scores” on your record somewhere.  </p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/08/argus-analytics-produces-share-of.html">Argus Analytics Produces “Share of Credit Card” Data On Consumers - Digs Up The Dirt on Your Credit Card Behavior Patterns-US Consumer Protection Agency Is A Client-We Are Paying for Richard Cordray’s Slow Education Process</a></h5> <p>So if your grocery store card is not good enough, we have some over lap here to be sure we don’t miss any potential data about you that could be repackaged and sold.  Why don’t they just make the food more affordable and forget all of this tracking?  You think?  Of course  not as United Healthcare is either the #1 or #2 largest sellers of data in the healthcare business.  All together, it’s about a $180 billion dollar a year business when you include all entities.  </p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/09/health-insurance-business-is-driving.html">Health Insurance Business Is Driving Itself Off a Cliff & Doesn’t Know When to Stop With Collecting, Analyzing and Processing Non Relevant Data With Little Or No Impact On Giving Good Care..</a></h5> <p>I don’t know about you but all of this is taking way too much of my time as there are other data areas I need to worry about, like the bank, work, etc. and I just flat out don’t have time for all of this, much less giving access to anymore data for goodness sakes.  BD  </p> <p> <hr />UnitedHealthcare is now the third health insurance company to provide members with a program aimed at empowering them to choose better foods when they go shopping—and hopefully improve their health as a result. The Healthy Savings program, a partnership with Wisconsin-based Roundy's Supermarkets provides potential savings of more than $150 per month on prequalified foods.</p> <p>Humana has had a grocery program for three years called Humana Vitality, which it has improved since its launch. The company reports that 40% of their health plan members are enrolled in the program, through which members can use a card to save on qualified purchases at Wal-Mart stores.</p> <p>Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield also has a program that provides coupons to members for discounts on food and other household products. Members access the coupons via their accounts on Anthem.com and can print them out to utilize them at "more than 90%" of all major food store chains. </p> <p>One of the keys to success to such a program is likely to be convenience; the Healthy Savings program promotes the fact that it doesn't require any printing of coupons. The program website featured each week's discounted items and shows where to find the closest participating stores, as well as other related health and shopping information.</p> <p><a href="http://www.healthcaredive.com/news/unitedhealthcare-becomes-third-major-insurer-to-partner-with-grocery-stores/362884/">http://www.healthcaredive.com/news/unitedhealthcare-becomes-third-major-insurer-to-partner-with-grocery-stores/362884/</a></p>

Health Insurance Companies Providing Charge Cards And/Or Coupons For Healthy Foods–More Data To Collect About You And Potentially Repackage and Sell For A Profit…

We all know by now that a card or coupon is just one more way to track what you do and insurers these days can’t get enough relevant and...

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