The Collective Voice of Health IT, A WEDI Podcast

This week’s episode comes courtesy of WEDI's virtual event on ransomware held in late 2020. This one day summit highlighted the growing concern of ransomware and other cyberattacks facing the healthcare industry, a concern that continues to this day.  Our keynote for that event was Jeanette Manfra, Global Director of Security and Compliance at Google Cloud. Prior to Google Cloud, Jeanette was the Assistant Secretary for Cybersecurity and Communications for the US Department of Homeland Security.

**USE THE CODE PODCAST FOR A 15% SAVINGS ON REGISTRATION FOR WEDI'S SUMMER FORUM, July 27-29 on Zoom, www.wedi.org for details** We welcome Dr. Tiffany Avery, Chief Medical Officer for NantHealth for a in-depth discussion on the multi-factor nature of healthcare. Looking at Health Equity through the lens of oncology, Dr Avery calls for the industry to use data to not only serve all patients equally, but to understand that one's environment is also key to ensuring a positive patient experience.    Helpful Links to Learn More: https://nanthealth.com/ Their blog: https://nanthealth.com/resources/category/articles/ Follow them on social media: LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/nanthealth/ Twitter @NantHealth Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NantHealth/

On This Week's Best Of: From our National Conference, WEDI's Privacy and Security workgroup co-chairs, Marilyn Zigmund Luke (AHIP) and Tina Grande (Healthcare Leadership Council) host a roundtable discussion on the evolution and challenges of securing patient data in today's healthcare IT environment. The panelists: Lina Walker, PhD, Vice President, Health Security, AARP Mari Savickis, Vice President , Public Policy, CHIME Laura Hoffman, JD, Assistant Director, Federal Affairs, American Medical Association

Learn how the healthcare industry is addressing the broken knowledge/data supply chain through automation, patient data liberation and federal regulations at WEDI's Summer Forum, July 27-29 on Zoom. Enter the code PODCAST for 15% off your registration rate. Learn more at www.wedi.org Matthew welcome CAQH CORE Board Members Tim Kaja (Chair) and Linda Reed (Vice Chair). Tim is Senior Vice President at Optum Care and Linda is the Vice President and Chief Information Officer at St Joseph's Health.  For more than 20 years, CAQH has created shared initiatives to streamline healthcare administration. Today, CAQH technology-enabled solutions, operating rules and research help nearly 1,000 health plans, 1.6 million providers, government entities and vendors connect, exchange information and operate more efficiently. Matthew discusses CAQH CORE's origins, their current rule development efforts and latest pilot and measurement activities 

This special best of episode welcomes ONC's Micky Tripathi, PhD from WEDI's Spring Conference from May. Hosted by WEDI President and CEO Charles Stellar, Dr. Tripathi offers his thoughts as ONC moves forward through the next 6 months of 2021 and beyond. 

This week, WEDI presents a session recorded from our annual spring event, WEDI 2021 with Chief Health Equity Officer Dr. Aletha Maybank of the American Medical Association and Michael Currie of UnitedHealthGroup. Moderated by WEDI Chair Nancy Spector, the two discuss the meaning and objective of their positions, the current climate in the country as it pertains to health disparities and how they address those issues from their unique perspectives. 

WEDI Price Transparency Summit takes place June 17. Use the code PODCAST for a 15% discount on the registration fee. Visit wedi.org to register Matthew sits down and talks with Ann Mond Johnson, CEO of the American Telemedicine Association. How has the view of telemedicine changed from pre-COVID today, how important has telehealth been for behavioral health, and where does telehealth fit in the "new normal" of healthcare?  

On June 17, WEDI presents a special one-day educational and informational event on Price Transparency and the No Surprises Act. Register at wedi.org and enter the code PODCAST to receive 15% off the registration fee.  Matthew has a fantastic discussion with Stanley Nachimson, Principal of Nachimson Advisors and a veteran of Health Technology for over 30 years. Stanley is the author of the authoritative paper on the cost of ICD-10 for physician practices and is an active member of electronic transaction bodies including HIMSS, WEDI, and X12. Matthew and Stanley discuss price transparency and how patients must prepare for the coming wave of technological access that is moving their way.   

Matthew sits down and discusses the vaccine rollout with Dr. William Winkenwerder, Chairman of CitiusTech, former CEO of Highmark Health, and the former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs under George W. Bush.  What needs to be down to get America past the goal line in our battle against COVID-19 and what is the government's responsibility in regards to communication? A fascinating discussing with one of the most respected public healthcare industry leaders in the country. 

Everyday, WEDI members volunteer their time and talent to WEDI workgroups to provide thoughtful leadership and common-sense approaches that enhance the exchange of clinical and administrative healthcare information. They collect input, exchange ideas, and make recommendations that inspire impactful and far-reaching change in our industry. This week, Matthew speaks with Michelle Barry, Co-Chair of WEDI's Provider Information Sub workgroup. The sub workgroup's mission is to identify business issues impacting the transmission and receipt of provider directory data, commit to understanding the nuances of the data along with industry successes and best practices for obtaining the information in a timely and accurate fashion. Michelle discusses the sub workgroup's recent work, including an examination of the No Surprises Act.  Interested in joining WEDI? Contact Matt Downey at mdowney@wedi.org. Already a WEDI member and want to get more involved in workgroups? Contact Samantha Holvey at sholvey@wedi.org