News in brief - Oct. 13, 2003

Blues association launches new site - URAC rolls out site service - MedPlus, RxHub form alliance - Tech group rejects EMR standard

Blues association launches new site

The Chicago-based BlueCross BlueShield Assn. has launched a Web site with scientific assessments of medical devices, drugs and procedures. The site (www.bcbs.com/tec) assembles assessments written over the last few years by the association's Technology Evaluation Center. The assessments are published in cooperation with Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Southern California Permanente Medical Group.

URAC rolls out site service

URAC has launched Health Web Site Check-Up Service, under which it evaluates health sites and offers suggestions for improvement.

The service costs $495 and includes a two-hour interactive session. URAC is a nonprofit health care organization in Washington, D.C., that also accredits health plans, Web sites and health care organizations' HIPAA privacy and security compliance plans.

MedPlus, RxHub form alliance

MedPlus, a Cincinnati-based health care software company that connects physicians and health care organizations, has agreed to integrate prescription-related services from RxHub LLC into its eMaxx Web-based physician portal product. RxHub, based in St. Paul, Minn., is owned by three of the country's largest pharmacy benefit managers and provides electronic eligibility, medication history and formulary information to physicians and pharmacists.

Tech group rejects EMR standard

Members of Health Level Seven last month voted to reject the first draft of a proposed standard for a model electronic medical record.

Jonathan Himlin, a spokesman for the Ann Arbor, Mich.-based health care standards development organization said it is normal for members to reject any first draft as they seek to develop, refine and reach consensus on standards for the industry.

The vote on the model EMR standard is being closely watched because the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services has launched a high-profile effort urging the industry to adopt data standards to make health care information systems interoperable.