Health Datapalooza June 5-6

The Health Data Initiative Forum III: The Health Datapalooza will be held June 5 and 6, 2012, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. The event brings together a diverse group of data experts, technology developers, entrepreneurs, policy makers, health care system leaders, and community advocates to support innovative applications of health and …

HHS Denies Michigan’s Health Law Waiver Request

From Kaiser Health News:  The Department of Health and Human Services on Monday denied a request from Michigan to waive the health law's limits on insurer profits and administrative costs. Michigan becomes the second state to have its request denied following a denial of Florida's waiver request earlier this month. Read more here.

Comments on draft standards for collecting & reporting data on race, ethnicity due August 1

The Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) has announced new draft standards for collecting and reporting data on race, ethnicity, sex, primary language and disability status.  DHHS  plans to begin collecting health data on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) populations to help researchers, policy makers, health providers and advocates to identify and address health …

Hospital Compare–report & website

A new report has been released by the Department of Health and Human Services Office, Office of Inspector General: Adverse Events in Hospitals: National Incidence Among Medicare Beneficiaries.  There's also a website, Hospital Compare, that lets you compare hospitals on specific quality standards.  Dowload the database here.

Proposed rules for Accountable Care Organizations announced

From the Health Affairs blog: The Department of Health and Human Services today unveiled proposed regulations on the establishment of accountable care organizations (ACOs) in Medicare. The regulations, which would implement the Medicare Shared Savings program included in the Affordable Care Act, were announced in a teleconference this morning by HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Centers …