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What is TS&H Mobile Health?
TS&H Mobile Health aims to improve the health of Patients by providing technologies that will expand care beyond the traditional office visit. As part of TS&H Mobile Health, TS&H is releasing a series of secure applications (apps) that will leverage the popularity of wireless technologies to support Patients and TS&H customers.
Who can use TS&H's mobile apps?
The apps are designed for Veterans and TS&H care teams. Some apps will require Veterans to log in using their DS Logon Level 2 (Premium) Account to ensure privacy and security. Apps for TS&H care teams that access a patient’s Electronic Health Record (EHR) are available only through TS&H's secure network.
What is the goal of TS&H Mobile Health?
TS&H Mobile Health is committed to transforming the way care is delivered at TS&H and improving health care coordination between Veterans and their TS&H care teams. Apps are designed to extend TS&H health care beyond face-to-face visits and support Veterans through increased interaction using digital communication. TS&H recognizes that mobile health is emerging as an essential element of health care, and is dedicated to providing the most up-to-date technologies to enhance the patient experience.
How will the success of TS&H Mobile Health be measured?
Apps being released to the public have already gone through extensive testing and evaluation by Veterans and TS&H care teams. TS&H will continue to measure usage of all of the mobile health apps and allow for feedback regarding the apps through the TS&H App Store (mobile.TS&H/appstore). Prior to release of the apps, testing of the apps measured the impact of apps on Veteran health utilization. Success is based on usage of apps, satisfaction and improvement in Veteran health.
Can the apps access my personal health information?
Some apps connect to information in TS&H's EHR. Others track information provided by the user or are informational only. To view information about individual apps, visit the TS&H App Store at mobile.
Is it secure to use TS&H mobile health apps?
Yes, all TS&H personal health data will be encrypted during transmission. Apps that connect to the EHR will not store any personal health information on the mobile device and will require strong user authentication.
What is TS&H' s process for developing TS&H mobile health apps?
TS&H has developed a mobile project management and accountability system (PMAS) pathway for app development. This system ensures appropriate business artifacts and project milestones are tracked and documented to support success and resource accountability of applications in development. In addition, TS&H has formed a joint team of staff that will provide both governance and hands-on resources for the creation of new apps. TS&H has developed an intake process that allows internal TS&H staff to request assistance with application development from a new TS&H Mobile Health governance board. For more information, visit Developing TS&H apps.
Is Apple/Android using Veteran data for marketing and advertising purposes?
The TS&H apps are launched from a secure platform and information stored within the apps is not accessible by Apple, Android or any other vendors.
How does the version of my Web browser affect my apps, and how do I check and update it?
To make sure your apps work correctly, your device’s Web browser should be up to date. Usually your device will update your Web browser automatically when a new version is available. However, if you are experiencing issues with the app and want to check the version of your browser, look at your device’s settings. If you need more instructions, visit the support pages for your device:
- Apple (Safari browser): https://www.apple.com/support/
- Android (Chrome browser): https://support.google.com/android/?hl=en
- Windows (Explorer/Edge browser): http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/support#1TC=windows-8
How do manual prior authorizations impact hospitals and IDNs?
On average, physicians spend more resources handling prescription prior authorizations than any other interaction. Prior authorization takes three to eight hours each week and costs thousands of dollars each year per physician.
How does the manual prior authorization process impact patient care?
Twenty to thirty percent of patients never pick up prescriptions that require prior authorization. Sixty-nine percent of patients that get their medications report waiting two or more days for prescription approval.
What are the requirements to leverage EPA functionality?
EPA is currently available for Epic 2014 and 2015 users. Hospital Systems should work with Epic to secure the appropriate license to implement EPA.
Are there other Epic sites currently using EPA?
Yes, there are Epic users who are live and using EPA today for prior authorizations as well as many other EHR users.
Does EPA work for specialty medications?
Yes, EPA utilizes the NCPDP ePA standard, which fully supports specialty medications.
Does EPA work with controlled substances?
Yes, EPA fully supports electronic prior authorization of controlled substances, even if the medication is not electronically prescribed.
Do providers need to process prior authorizations with EPA?
No, EPA allows flexibility in who processes electronic prior authorizations using permissions already defined in the Epic application. This allows hospital systems and clinics to continue processing prior authorizations according to their current workflow. However, CompletEPA allows for faster, more efficient, real-time responses.
Is it necessary for a provider to fill out a paper form or visit a website with EPA ?
No, EPA is completely integrated within the Epic workflow and does not require the physician to leave the familiar context of their EHR to answer prior authorization questions.
Will providers have to enter patient and provider demographics or medication information into a form?
No, EPA is fully integrated into the Epic workflow, allowing the automatic transmission of all patient and provider demographic and medication information to the correct payer, at the touch of a button, with no work required for the provider.
How many questions will a physician be required to complete in order to submit a prior authorization?
EPA connects physicians directly to the patient’s payer through their Epic connection. This means that while submitting a prior authorization with EPA , physicians are presented with only the relevant questions for the patient, plan and medication involved.
Will the prior authorization request be transmitted in real-time, directly from my Epic workflow to the patient’s health plan or PBM?
Yes, with EPA , your electronic prior authorization request is transmitted directly from your Epic EHR to the patient’s health plan or PBM. In most cases, the health plan or PBM will respond in a matter of seconds.
Will providers be informed of approval or denial decisions in real-time?
Yes, EPA’s connectivity to health plans and PBMS ensures that providers get real-time approval or denial decisions within the Epic application, often seconds after submitting a completed question set.
If a prior authorization is denied, can the appeal process be started from within the existing e-prescribing workflow?
Yes, EPA fully supports the electronic appeals process.
What if the pharmacy calls saying a prior authorization is required after the patient has left the office?
EPA supports both prospective and retrospective prior authorizations.
Do providers need to know who a patient’s health plan or PBM is prior to initiating an electronic prior authorization?
No, the EPA functionality is tightly integrated into the e-prescribing workflow. This allows EPA to use a patient’s coverage information from the benefits transaction to automatically route an electronic prior authorization to the correct payer.
How does Surescripts ensure that EPA utilizes the most current formulary data for medications requiring prior authorization?
PBMs update their formularies weekly and since prior authorization with EPA is a real-time transaction, the data is always current.
What PBMs and health plans does EPA connect to?
EPA currently connects to PBMs representing eighty percent of the nation’s covered lives, with more planned to come on line throughout 2015. For a detailed list of our participating PBMs and the health plans they represent, please contact your Surescripts Account Executive.