In this first of several installments, we detail your responses to our recent HIPAA Survey. You gave us some great information. We will lay it out for you over the next few issues in hopes that it will give you perspective on your own HIPAA compliance efforts.

Cigna leads an emerging trend that already includes United Healthcare, WellPoint and Aetna: offering alternate site telehealth services. For-profit insurance companies never do anything that does not have a measurable return. So they must have figured out that paying for telehealth pays off in the long run. Staff writer Audrey Kinsella spoke with Cigna about their new program.

Patients communicating with other people around the world with similar health conditions. Concerned family members keeping track of their infirm seniors. Health information shared among physicians, both personal and hospital, home care and hospice staff, and patients and their families. No, not some new healthcare software system but Facebook and Twitter. Should your agency join the stampede toward everybody knowing everything about everybody else? Guest writer Scott Herrmann says,"'absolutely."

Though largely ignored at last month's World Health Care Congress, home healthcare technology emerged as a primary concern for Kaiser Permanente. Our Liz Seegert spent a few minutes with CIO Philip Fasano and learned about the healthcare giant's plans for technology-centered and patient-centered care delivery through the age of health reform.

Often considered a population "too old" for computer-based communication tools, seniors were recently found to become more engaged when using electronic Personal Health Records, resulting in improved clinical outcomes. A recent study found a significant improvement in hemoglobin A1c levels as well as improved patient activation scores among seniors using a PHR.

Mobile healthcare advocate Scott Herrmann, Director of Mobile Solutions for Procura, explains how mobile applications can dramatically change the way your agency operates, including changing marketing tactics and scheduling procedures and providing new ways to increase revenues. Mobile users have the most current patient information, which can improve care, contain costs and increase compliance.

Editor's note: This article was submitted by a representative of one of our HCTR advertisers. If you would like to submit an article from within your area of expertise, write to editor@homecaretechreport.com. Submissions from advertisers and non-advertisers are given equal consideration.

Hospice EHR software continues to get better and better. At last week's NHPCO meeting, CareAnyware was one of the hospice vendors making news with its enhanced product.

In any industry, change always generates the need for new businesses, which means new opportunities. As healthcare changes, pediatrics is emerging as a business option and may offer a glimpse into the future of home healthcare. Guest writer Rebecca MacKinnon explores the opportunities and challenges, with an emphasis on technology considerations for those interested in pursuing the opportunity.

Dispelling any and all concerns that payers switching you over to outcomes-based reimbursement, Booz & Co. Senior VP Gary Alhquist told us, "In a fee for service world, home health care is a nuisance...because it may siphon off revenue. In a risk-bearing world, home care is the answer." Read Liz Seegert's entire interview here.

Allscripts, CareWatch, CellTrak and HEALTHCAREfirst drew attention in Maryland this week with new releases and product enhancements aimed at hospice providers.

Have you found LinkedIn too crowded?  Facebook too...well, facebookey? Check out a new social connectivity resource built exclusively for home care people.

Electronic Visit Verification, EVV, eliminates both fraud and paper. Some versions of it can calculate mileage from one patient's home to another, eliminating estimating and rounding up. Many vendors provide integration with many of the popular point-of-care software applications. Now, one software vendor has recently begun to offer its own embedded EVV to clients that use iPad or Android tablets.