PRINCETON JUNCTION, NJ — (Marketwire) — 10/28/11 — The Smart Card Alliance Healthcare Council today released a new white paper providing smart card guidance for the . The white paper provides WEDI-compliant smart card designs and includes a discussion of the features and benefits of smart ID cards for healthcare providers and payers.
The paper, “Complementary Smart Card Guidance for the WEDI Health Identification Card Implementation Guide,” is available for free download on the website.
“The Smart Card Alliance supports WEDI-s goal to enable automated and interoperable identification using standardized machine-readable health identification cards,” said Randy Vanderhoof, executive director of the Smart Card Alliance. “This white paper complements the WEDI guide by outlining how smart card technology provides a strong foundation for health ID cards. They enable improvement in healthcare processes and in patient identity verification, while securing patient information and protecting patient privacy.”
“The intent of the WEDI Guide and its underlying ANSI standard is to standardize present practice and bring uniformity of information, appearance, and machine-readable technology. It offers great benefit; yet it is a simple identification card. Smart card technology, with its far greater capacity and ability to be updated, brings opportunity for heightened security and new health applications,” said Peter Barry, co-chair, WEDI Health ID Card workgroup.
The white paper provides a thorough explanation of smart card technology, as well as the benefits of for payers, healthcare delivery organizations, patients, healthcare providers, and healthcare employers. Some of these benefits include:
Accurate identification of the patient
Accurate information on patient health plan
Reduction in medical fraud
Reduction of duplicate tests and payments
Streamlined patient registration
HIPAA compliance
Improved patient privacy and information security
Support for meaningful use requirements
Reduced costs
“The WEDI Health ID Implementation Guide specifically mentions smart cards as an appropriate card type, and this white paper expands on the idea. Smart cards are the only technology that can provide the security and privacy features that are fundamental to any patient identity management system,” said Michael Magrath, chairman of the Smart Card Alliance Healthcare Council and business development director for Gemalto.
Participants involved in the development of this document included: CSC; Datacard Group; Gemalto; Identive Group — SCM Microsystems; LifeMed ID, Inc.; Oberthur Technologies; OTI America; WatchData Technologies USA; XTec, Inc.
Healthcare identity is on the agenda as the Smart Card Alliance Healthcare Council heads to the , November 2-4, 2011 at the in Washington, DC, with pre-conference workshops on November 1st. Follow the conference and other news from the Alliance on Twitter , and Facebook at .
The Smart Card Alliance Healthcare Council brings together payers, providers, and technologists to promote the adoption of smart cards in U.S. healthcare organizations. The Healthcare Council provides a forum where all stakeholders can collaborate to educate the market on how smart cards can be used and to work on issues inhibiting the industry. Healthcare Council participation is open to any Smart Card Alliance member who wishes to contribute to the Council projects.
The Smart Card Alliance is a not-for-profit, multi-industry association working to stimulate the understanding, adoption, use and widespread application of smart card technology.
Through specific projects such as education programs, market research, advocacy, industry relations and open forums, the Alliance keeps its members connected to industry leaders and innovative thought. The Alliance is the single industry voice for smart cards, leading industry discussion on the impact and value of smart cards in the U.S. and Latin America. For more information please visit .
Contact:
Deb Montner
Montner & Associates
203-226-9290
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