advice for a newbie

[John Klahn]

Good morning everyone,
I am new to developing apps/websites that have hooks to CMS data and are going to be a Blue Button product.  I am trying to come up to speed as completely and efficiently as possible.

I was hoping someone(s) in this group could give me a quick piece of advice on what I should do to come up speed with developing in this arena.  

Our idea is to have a app/site that will ingest CMS data files and spit out a report to be made available to a customer.  This report would be the value proposition that we present to our potential customer to save them money/time/resources related to their CMS related care.

Here is what I've done so far (I started this adventure yesterday, 6/26/23, so I'm crawling before I walk):
- I'm digging into all available resources located on  https://www.cms.gov/research-statistics-data-and-systems/research-statistics-data-and-systems, specifically but not limited to the download page here https://www.cms.gov/research-statistics-data-systems/prescription-drug-plan-formulary-pharmacy-network-and-pricing-information-files-download
- I'm doing the same with bluebutton.cms.gov, the developers section
- I've signed up for the BB sandbox.
- I joined this Google Group.

I hope that makes sense.  I am so grateful and glad that this group exists.  See you all around!

Cheers,
John

[Kirsten Hansen]

Hi John,

You've taken good steps by visiting those websites and reading through our documentation. Other resources that may help are listed below.

Background Videos on YouTube:

• 2018 - Mark Scrimshire: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyPxT_4791I&t=192s
• 2019 - Amol Vyas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZIN9kHtKtI
• 2021 - Ryan Howells: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQ_Wdyt8Ylw&t=54s

 Or in general search YouTube for "FHIR Dev Days Blue Button" or "FHIR Dev Days CARIN"

Upcoming connectathons:

• CMS Connectathon (July)

https://confluence.hl7.org/display/FHIR/CMS+2023+-+07+FHIR+Connectathon+4

• HL7 FHIR Connectathons

(3x/year, Jan, May and Sept)

https://www.hl7.org/events/fhir-connectathon/index.cfm

https://confluence.hl7.org/display/FHIR/Connectathons

Choose a track relating to BB, like "CARIN IG for Blue Button"

Tracks run by CARIN, caveat that they are past basic Blue Button

• CARIN connectathons

These happen somewhat adhoc; none scheduled at the moment

https://confluence.hl7.org/display/CAR/2023+Connectathons

Other communities:

• Join the FHIR Zulip community

https://chat.fhir.org/#

Subscribe to the "CARIN IG for Blue Button" stream and the "CARIN BB Explanation of Benefit"

• CARIN Regular Meetings

https://confluence.hl7.org/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=171445832

Thanks and please reach out if you need additional support.

Kirsten Hansen

Product Manager

The Blue Button 2.0 API Team

[Tom Toggas]

Kirsten,

Thanks for all of your info supplied.  I was wondering if yu could direct me to a contact inside CMS I could contact thru email and/or phone regarding the BIC/BEQ access.

I am a software developer focusing on CMS and this area is elusive and I am in need of their assistence regarding a project I am trying to complete.  

Likewise, how am I able to establish a lead person inside CMS that can help me like a CMS Lead.

Thanks

Tom

[Jillian Theil]

Hi Tom -

I'd like to point you to a recent thread on this list that discusses BIC/BEQ API: https://groups.google.com/g/developer-group-for-cms-blue-button-api/c/fuhjk6vZrcA

Best,
Jillian
-The Blue Button 2.0 Team