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| FreeMED 0.7.1 released with Next Generation Billing Engine "REMITT" |
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 Posted by Jeff on Thursday October 21, 2004 @ 04:31 PM
from the it-slices-it-dices-it-makes-perfect-billing dept.
The new release of FreeMED, version 0.7.1, is available on sourceforge.net today. With its release is the release of a standalone billing package called "REMITT®", which hopes to revolutionize electronic medical billing. Please read below for the press release and download links. Digg this article
FreeMED Software Foundation, Inc.
INFORMATION RELEASE:
October 18, 2004 - No. Windham, CT
This latest release of the FreeMED Software Foundation, Inc. community project, version 0.7.1, is available. It can be downloaded from http://sourceforge.net/projects/freemed/. The latest release can also be accessed from the community Web site http://www.freemed.org/ and Foundation Page http://freemedsoftware.com.
This release also includes a high speed billing system called REMITT®. A reference to some of the features of this release and of the REMITT® engine is available on sourceforge.net.
This system can be download separately from http://www.remitt.org. A description of the innovative XML transformation processes that is used by the REMITT® billing system is available separately
Commercial support FreeMED EMR Software v0.7.1 and the REMITT® billing system support is available through FreeMED MA, Inc.
CONTACT INFORMATION for support is:
Frank M. Valier, Ph.D.
General Manager
FreeMED MA, Inc.
785 Williams St., #PMB 200
Longmeadow, MA 01106
f.valier@freemedma.com
Tel: (413) 734-9985
Fax: (413) 734-0966
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Re: FreeMED 0.7.1 released with Next Generation Bi
by Tim Cook on Sunday October 24, 2004 @ 12:02 AM
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From the REMITT Site:
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The core transformation technology used by REMITT is currently patent pending in the United States. For more information, please contact Dr. Valier of FreeMED MA, Inc.
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Maybe Jeff can shed some light on the intent of this software patent. Makes me a little cautious to even look at this innovative "core transformation technology".......I sure wouldn't want to be accused of patent infringment in the future.
I'm also certain that it doesn't use any of the ideas that were discussed on the FreeB list.....right Jeff? I'd hate to see this end up in a dispute regarding prior art.
Regards,
Tim
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Re: FreeMED 0.7.1 released with Next Generation Bi
by E. Latorilla on Sunday October 24, 2004 @ 08:40 AM
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In a possibly similar nature but not directly related to the REMITT case, I have learned that one group in one european country is now contemplating on getting their "own" modified version of Care2x patented at their local patent office.
If that happens, a legal dispute is unavoidable. The idea of it alone makes me really sick. Not just because it would consume valuable resources but because the patenting action is plain theft.
I believe that we open source people should be aware of this potential danger. I am not thinking of doing "street/guerilla war" style of combatting it nor I am thinking of posting "foul play!" pages all over the internet, but instead we should engage using the "official" rules of the game.
I think filing lawsuit as a group and demanding damages will have better chances. The more people joining the group the stronger our case will be. Also, the litigation costs will be lower for each participant.
Anybody who is willing to join a possible litigation, please contact me.
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Re: FreeMED 0.7.1 released with Next Generation Bi
by Jeff on Monday October 25, 2004 @ 02:03 PM
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The "core transformation technologies" have to do with something that I took care *not* to discuss on the list, namely the technique I used to produce PDF and Text files from the same source while still using XSL for the transformation. It's more to make sure that neither I nor the company I work for get sued over this. It's strictly a defensive patent. (As we all know, you can rely on prior art to keep from being sued, but the USPTO does not necessarily check for prior art, and a lawsuit is needlessly expensive.)
I assure both you and the rest of the opensource medical community that REMITT is an open piece of software, and carries no licensing costs.
Jeff
FreeMED MA, Inc
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Re: FreeMED 0.7.1 released with Next Generation Bi
by Tim Cook on Monday October 25, 2004 @ 02:36 PM
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Jeff,
Thanks for clarifying the company position.
Cheers,
Tim
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Remitt - Patents
by Walt Pennington on Friday October 29, 2004 @ 12:04 AM
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We have concerns and seek more assurance that the patents will not be used against other open source developers.
We would like to see two versions of Remitt. Patented Remitt and Remitt with all patented technology removed. The Remitt with all patented technology removed would provide assurance to open source developers that there will not be future legal claims from FreeMED MA, Inc. or its successors or purchasers.
We understand that the patenting FreeMED MA, Inc. seeks is to defensively protect the business interests of FreeMED MA, Inc. How do these Remitt patents protect other potential open source users of Remitt? From the prior notes related to this news item, the patents will be used defensively to protect FreeMED MA, Inc., but it appears to leave every other potential open source adopter subject to patent liability claims from FreeMED MA, Inc. or its successors or purchasers.
I may be incorrect in my understanding. If I am incorrect, please enlighten me.
Will FreeMED MA, Inc. create two versions of Remitt. A version free of patents and one with patents?
Will FreeMED MA, Inc. provide, in writing, that FreeMED, MA, Inc. and its successors waives any and all legal claims related to any patented technology in Remitt when used in another open source application?
If FreeMED MA, Inc. will not provide either a patent free version or written waivers of any and all future claims related to patents, what assurance do other open source users of Remitt have that FreeMED MA, Inc. will not sell the patented technology to a large medical company and then be subject to patent licensing fees?
I was unable to find a patent pending at http://appft1.uspto.gov/netahtml/PTO/search-bool.html
I think it would be helpful to provide a link to the pending patent so other open source developers could see which areas use patented technology, and which do not. This would allow open source developers to remove potentially infringing technology and replace it with patent free, open source software.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Walt Pennington
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Re: Remitt - Patents
by Tim Cook on Friday October 29, 2004 @ 03:15 AM
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WE would like to not see a software patent of any kind.
WE believe that software patents are generally bad for innovation. Patents are an inappropriate vehicle for protecting software
WE believe that the invention is probably (from the definition given by Jeff) covered by prior art anyway and most certainly was influenced by discussions on the FreeB and possibly other mailing lists.
WE would like to not have Walt Pennington act as if he speaks for the entire community. His marketing is wearing a bit thin.
This is my opinion and that of anyone that voluntarily agrees with me. The WE above refers only to myself and my imaginary friend Dr. TORCH. :-)
Regards,
Tim
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Re: Remitt - Patents
by Andrew P. Ho, M.D. on Wednesday November 03, 2004 @ 02:37 AM
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Tim,
I don't know why you are picking on Walt. His questions are fine and there is no "marketing" speech involved, as far as I can tell.
Best wishes...
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Re: Remitt - Patents
by Jeff on Wednesday November 10, 2004 @ 03:19 PM
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The invention is definitely *not* based on discussions on the FreeB list. The transformation technology is based heavily on XSLT, and the mention on the list of XSLT was made by me (http://www.freeb.org/pipermail/freeb/2004-March/000120.html). There are other concepts in REMITT that could be seen as evolutions of ideas that were mentioned on the FreeB list, or existed in FreeB, or were possibly planned for the next release of FreeB.
I don't particularly like software patents much either, but felt it was necessary, especially when venturing into an area of the market where people tend to like to sue, to provide some kind of protection against a large company with a lot of capital closing down a piece of software for no reason.
There is no reason why the opensource community can't use REMITT, or develop extensions for it, or pretty much anything else. I don't see any reason for people to be concerned about this (since it has been stated that there is free use of it) unless they only really want to take whatever is unique about REMITT to put in something else (ostensibly FreeB or a closed-source application).
If you think REMITT's design is bad or that you can make something else better, by all means, don't use it. But don't boycott it because there is some doubt as to my intentions or the intentions of FreeMED MA, Inc towards the opensource software community.
Jeff
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Re: Remitt - Patents
by E. Latorilla on Friday October 29, 2004 @ 09:01 AM
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A written waiver signed by the current patent holder(s) is good but might not be enough. What if they sell the patent to others? Unless that one is covered too, I will not dare touch that piece of software.
Beware of a potential trap.
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