September 16, 2013 Jeff Smith, Director of Public Policy at CHIME
Sept. 16-20 marks the 8th Annual National Health IT Week (http://www.healthitweek.org/). During NHIT Week, hundreds of health IT stakeholders fly to Washington, DC to advocate for better health IT-related policies. Stakeholders that cannot come to DC for are encouraged to host an event locally at the state our regional level.
September 10, 2013 Jeff Smith, Director of Public Policy at CHIME
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT revealed new analysis looking at vendor readiness on 2014 Edition CEHRT during this month’s Health IT Policy Committee. ONC’s Data Analytics team sought to answer the question, “What percentage of successful Meaningful Users attested with vendors that have passed certification for 2014 Edition CEHRT?”
August 27, 2013 Jeff Smith, Director of Public Policy at CHIME
Last week, yet another provider organization urged HHS officials to “implement an indefinite moratorium on penalties” for physicians as long as they complete Stage 1 of Meaningful Use. In a letter to Secretary Sebelius, the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) also joined CHIME, AAFP, HIMSS and others in requesting an extension to Meaningful Use timelines in 2014.
August 20, 2013 Jeff Smith, Director of Public Policy at CHIME
Twenty-eight Meaningful Use-savvy clinicians and healthcare professionals from 18 states will be helping other providers find IT success as part of a new initiative at the the Office of the National Coordinator. The inaugural class of ONC’s Health IT Fellows will “provide grassroots insight and…act as champions to their provider and practice community colleagues on a local and national scale,” a purpose statement for the program said.
August 12, 2013 Gabriel Perna
A busy week of health IT policy and politics played out during the first week of August. For Washington observers, the week was a perfect mix of relaxed Hill Staff, new policy recommendations and a changing of the guard at ONC.
July 30, 2013 Jeff Smith, Director of Public Policy at CHIME
Four members of the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) testified to federal officials last week, calling for a safe, orderly transition to Meaningful Use Stage 2 that leaves no one behind. In addition, testimony was given to the Senate Finance Committee by vendors and other stakeholders assessing progress and the path forward for Meaningful Use.
July 23, 2013 Jeff Smith, Director of Public Policy at CHIME
ONC’s Standards & Interoperability (S&I) Framework updated the Health IT Standards Committee this past week and described a new effort designed to enable providers to manage their patients across different care settings and perform data analysis.
July 15, 2013 Jeff Smith, Director of Public Policy at CHIME
Four lawmakers recently unveiled legislation in the Senate and the House of Representatives that would help health clinics and providers serving vulnerable to, low-income patients qualify for incentive payments under Meaningful Use. Senators Jay Rockefeller (D-W.V.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Al Franken (D-Minn.) reintroduced legislation previously introduced by Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.) before he became Secretary of State called the Medicaid Information Technology to Enhance Community Health (MITECH) Act (S.1268).
July 2, 2013 Gabriel Perna
CHIME joined more than 100 healthcare stakeholder organizations, asking the Obama administration to coordinate various efforts across HHS, FCC and FTC in regulating health IT. Currently, the FDA has pending guidance on mobile medical applications; a group composed of multi-agency, multi-sector stakeholders resulting from FDASIA legislation; and ONC are all working on components of health IT regulation vis-à-vis patient safety.
June 25, 2013 Jeff Smith, Director of Public Policy at CHIME
This past week was all about ICD-10. HHS is resolved to keep the current deadline and the American Medical Association (AMA) is keeping to its “Stop the implementation of ICD-10” mantra. “There are no plans for any more extensions,” ONC chief Farzad Mostashari, M.D. told attendees at the HIMSS ICD-10 Forum.
