FROM THE FOUNDATION

Paper to Electronic Charts Made Easy

Community clinics with experience making the transition from paper to electronic records share the strategies, techniques, and insights they learned along the way.

Telehealth Project to Provide Dental Care

Low-income families will receive free dental care, thanks to the Virtual Dental Home, a telehealth project supported by CHCF and other funders. The four-year pilot project will eventually operate in nine California communities.

Take the DiabetesMine Design Challenge

Have a creative idea for a new tool to improve life with diabetes? The 2010 DiabetesMine Design Challenge is offering $23,000 in cash, plus consultations with design experts and other prizes. CHCF is a sponsor; entries are due by April 30.

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03/16/2010

Physicians Call for More Flexibility in Achieving 'Meaningful Use' Criteria

On the final day of a public comment period, the American Medical Association, the Medical Group Management Association and other physician groups submitted comments calling for CMS to scale back the "meaningful use" requirements. Modern Healthcare et al.

03/16/2010

HHS To Award $162M for State Health Information Exchanges

In its latest grant announcement, HHS identified 16 states and state-designated entities that will receive funds for health information exchange activities. With the new awards, all U.S. states and eligible territories will have received health data exchange funds from the 2009 federal economic stimulus package. Healthcare IT News et al.

03/15/2010

Work Group Calls for Database To Track Health IT Safety Risks

The Health IT Policy Committee's adoption and certification work group recently called for officials to establish a national database of safety hazards related to health IT system malfunctions. A patient safety organization would oversee the database and create safety reports to guide health care providers and policymakers. Government Health IT, Federal Computer Week.

03/15/2010

Drummond Group Seeks To Become EHR Testing And Certification Body

Officials at the Drummond Group said the organization plans to seek the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT's seal of approval to test and certify electronic health record systems under the requirements of the 2009 federal economic stimulus package. Healthcare IT News.

03/15/2010

CCHIT Calls for Scaling Back Scope of Federal EHR Certification Rules

The Certification Commission for Health IT sent comments calling for federal officials to refine the required standards for electronic health record certification. Meanwhile, eHealth Initiative and Premier submitted comments on CMS' proposed "meaningful use" rule. Modern Healthcare et al.

03/12/2010

Jobs Bill Would Boost Eligibility for Health IT Incentive Program

A Senate jobs bill passed this week includes a provision that would make it easier for certain hospital-based physicians to qualify for federal incentive payments for the "meaningful use" of electronic health records. Currently, the 2009 federal economic stimulus package excludes all hospital-based physicians from the EHR incentive program. Health Data Management et al.

03/11/2010

Panel Weighs Strategies for Balancing Health IT Privacy, Research Goals

The Health IT Policy Committee's strategic planning work group recently discussed how to strengthen health IT privacy while also promoting research. Members suggested allowing consumers to decide how to share their health data. InformationWeek, Federal Computer Week.

03/11/2010

ONC Kicks Off Public Comment Period for EHR Certification Rule

On Thursday, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT published in the Federal Register a proposed rule creating a temporary and a permanent program to approve entities to certify electronic health records. The public will have 30 days to comment on the temporary program and 60 days to comment on the permanent one. Healthcare IT News, Health Data Management.

03/10/2010

Chopra: Government Seeking Examples of Health IT Innovation

During a work group meeting yesterday, federal Chief Technology Officer Aneesh Chopra said officials are looking to the public and private sectors for examples of effective use of health IT that could encourage further adoption. Government Health IT, Modern Healthcare.

03/10/2010

AHA: 'Meaningful Use' Could Be Out of Reach for Some Providers

In its formal comment letter to CMS, the American Hospital Association recommended incorporating greater flexibility into federal requirements for the "meaningful use" of electronic health records. AHA warned that health care providers looking to adopt EHRs might be discouraged by the "all-or-nothing" approach and strict timeframes of the regulations. Modern Healthcare et al.

03/09/2010

Group Develops Online Seminars To Engage Stakeholders in NHIN

The National eHealth Collaborative recently launched a no-cost Webinar series called "NHIN University" to educate stakeholders about the Nationwide Health Information Network. ONC officials will offer presentations for the series. Healthcare IT News, Health Data Management.

03/08/2010

Report: 'Meaningful Use' Could Curb Productivity of Physicians

A recent Medical Group Management Association survey found that more than two-thirds of physicians believe their productivity will decrease as they strive to meet the "meaningful use" requirements for health IT. Many respondents said they expect to encounter difficulty providing patients with electronic copies of their health records within a certain time frame. Modern Healthcare et al.

03/08/2010

Group: Consumers Say 'Meaningful Use' Rules Not Too Burdensome

Consumer Partnership for eHealth recently published consumer and employer responses to 10 common concerns about the "meaningful use" rules. Consumers generally said they do not expect the criteria to be out of reach for health care providers. Healthcare IT News.

03/03/2010

Blumenthal Announces Proposed Rule on Certifying EHR Systems

During the HIMSS 2010 conference yesterday, National Coordinator for Health IT David Blumenthal announced that ONC has released a notice for proposed rulemaking on electronic health record certification. Also at the conference, the Federal Health Architecture showcased interoperability projects, and several EHR vendors unveiled new applications. Health Data Management et al.

03/01/2010

ONC Unveils Web-Based Software To Help Health Providers Report Data

ONC is making available open source software that will allow physicians to create quality reports and analysis on patient health care. The software's quality measure reporting is in line with federal requirements on "meaningful use" of health IT. Government Health IT.

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