03/18/2010
During a recent meeting, the Health IT Policy Committee's Nationwide Health Information Network work group discussed how the newly launched NHIN Direct potentially could interfere with state plans to develop regional health information exchanges. Government Health IT.
03/18/2010
Federal officials say they are starting to identify trends in the 2,700 public comment letters submitted in response to proposed rules and certification standards for the "meaningful use" of electronic health records. CMS already has read through about half of the 2,000 letters it received, while ONC is sorting through 700 letters . Healthcare IT News.
03/18/2010
A letter signed by 249 members of the House of Representatives calls for CMS to revise proposed regulations on the "meaningful use" of electronic health records. Numerous other groups have submitted comments on the rules. Modern Healthcare, American Hospital Association release.
03/17/2010
The American Hospital Association supplemented its previous "meaningful use" comments with new input on electronic health record certification. An EHR vendor group and an association of health IT executives also sent in comments. HealthLeaders Media, Health Data Management.
03/17/2010
The Federal Communications Commission's new blueprint for extending high-speed broadband connectivity nationwide includes recommendations designed to boost health IT adoption and promote telemedicine technologies.The 2009 federal economic stimulus package directed FCC to develop the plan. Government Health IT, Federal Computer Week.
03/16/2010
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.
03/15/2010
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
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.
03/12/2010
FDA is asking 350 hospitals to report health IT system malfunctions that could jeopardize patient safety. The agency specifically is looking to identify problems with electronic systems that help physicians prescribe medications. Huffington Post Investigative Fund.
03/11/2010
The Department of Veterans Affairs is working to develop Aviva, a new electronic health record system designed to supplant the agency's 20-year-old VistA EHR platform. The Aviva system is designed to be Web-enabled and interoperable with other agencies' health IT systems. Government Health IT.
03/11/2010
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
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.
03/08/2010
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
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.
03/08/2010
Although the American Academy of Family Physicians said it agrees with many of the stated goals of the proposed "meaningful use" criteria, it also believes significant changes should be made to make the rules more workable and reduce redundancy. Modern Healthcare.