New News in HIT
5/1/11 NHIN University renamed to NeHC University. NeHC University's free classes will now range from introductory programs to in-depth programs and interactive briefings. We hope NeHC University will be a great forum for raising awareness of innovations and success stories in HIT. Read Story
4/26/11 Sign Up for CMS' National Provider Calls about Attestation Thursday, May 5, 1:30 - 3:00 p.m. ET - Register to join this call if you are an EP who wants to learn more about the attestation process for the Medicare EHR Incentive Program.
4/15/11 HRSA sponsored webinar "Tips on Conducting Due Diligence for a Health IT System” Friday April 29, 2011 -- 2:00-3:30pm EST Register Here
4/19/2011 NACHC submits comments on "Federal Health IT Plan 2011 2015" Read Comments
3/25/2011 Public Comment Opens on "Federal HIT Plan 2011-2015". Comment Period closes April 22, 2011 Read More
2/25/11 HHS-Sponsored Health IT and Meaningful Use Webinars and Workshops for HRSA Grantees
- Friday, March 4, 2011, 2pm to 3:30pm EST “Overview of Open Source Tools and Solutions for the Safety Net Community”
- March 9-10 – “EHR, HIT, and Meaningful Use ‘Boot Camp’” Tampa, FL
- March 31-April 1 – “HIT and MU Learning Session” Chicago Il
Download Registration Information
2/18/11 FCC Releases Interactive Broadband Map. Find your communities broadband capabilities
2/15/11 National Provider Call on Registration for the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program for Eligible Professionals Friday, February 18, 2011; 1:00-2:30pm EST Register
2/3/11 RCHN Foundation publishes new articles on “Training an HIT Workforce for CHCs and HCNs” and “HIT and Clinical Outcomes” Read More
1/24/2011 $34.7 million awarded in Distance and Telemedicine Grants by the USDA Read Press Release
12/23/10 Registration for Meaningful Use Incentives opens January 3, 2010. 11 state Medicaid programs open for registration.
- CMS Electronic Health Record Incentive Program - Open Registraton Partner Notice
- CMS-ONC EHR Registration Press Release
10/13/10 Opportunities for Health Centers to obtain HIT staff.
In April, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) awarded $84 million in cooperative agreements for the Health IT Workforce Development Program to help ensure that health professionals have the technical support they need to adopt electronic health records. Now, about six months later, we’re starting to see the first results of the program:
• The University of Texas at Austin’s Health IT Summer Certificate Program graduated its first class of students, who are now certified Health Information Managers and Exchange Specialists.
• Health IT classes are under way at 84 community colleges that are using the curriculum developed through the Curriculum Development Centers Program.
This is just the beginning. All in all, ONC’s Health IT Workforce Development Program is expected to reduce the shortfall of skilled health IT professionals by 85 percent. To learn more, read Dr. David Blumenthal’s new letter: The Health It Workforce Development Program: Help Is on the Way. Also visit the Health IT Buzz Blog for the latest on other health IT initiatives.
9/27/10 ONC announces two new Regional Extension Centers, Orange County CA and New Hampshire. Two FL RECs expand. Read Story
9/20/10 Open Door Family Medical Center, in Ossining, NY, wins the Community Health Davies Award. Since 1994, the HIMSS Nicholas E. Davies Award of Excellence has recognized excellence in the implementation and value from health information technology, specifically EHRs. Read the Full Story
9/19/10 ONC Authorized Testing and Certification Bodies (ONC-ATCBs) named. The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) has named the Commission for Healthcare Information Technology, the Drummond Group and InfoGard Laboratories, Inc. as ONC-ATCBs.
7/13/10 CMS/ONC announce Final Rules on "Meaningful Use" of EHRs.
- Secretary Sebelius Press Release
- CMS and ONC Final Regulations Define Meaningful Use And Set Standards For Electronic Health Record Incentive Programs
- Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Electronic Health Record Incentive Program CMS FINAL RULE
- Dr. Blumenthal's Views on Use of EHRs
- Health Information Technology: Initial Set of Standards, Implementation Specifications, and Certification Criteria for Electronic Health Record Technology ONC FINAL RULE
6/18/10 ONC Issues Final rule on Temperorary Certification Process for EHRs. Downlaod the Final Rule. Link to ONC Certification Programs web site
6/10/10 ONC clarifies the maximum amount Regional Extension Centers can apply for to provide training and technical assistance is 10 providers per site or geographic location. Read the PIN
6/3/10 HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced $83.9 million in grants to help networks of health centers adopt electronic health records (EHR) and other health information technology (HIT) systems. Read More
5/26/10 ONC announces funding for two new Beacon Community Grants. Read more
5/17/10 NACHC Responds to ONC Request for Information on the Privacy Rule and HITECH Accounting Disclosures. Read Response
5/3/10 Vice President Biden and U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced the selection of 15 communities across the country to serve as pilot communities for eventual wide-scale use of health information technology through the Beacon Community program Read More
4/6/10 HHS Announces $267 Million in Recovery Act Funds for New Health IT Regional Extension Centers. To read the press release Click Here. For a full list of all Regional Extension Center Grantees Click Here.
3/31/10 - National eHealth Collaborative Stakeholder Forum April 14, 2010 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM ET Pathways to Improving Care: Meeting Meaningful Use in a Meaningful Way To register for this free event please go to www.NationaleHealth.org
3/24/10 Interim Final Rule with Request for Comments from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Department of Justice on Electronic Prescribing of Controlled Substances. The Interim Final Rule specifies the rules that health care providers will need to follow in order to electronically prescribe controlled substances in accordance with the law. The Interim Final Rule is expected to be published in the Federal Register on Wednesday, March 31 and will include a 60 day comment period. To view the Interim Final Rules Click Here
3/24/10 - Six more states receive Federal Matching funds for EHR Incentives (NC, CO, MS, NV, WY, and UT). Read Announcement
3/15/10 - NACHC submits Comments to CMS and ONC on Interim Rules for Meaningful Use of HIT. Download comments here
3/15/10 - HHS Announces Release of $162 million to states for HIT to further the widespread adoption of IT. Download Fact Sheet and List of State Awards. Link to HHS HIE web site
3/13/10 - CMS sponsors ICD-10 Call. The Basic Introduction to ICD-10-CM National Provider Conference Call will be conducted on Tuesday, March 23, 2010 from
1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. Registration information and discussion materials for this conference call can be accessed at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/ICD10/07_CMS_Sponsored_Calls.asp
3/09/2010 - NACHC prepared draft comments for the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program. Comments are due March 15, 2010 and can be submitted electronically using www.regulations.gov. To read the draft comments click here.
HHS issues NPRM on Proposed Establishment of Certification Program for Health Information Technology 3/3/10. This rule will guide how electronic health records are certified to meet 'Meaningful Use" criteria. To read the Proposed Rule Click Here To read more on the HHS web site Click Here
eHI provides a new Directory of State HIT and HIE Leadership, which identifies the state designated entity (SDE) and state health IT coordinator(s) leading efforts. The new Directory can be accessed at the eHI website Click Here 2/17/10
NHIN 101: An Introduction to the Nationwide Health Information Network. The Nationwide Health Information Network (NHIN) as we know it is evolving in 2010. Join the NeHC Board of Directors on Monday, February 22, to learn about this vital initiative! Senior officials from the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) and the Chair of the HIT Policy Committee's NHIN Workgroup will kickoff the forum by presenting an in-depth look at the "NHIN Past, Present & Future," and engaging in a dialogue with stakeholders. To Register for this Free event and to find out more
The Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust has awarded an 18-month grant of $400,000 to the North Carolina Community Health Center Association (NCCHCA) in support of the North Carolina Health Center Incubator Project. The project is designed to assist health departments, rural health centers, hospitals, free clinics, and existing health centers in securing federal funding through Federal Section 330, which provides substantial, recurring support for primary care services that utilize a comprehensive health care home. Read More
South Florida (Health Choice Network) was awarded $8.5 million in federal funding to establish a South Florida Health Information Technology Regional Extension Center (SFREC). Read More
HIMSS opens Davies Award applications for Community Health Organizations!! Over the last two years several health centers have received the prestigious Nicholas E. Davies Award recognizing excellence in the implementation and value from health information technology, specifically EHRs. These include Urban Health Plan; Heart of Texas; Columbia Basin Health Association; Community Health Access Network (CHAN) and White River Rural Health Center, Inc. . Health Centers are encouraged to apply for this prestigious award. Applications are due May 14, 2010. To download an application and learn more Click Here Helpful Hints
Four States (AK, KY, SC & WI) to Receive Federal Matching Funds for Electronic Health Record Incentives Program. In another key step to further states’ role in developing a robust U.S. health information technology (HIT) infrastructure, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced today that four states (AK, KY, SC & WI) Medicaid program will receive federal matching funds for state planning activities necessary to implement the electronic health record (EHR) incentive program established by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act). To Read the Press Release
2010 HIMSS Davies Awards of Excellence Applications Now Being Accepted
HIMSS is accepting applications for the 2010 HIMSS Davies Awards of Excellence. The awards program honors hospitals and health systems, independent physician practices, public health, and community health organizations that have successfully achieved. Read More or to Apply
12/30/09-CMS and ONC Issue Regulations Proposing a Definition of 'Meaningful Use' & Setting Standards for Electronic Health Record Incentive Program Read More
- CMS Interim Rule from Federal Register January 13, 2010 - Electronic Health Record Incentive Program
- ONC Interim Rule from Federal Register January 13, 2010 Initial Set of Standards, Implementation Specifications and Certification Criteria for Electronic Health Record Technology
- Health Information Technology: Initial Set of Standards, Implementation Specifications and Certification Criteria for Electronic Health Record Technology Interim Final Rule
- Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Electronic Health Record Incentive Program Proposed Rule
- Federal Register Notices
- Message from Dr Blumenthal on Standards and Certification Criteria to Support Meaningful Use of Electronic Health Records
- HITECH Meaningful Use Release 12 30 09
- HITECH Meaningful Use Fact Sheet Final 12 30 09
- HITECH Medicaid Fact Sheet Final 12 30 09
- HITECH Medicare Fact Sheet Final 12 30 09 (not as important for health centers)
Health Information Technology Implementation for Health Center Controlled Networks Application Deadline Feb. 5, 2010 - Announced by President Obama on 12/9/09 The purpose of this one-time funding grant is to enhance the current HCCN grantees' organizational and information technology capacity to provide additional HIT services in support of the AARA-funded acquisitions of EHR and HIT systems by community health center controlled networks. Click Here to download guidance. 12/10/09
National eHealth Collaborative (NeHC) hosts webinar on INTEGRITY, RELIABILITY, ACCURACY: The Pillars of Health Information Capture, Exchange and Use. Monday December 14, 2009 10:00 AM - 12:00 Noon. Free of charge. Michael Lardiere, NACHC's Director HIT; Sr. Advisor Behavioral Health is a member of the NeHC Board. To find out more Click Here http://www.nationalehealth.org/ShowContent.aspx?id=323
ONC Announces $220 million in Beacon Community Grants for HIT. To access the funding announcement Click Here. 12/2/09
ONC Announces Second HIT Regional Extension Center funding opportunity. Preliminary application Deadline December 22, 2009. THERE WILL NOT BE A THIRD ROUND!! To access the funding announcement Click Here 11/25/09
CCHIT Opens Public Comment Period for Behavioral Health Electronic Health Records - both stand alone and as an add-on to a Comprehensive Electronic Health Record certification, as well as add on certifications for Clinical Research and Dermatology. Comment Period ends December 11, 2009. To download the criteria and find out how to comment Click Here 11/20/09
The HIT Policy Committee's Information Exchange Workgroup is holding a public hearing on Tuesday, October 20, 2009, on the subject of laboratory data/CLIA.
The HIT Standards Committee’s Implementation Workgroup will hold a one-day hearing on October 29, 2009, on the “adoption experience.”
All of the above meetings will be held at the Omni Shoreham Hotel, 2500 Calvert Street, NW, Washington, DC
The HIT Policy Committee will be holding a two-day meeting, October 27 and October 28, focusing on specialists, smaller physician practices, small community hospitals, etc. The Recovery Act requires not just adoption of health information technology (HIT) but also meaningful use of the information to improve care. To demonstrate meaningful use, the Policy Committee has chosen to focus on HIT-enabled quality measures that are both process and outcomes oriented. Most of the initial measures proposed for 2011 focused on primary care providers because of the availability of those measures. This hearing seeks input from various groups that may not be adequately addressed by the initial measures proposed, such as specialists, non-physician practitioners, smaller physician practices, safety net providers, and small community hospitals.
The HIT Policy Committee will be holding a two-day meeting, October 27 and October 28, focusing on specialists, smaller physician practices, small community hospitals, etc. The Recovery Act requires not just adoption of health information technology (HIT) but also meaningful use of the information to improve care. To demonstrate meaningful use, the Policy Committee has chosen to focus on HIT-enabled quality measures that are both process and outcomes oriented. Most of the initial measures proposed for 2011 focused on primary care providers because of the availability of those measures. This hearing seeks input from various groups that may not be adequately addressed by the initial measures proposed, such as specialists, non-physician practitioners, smaller physician practices, safety net providers, and small community hospitals.
The HIT Standards Committee’s Implementation Workgroup will hold a one-day hearing on October 29, 2009, on the “adoption experience.”
All of the above meetings will be held at the Omni Shoreham Hotel, 2500 Calvert Street, NW, Washington, DC posted 10/20/09
HIMSS Conducts Survey of HIT Staffing Needs
HIT Policy Committee delivers revised "Meaningful Use" criteria 7/16/09 - Access the revised criteria, the list of measures to be used and slides from the presentation
NACHC provides comments on 'Meaningful Use" of EHRs - download a copy of NACHC's June 26, 2009 comments here
HRSA Sponsors HIT/EHR Regional Training Sessions - these sessions are provided in every region. To find the training session for your region and to register to attend please see the HRSA HIT Web site
NACHC Comments on Regional Extension Centers - 6/11/09
Register onsite for The Future of Telehealth: Essential Tools and Technologies for Clinical Research and Care, taking place on June 25-26, 2009 on the main NIH campus in Bethesda, MD. Limited space is still available. For more information including an updated agenda, logistics and registration, visit http://www.ncrr.nih.gov/Telehealth/
CCHIT to Propose New Paths to Certification
CCHIT has announced two Town Call web conferences on June 16 and 17 to gather stakeholder input on new paths to certification of electronic health record (EHR) technologies, with the goal of supporting more rapid, widespread adoption and meaningful use under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). To join the calls:
NACHC's Director HIT; Sr. Advisor Behavioral Health selected as CCHIT Reviewer for Behavioral Health EHRs
Health Information Security and Privacy Collaborative announces June Training series on subjects including: 1)Consumer Education and Engagement, 2)Provider Eduction Toolkit, 3)Interstate Disclosure and Patient Consent Requirements, 4)Harmonizing State Privacy Law, 5)Intrastate and Interstate Consent Policy Options, 6)Adoption of Standard Policies, 7)State Law Analysis Project and Database, 8)Interorganizational Agreements. Sessions are Free and are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 2:00PM ET.
Comment Period on Regional Extension Centers Opens!
A Federal Register Notice and Request for Comments has been published announcing the draft description of the program for establishing regional extension centers to assist providers seeking to adopt and become meaningful users of health information technology, as authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Pub. L. No. 111-5)(ARRA). (5/27/09)
Markle Announces Broad Agreement on Principles for 'Meaningful Use' and 'Qualified or Certified EHR'
On April 30, 2009, Markle hosted a forum bringing together health and information technology leaders with government and policy experts to discuss strategies for implementing the health IT provisions of the new economic stimulus law. The collaborative released a new framework on "meaningful use" of health IT and "qualified or certified" electronic health record (EHR) technology, which the law requires for health care providers and hospitals to qualify for new federal health IT incentives.
HHS Announces Members of Committees That Will Advise on Implementation of Health IT. (5/8/09)
The National Committee for Vital and Health Statistics will hold an open meeting April 28 and 29 to discuss the definition of “meaningful use” of HIT. We would appreciate comments on “meaningful use” being sent to Mike Lardiere, NACHC’s Director of HIT, at mlardiere@nachc.com. 4/21/09
Executives of the National eHealth Collaborative (NeHC), the Certification Commission for Health Information Technology (CCHIT) and the Health Information Technology Standars Panel (HITSP) issue 'Shared Roadmap and Vision for Health IT' 2/10/09
Dear Mr. President Letters from 21 health information technology leaders to the new president portray a road map for building an electronic health care system that rewards productivity, retains knowledge and supports effectiveness of care. 2/9/2009
Certification Commission for Health Information Technology (CCHIT) issues updated CCHIT Incentive Index on 2/10/2009. The CCHIT Incentive Index™ is a constantly updated resource, tracking incentive programs that help physicians and clinics adopt certified EHR through financial assistance and incentives. A view of state-by-state incentive programs is also available here.
2009 Davies Award Applications Now Open - Deadline May 15, 2009
HHS Secretary Recognizes HITSP Standards January 21, 2009
HHS Issues Final ICD-10 Code Sets and Updated Electronic Transaction Standards Rules
On 1/15/2009 The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released two final rules that will facilitate the United States’ ongoing transition to an electronic health care environment through adoption of a new generation of diagnosis and procedure codes and updated standards for electronic health care and pharmacy transactions More...
