This post was written by Aliya Sternstein.
Expect many major announcements this week from the administration and its advisers about eligibility rules for obtaining health IT funding.
On Tuesday, the Health and Human Services Department will unveil long-awaited final regulations on what is required of doctors and hospitals to receive a share of roughly $20 billion in bonus Medicare payments for using electronic health records. Medical professionals will have to install and utilize e-health records in a way that meets the rule's definition of meaningful use to be eligible for up to $44,000 in incentive payments. HHS on Dec. 30, 2009 proposed a definition that stated meaningful use meant complying with specific procedures for enhancing the coordination of care, engaging patients and families and ensuring privacy.
Also on Tuesday, HHS will issue final regulations that will determine what is required of health IT vendors to get a share of the e-health record market, including the business of meaningful users. The requirements will be detailed in a rule on standards and certification. An initial rule on this, also unveiled on Dec. 30, set forth specifications for exchanging content in compatible formats, standard vocabularies, uniform transmission protocols and privacy controls.
On Friday, a presidential advisory board, whose members include Craig Mundie, chief research and strategy officer at health IT vendor Microsoft, will update the public on a health IT study. The report is intended to deliver recommendations on the future of health information IT and the impact it will have on improving patient health outcomes, cost-cutting and increasing the availability of public health data. The PCAST meeting will be webcast live .
COMMENTS
We have to STOP thinking about IDENTITY THEFT as just an IT problem.
We have an economic breakdown across America and employees that don't make as much as the CEO or other top executives are looking for ways to make money to take care of their families. up to a certain lifestyle that is better than they currently have now. Over 51% of the time Identity Theft occurs from an employee in the 'work place.
So when are employers going to wake up?
When are they going to do the Training Required by the Doctrine? NOT electronically!
Erick Mann, ADRS, GSS 07/21/10 12:16 am ET