Acquisition

Kennedy debuts health care reform bill

Sen. Edward Kennedy's long-awaited health care reform legislation includes some IT provisions, including establishing standards for electronic enrollment in federal and state health systems.

Digital Government

Group: Health IT essential to health reform

Health IT may falter if it is not included in overall health reform, according to health industry organizations.

Digital Government

ONCHIT tests guidance for health records

HHS is testing a template for an electronic personal health record

Modernization

Health IT needs more functionality, CIO says

Theresa Cullen, CIO of the Indian Health Service, said health IT leaders should create more functionality in their systems, including the ability to track diseases without current lag times.

People

GAO: The FDA needs strategic IT plan

The Food and Drug Administration doesn't have a comprehensive strategic plan for managing its numerous IT modernization projects, the GAO reports.

Cybersecurity

GAO: FDA's tracking system isn't secure

FDA's planned Sentinel system for tracking medications and medical devices and their effects on public health has many problems ahead in privacy and security, GAO auditors said.

People

Health IT commission postpones certifications

The Certification Commission for Health Information Technology said it will put off some of its certification activities until it reviews what HHS has in mind for health IT

Modernization

Army seeks virtual support groups for amputees

Virtual world-based groups would help people who do not have access to in-person groups.

Digital Government

HHS tests template for electronic health record

The national coordinator for health IT is testing an online model for a digital personal health record.

People

Chopra becomes federal CTO

The Senate has confirmed Aneesh Chopra as federal chief technology officer.

People

Senate confirms Baker as Veterans Affairs CIO

Roger Baker wins Senate confirmation as the new VA chief information officer.

Cybersecurity

Health IT program needs ID management

The Obama administration's health IT initiative needs strong identity management tools to protect patient privacy, according to vendors, providers and other experts at a panel today.

People

CMS to spend $905M on IT systems support

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will develop IT systems to monitor incentive payments to doctors and hospitals.

People

Health IT panel aims for middle road

The new federal panel that will advise on health IT standards begins discussing its goals.

People

Obama's emerging IT agenda could mean big changes

Experts say the new president is moving ahead with his ambitious agenda despite the financial meltdown and disease outbreak

People

Committee studies public health, research

The federal advisory group on health information technology considers adding public health and research data needs to its requirements for electronic health records.

People

Health care reform tied to IT

Health care reform won't be complete without adopting health IT, the national coordinator for health IT says.

Cybersecurity

Hacker demands $10M ransom for data

The FBI and state authorities are investigating a case in which a hacker wants $10 million for the return of sensitive information, according to media reports.

Cybersecurity

Panel says it will approve millions more for swine flu

The chairman of the House Appropriations Committee said the group will approve spending more than $2 billion to deal with swine flu.

Modernization

HHS uses widgets and live blogging

A new report by the Health and Human Services Department highlights its uses of widgets and other tools to improve transparency and service.