People

EHR standard released by public/private group

The primary standards body for health IT has released a specification for EHRs designed for the economic stimulus law.

Modernization

VA seeks contractors for paperless benefits system

The Veterans Affairs Department plans to award multiple contracts to develop its paperless benefits project.

People

Blumenthal defers judgment on FISMA use

The top federal official for health IT is reserving judgment on whether all entities engaged in sharing health information ought to comply with FISMA

Cybersecurity

Official: Panel wants privacy protection for electronic medical records

A federal advisory panel wants encryption and access controls to protect patients' medical records. official says.

Digital Government

Health record haste sparks privacy fears

A privacy advocate warns that proposals for EHRs postpone several major privacy protections.

Digital Government

Health IT panel recommends 31 IT measures

A workgroup of the Health IT Standards Committee has recommended 31 performance measures for electronic health records.

Digital Government

Health IT: More certification groups could speed stimulus-related spending

A federal advisory group has recommended that multiple organizations be able to test and certify vendor systems to meet the economic stimulus law's requirements for electronic health records.

Modernization

GAO: Better management needed for e-health project

The Defense and Veterans Affairs departments are making progress on electronic health records interoperability, but the project's management needs to be improved, the Government Accountability Office said.

People

Surgeon General's next tobacco report to get Web 2.0 push

CDC officials plan to use Web 2.0 tools such as Facebook and Twitter to publicize information from the soon-to-be-released Surgeon General’s report on tobacco.

Modernization

U.K. mulls handing off national health records to Microsoft, Google

A reported plan for turning over government health records to Microsoft and Google is the subject of debate in the U.K.

Digital Government

Groups want to push back health IT deadlines

Health groups are urging the government to extend the proposed deadlines for adopting health IT under the economic stimulus law.

Digital Government

Agency will study health IT workflow

A federal health agency will study how doctors change their workflows to adapt to health IT.

Digital Government

SSA seeks more access to NHIN

The agency is considering having providers use the Nationwide Health Information Network to submit medical records that help SSA determine applicants' eligibility for federal disability payments.

People

Health IT coordinator to harmonize record standards, network

The National Coordinator for Health IT plans to resolve differences between electronic patient records and the National Health Information Network data exchange system.

People

Some doctors to get health IT help

The National Coordinator for Health Information Technology said he is dealing with the special health IT needs of doctors in small practices.

Digital Government

What is 'meaningful use?'

The Health IT Policy Committee is revising a proposed framework for defining and setting benchmarks for meaningful use of health IT.

People

Health IT 'meaningful use' framework proposed

The federal Health IT Policy Committee today began considering a detailed framework for defining "meaningful use" of health IT through 2015.

People

Kennedy moves toward health reform

House and Senate Democratic leaders are putting health care reform legislation on a fast track, with information technology provisions on board the train.

Digital Government

Health IT panel to consider 'meaningful use' definition

The Health IT Policy Committee is expected to consider a definition for 'meaningful use' of records on June 16.

People

Firm says Chopra wants innovation in health IT

CTO Aneesh Chopra is seeking to improve innovation in government health IT by seeking new procurement channels to increase input from vendors, according to a research firm.