Modernization

Stimulus spenders race to the finish line

States and feds rush to meet a reporting deadline — and there is no shortage of obstacles to providing data to the public.

Modernization

Microsoft, BNY Mellon to help states track stimulus spending

Agencies can use hosted or on-site software to track and manage projects via graphical dashboards, maps and analytics.

Digital Government

Electronic health records open patient privacy questions

An HHS advisory committee that will set rules for privacy of patients' health records considers consent rules.

Modernization

Do contractor ID numbers taint transparency?

Advocacy groups are reviving long-standing questions about the suitability of corporate ownership of a critical government database.

Digital Government

Health IT panel approves intermediaries for data

Health and Human Services Department's Health IT Standards Committee has adopted a framework for the flow of patient data to be collected and aggregated to measure the quality of care.

People

National health network needs incentives too

The United States runs the risk of ending up with 50 separate health IT networks — and all the headaches they entail.

Modernization

Version 2.0 of spending site to debut in October

The new iteration of the Recovery.gov spending site with expanded mapping and other features will go live by Oct. 10, a top official said today.

Digital Government

Commission to start preliminary certifications for EHRs

A group that certifies electronic health records will give health care providers a head start on getting incentive payments under the economic stimulus law.

People

States will get federal help for electronic health records programs

State Medicaid directors will be reimbursed for 90 percent of their administrative costs for overseeing incentive payments for some health IT programs, CMS says.

Digital Government

Applications for broadband grants under the stimulus law far outstrip available funds

The Commerce and Agriculture departments received 2,200 applications for broadband projects.

People

State and local health IT spending to hit $9.6 billion by 2014

State and local governments are projected to spend 4.6 percent more per year on health IT through 2014, according to Input Inc., a market research firm.

People

How state CIOs can help with health IT

State CIOs can play a critical role in deployment of health IT, according to a new report.

People

Stimulus funding recipients register for transparency site

Recipients of stimulus funding have begun registering with a new federal Web site where they will submit reports on their spending.

People

HHS to industry: Help assess health IT networks

HHS has asked industry to help conduct a nationwide analysis of health information exchange infrastructures.

Digital Government

Panel backs phased-in standards for electronic records

A federal advisory group today endorsed the idea that standards for electronic health records should grow more detailed over time.

Modernization

State plans to seek help for data center consolidation

The State Department plans to award a task order for help with its data center consolidation program.

Digital Government

Personal health records rule cracks down on vendors

The FTC published a final rule that will require vendors of personal health records to notify consumers if their security has been breached.

Digital Government

HHS could create health IT incentives for specialists

HHS may need to develop special health information technology incentives for medical specialists under the economic stimulus law, an advisory group says.

People

HHS walks a tightrope on health information exchange, advisory group says

HHS is walking a tightrope in trying to craft the right balance for health information exchanges, according to a federal advisory group's report.

Modernization

Government wants contractors to register soon at stimulus-tracking site

The board tracking the economic stimulus law spending is urging contractors, state and local agencies and non-profits to register early on its new FederalReporting.gov Web site.