July 23, 2010 - Report from Capitol Hill
Hearing on Meaningful Use Examines Early Implementation Steps. Although the MU Final Rule is scarcely one week old, the sparring has already begun as demonstrated at a hearing of the House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee this week. Subcommittee Chair Pete Stark (CA-D-13) set a positive tone for the hearing by noting that,” Widespread... read more
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July 16, 2010 - Report from Capitol Hill
Final Rules Offer Greater Flexibility for Incentive Program. With great fanfare earlier this week, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius flanked by new CMS Administrator Donald Berwick, National Coordinator for Health IT Dr. David Blumenthal, and Surgeon General Dr. Regina Benjamin, unveiled final rules for the Medicare and Medicaid meaningful use incentive program... read more
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July 9, 2010 - Report from Capitol Hill
Meaningful Use Rule Expected Next Week. From various conversations, Washington rumors and some hard evidence, there is an expectation that the Final Rule will be issued some time next week. The hard evidence, submittal of the rule to the Office of Management and Budget for review and approval, is the... read more
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July 2, 2010 - Report from Capitol Hill
NHIN vs. NHIN Direct A Focus at Standards Committee Meeting. National Coordinator Dr. David Blumenthal in opening remarks to the Committee on June 30, (scroll down to June 30) noted he took seriously concerns about lack of compatibility between the NHIN Direct and NHIN Exchange programs. He encouraged the Committee and others in the field to identify the barriers and resolutions to incompatibility, and work together... read more
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June 25, 2010 - Report from Capitol Hill
Temporary Program and Meaningful Use Criteria. The Final ONC Rule establishing the temporary certification program published in the Federal Register yesterday included expected as well as some unexpected guidance on certifying products. Certification expiration will not necessarily be tied to Stage I Meaningful Use criteria as ONC is expected to release new certification criteria in 2013-2014. As a result, providers can... read more
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June 18, 2010 - Report from Capitol Hill
Final Rule for Temporary Certification Program Released by ONC. The long-awaited final rule released today will officially be published in the Federal Register on June 24. As laid out in the 206-page rule, the temporary certification program establishes processes that organizations will need to follow in order to be authorized by the National Coordinator to test and certify EHR technology... read more
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June 4, 2010 - Report from Capitol Hill
Extenders Bill Pending Final Action Affects Payment Fix. Congress departed Washington last week for the Memorial Day recess without final action on the tax “extenders” bill (5/28 Advocacy Corner) that included expiring unemployment benefits, extension of COBRA and delay until 2012 of a 21 percent cut in Medicare physician payments. The House passed legislation (HR 4213) on... read more
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May 28, 2010 - Report from Capitol Hill
Extenders Bill Includes MD Payment Fix. Earlier this week, House Democrats released a new version of the “American Jobs Creation and Closing Tax Loopholes Act of 2010” (tax extenders bill/HR 4213) that includes a provision to block a scheduled May 31 cut in physician Medicare payments. Also included are unemployment... read more
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May 21, 2010 - Report from Capitol Hill
Stronger Privacy Safeguards and MU Timing Among HIT Policy Committee Themes. . Meeting earlier this week, the HIT Policy Committee heard recommendations from five of its workgroups. Issues raised include concerns around the “intermediary“ in information exchange and questions on the adequacy of HIPAA in safeguarding privacy for Meaningful use. No mention was made, however, of the fact that HITECH specifically stated that HIPAA... read more
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May 7, 2010 - Report from Capitol Hill
Privacy Rule Due in May. Among the privacy requirements of the HITECH Act, are new rules to strengthen how organizations handle patients' health information. Scheduled for release this month, new rules will expand the number of organizations (business associates) that may have access to personal data; spell out new limitations on the sale of protected... read more
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April 30, 2010 - Report form Capitol Hill
Capacity Important for Certification Program, Among CHIME Comments to ONC. In a letter filed today in response to the Notice of Proposed Rule-Making (NPRM) on the Permanent Certification Program, CHIME urged that sufficient capacity should be available to handle the high industry demand expected. Said the letter, “All certification efforts, whether in the provisional program or the permanent program, need to focus on developing a program... read more
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April 23, 2010 - Report from Capitol Hill
EHR Oversight Recommended by Policy Committee. Tracking safety errors associated with electronic health records (EHRs) was among recommendations of the Health IT Policy Committee meeting earlier this week. This information, to be tracked through creation of a national database, would be required for Stage Two of meaningful use. To analyze resulting reports... read more
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April 16, 2010 - Report from Capitol Hill
Final Approval of Fix for EPs. Last evening, President Obama signed legislation (HR 4851) that temporarily extends unemployment benefits, delays a scheduled Medicare payment cut until May 31 and ensures that physicians who practice in hospital-owned outpatient facilities can qualify for health information technology incentives under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Support for the... read more
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April 9, 2010 - Report from Capitol Hill
Potential Delays in Certification Among CHIME Concerns. In comments filed yesterday in response to the ONC Proposed Rule for Temporary Certification Programs for Health Information Technology, CHIME indicated that the introduction of a two-stage approach—separate temporary and permanent programs--could prolong the current instability in the health IT marketplace. Certifying... read more
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April 2, 2010 - Report from Capitol Hill
Meaningful Use Rule Continues as Legislative Focus. While CMS reviews the over 2,000 comments on the Proposed Rule for Medicare and Medicaid Programs/ Electronic Health Record Incentive Program, efforts in Congress continue on legislative action to alter rules on the definition and requirements for providers to qualify for incentive payments. Yesterday in a letter... read more
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March 26, 2010 - Report from Capitol Hill
Health Reform Law Includes Health IT Provisions.. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act approved by the House on Sunday night by a vote of 219 to 212 was indeed historic, both in health insurance coverage of most Americans as well as for its inclusion of certain heath IT related measures. Earlier attempts at healthcare overhaul would certainly not have included health IT as a reform tool... read more
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March 19, 2010 - Report from Capitol Hill
Down to the Wire on Reform. In the ups and downs of health reform, there were several times in the past year when the Congress appeared ready to finish the process. Sunday, March 21, could be that historic day that has eluded lawmakers in 70 plus years to enact nationwide health insurance coverage... read more
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March 12, 2010 - Report from Capitol Hill
EP Eligibility for HITECH Incentives Approved by Senate. In legislation passed earlier this week, physicians who practice in hospital-owned outpatient centers and clinics would qualify for information technology incentive payments. As interpreted by the CMS Proposed Rule published in January, a hospital-based physician, referred to as an ‘eligible professional,’ such as a read more
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March 5, 2010 - Report from Capitol Hill
Administration Strategies for Health Reform. With the bipartisan summit behind him, President Obama continues to pursue options to build support for passage of health reform. He recently reached out to Republicans by offering to consider GOP reform proposals for inclusion in overhaul legislation. Proposals include the addition of $50 million... read more
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February 26, 2010 - Report from Capitol Hill
Healthcare Summit Aims to Refocus Debate. Congressional leaders of both parties gathered Thursday at the White House’s Blair House to air their perspectives on how to address coverage gaps as well as the cost of care. While President Obama urged Republicans to submit their bill and work on... read more
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February 19, 2010 - Report from Capitol Hill
Relaxation of MU Requirements Urged by HIT Policy Committee. Acting on recommendations from its Meaningful Use Workgroup, the HIT Policy Committee on Wednesday gave preliminary approval to recommendations on relaxing standards that health care providers must meet to demonstrate meaningful use of electronic health records. The CMS Proposed... read more
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February 12, 2010 - Report from Capitol Hill
Possible Legislative Fix for ‘Eligible Professional’ Prohibition. An amendment to the jobs bill being considered by the Senate would have allowed certain hospital-based physicians serving Medicare and Medicaid patients to qualify for EHR payment incentives. Majority Leader Reid (D-NV) this week, however, pulled the jobs proposal with the intent of creating two bills. Job-related incentives... read more
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February 5, 2010 - Report from Capitol Hill
Health IT and the Federal Budget. President Obama’s Fiscal 2011 budget includes increased funding for the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) in the Administration’s continued commitment to health IT. Under the proposal, ONC would go from annual funding of $61 million... read more
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