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Welcome to the new HIMSS Health IT Policy Update! If you were previously subscribed to the Pulse on Public Policy or the Healthcare Reform Update, you will now receive the Health IT Policy Update instead. If you’re reading this online, we encourage you to subscribe!
Congressional Affairs
Congress Passes Temporary Extension of Medicare Reimbursement Freeze
On Tuesday, on a vote 78-19, the Senate passed HR 4691, the Temporary Extension Act of 2010, preventing a 21 percent cut in Medicare physician reimbursement. Read More >>
Senate Considers Bill That Includes ARRA Clarification for Hospital-Based Providers
This week the Senate is considering HR 4213, the Tax Extenders Act, which would extend these programs through the end of 2010. This legislation would also clarify the definition of “hospital based eligible professionals” as included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). Read More >>
Democrats Map Out Options for Passing Healthcare Reform
On Wednesday, President Obama urged Congress to complete its work on healthcare reform, while indicating support for applying reconciliation to pass a bill. The White House would like to enact legislation by March 18, 2010, prior to the Easter Congressional Recess. Read More >>
Rep. Levin to Replace Rangel as Chair of Ways and Means
On Thursday, after Rep. Charles Rangel (D- NY) resigned his Chairmanship of the House Ways & Means Committee due a an ethics committee finding that he violated House gift rules, Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI) took the role of Chairman. Read More >>
Federal Affairs
ONC Announces the HHS Certification Process
At HIMSS10 this week, Dr. David Blumenthal, National Coordinator for Health IT, announced the release of the Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) for the HHS Certification Process. As outlined in ARRA, the NPRM establishes steps for: a) organizations to be authorized by ONC as certifying bodies, and b) EHR technology companies to get their products certified against Meaningful Use criteria. Read More >>
Blumenthal Addresses HIMSS10 Attendees
The top themes of Dr. Blumenthal’s Wednesday Keynote Address to attendees of the 2010 HIMSS Annual Conference and Exhibition included Professionalism, Innovation, Future of Health IT, and Regulation. Read More >>
Public Policy Opportunities
Looking for a way to get involved in the HIMSS Policy Summit during National Health IT Week? Volunteer for the Leadership Awards or Asks Taskforce!
The HIMSS Policy Summit will take place on June 16 and 17, 2010, as part of National Health IT Week (June 14-18, 2010). Each year, HIMSS Policy Summit activities are made possible through the support of HIMSS volunteers. Member involvement is crucial in shaping the message that we carry to Capitol Hill and selecting award recipients for the Annual HIMSS Leadership Awards. Read More >>
Health IT Policy Update is a weekly online newsletter published by the Healthcare
Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS).
Copyright© 2010 by the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission. Contact HIMSS Publications at 230 E. Ohio St., Suite 500, Chicago, IL 60611; 312-915-9238; nvitucci@himss.org
HIMSS Office of Government Relations
David W. Roberts, MPA, FHIMSS
Vice President, Government Relations
droberts@himss.org, 703-562-8811
http://www.himss.org/advocacy
For information on Health IT Policy Update
Elinore Boeke
Sr. Manager, Public Policy Communications, HIMSS
eboeke@himss.org, 703-562-8817
The inclusion of an organization name, product or service in this publication should not be construed as a HIMSS endorsement of such organization, product or service, nor is the failure to include an organization name, product or service to be construed as disapproval.
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Public Policy Event Calendar
National Health IT Week Scheduled for June 14-18, 2010
As part of NHIT Week, the HIMSS 9th Annual Policy Summit will be held June 16-17, 2010, in Washington, DC. Registration will open shortly.
HIT Standards Committee’s Implementation Workgroup
On March 8th, the Implementation Workgroup of the Health IT Standards Committee will hold a public hearing on “Implementation Starter Kit: Lessons and Resources to Accelerate Adoption” to help providers achieve meaningful use by, in part, surfacing examples of effective meaningful use implementation preparation. March 8, 2010 at the Mayflower Renaissance Hotel, Washington DC, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm. Learn more >>
Networking
LinkedIn Discussions
Participating in these discussions is easy. Simply become a member of our HIMSS Linkedin Group, which is free and open for anyone to join.
Connect with HIMSS
Expand your network by connecting to HIMSS on these social media sites:
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