March 22, 2007

Special Edition – HIMSS AC 2007

 

In This Issue:

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• In Their Own Words |
• By the Numbers |
• Congressional News |
• 
  In the News |
• State News |
• Questions and Answers |
• Calendar of Events|

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>> Congressional News

First Congressional Staff and State Elected Officials Forum a Huge Success
HIMSS sponsored its first Congressional Staff and State Elected Officials Forum during the Annual Conference and Exhibition in New Orleans.  Moderated by Advocacy and Public Policy Steering Committee Chair Ned McCulloch, panelists included Rick Blake, senior policy advisor for Rep. Edolphus Towns (D-NY); Jenifer Healy, health legislative assistant for Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-GA); Maryland Delegate Shane Pendergrass; State Senator Richard Moore; and State Senator Bob Hagedorn. Read more

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HIT Reserve Fund Amendment Passes Senate Budget Committee
A HIT Reserve Fund amendment sponsored by Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Russ Feingold (D-WI) passed last week as an amendment to the FY 2008 Budget Resolution markup in the Senate Budget Committee.  A number of HIMSS volunteers helped work on this action.  This amendment would authorize the establishment of an HIT Reserve Fund that would provide incentives or other support for the adoption of modern information technology to improve quality and protect privacy in health care, or provide for payments that are based on adherence to accepted clinical protocols identified as best practices.  Having this amendment in the Budget Resolution helps when Senators are trying to authorize and appropriate funding for HIT within the federal government.

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House Committee Approves Rural Trauma Center Measure
Trauma centers in rural areas would receive boosts in funding and guidance under legislation approved Thursday by the House Energy and Commerce Committee. The legislation passed easily on voice vote.  It authorizes $46 million between FY 2008 to FY 2012 for state grants to rural trauma centers, which treat thousands of patients during times of national crisis.  Improvements would be made so centers could accommodate an influx of patients during emergencies, such as occurred in the Gulf Coast region after Hurricanes Rita and Katrina.  The bill, sponsored by Reps. Michael Burgess (R-TX) and Gene Green (D-TX), aims to provide rural medical centers with the same kind of disaster preparedness as those in urban areas.  It now goes to the House floor, where it is expected to pass.

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Learn More about HIT Legislation on HIMSS LAC
We are just three months into the 110th Congress and already HIMSS Advocacy is currently tracking 23 pieces (10 Senate bills and 13 House bills) of federal legislation.  This information is updated daily on HIMSS Legislative Action Center.  HIMSS Advocacy Legislation/Regulation Review Task Force, chaired by Maggie Lohnes, and staff are analyzing this legislation to assess impacts on HIMSS members and the HIT industry. 

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Senator David Vitter (R-LA) and HIMSS President and CEO Steve Lieber
touring the Interoperability Showcase during HIMSS AC.

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>> In the News

Tough Questions Posed at ONC Town Hall
Some 100 HIMSS AC attendees attended the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology ’s (ONC) Town Hall Meeting.  Interim National Coordinator Robert Golodner fielded tough questions from the audience including one about the resignation of the co-chair of the AHIC privacy panel.  Golodner assured the audience he was working diligently to replace Paul Feldman.  “Privacy and security is not an afterthought,” he explained.  “Privacy is essential.  If we have a violation of trust, it will set us back by years.”  Other questions addressed the cost of Stark, the 2014 deadline for EHRs, health disparities, and certification. 

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HIMSS Government Relations Host Dinner at World War II Museum
HIT advocates, congressional staff, state elected officials, military and federal government officials gathered at the World War II Museum for dinner following HIMSS AC Opening Reception.  Dedicated in 2000 as The National D-Day Museum, it is now designated by Congress as the country’s official World War II Museum. Read more

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HIMSS Advocates Tour Touro Infirmary
HIMSS advocates toured Touro Infirmary, New Orleans' only community based, not-for-profit faith-based hospital. For more than 150 years, Touro has been in the vanguard of medical excellence. As one of New Orleans' most enduring monuments, Touro Infirmary utilizes some of the latest technology. Read more

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HHS Secretary Leavitt addressed hundreds on the final day of HIMSS AC.

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More than 300 HIT Advocates Attend Advocacy Breakfast
More than 300 advocates from all across the country attended HIMSS 6th Annual Advocacy and Public Policy Breakfast during HIMSS AC.  The festive patriotic ambiance resonated throughout the morning with the presentation of colors by AFROTC Detachment 320…and the powerful voice of Gail Rice, who sang the National Anthem.  Read more

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Federal Policy vs. the CIO
HIMSS Vice President of Government Relations Dave Roberts explained the importance of federal policy to the CIO during one of the AC education sessions.  Roberts explained the role of the CIO should be to influence policy and demonstrated how it can be done at all levels of government – federal, state, and local.  Currently, all the variables are right – time, place, and message.

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Comment Period Forthcoming on Privacy Requirements
On Monday, John Loonsk announced the Healthcare IT Standards Panel’s security and privacy work group has assembled a list of possible privacy requirements for three "use cases" chosen by the Department of Health and Human Services and approved by the American Health Information Community.  The panel's next step is to complete the tasks of the use cases and plan a "requirements, standards selection and design document" by April 12. A public comment period on the selections then will take place from April 13 to May 3.  The draft of privacy requirements will be posted on the American National Standards Institute's member Web site and will be made public once it is agreed upon and approved.

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>> State News

NCSL Project HITCh Meeting Held at HIMSS AC
The National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL) held its Project Health Information Technology Champions (HITCh) meeting during HIMSS AC.  State legislators from across the country, members of the Louisiana Health Care Commission, NCSL and HIMSS officials participated in a dialogue on numerous state HIT issues.   Read more

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Tennessee Governor Addresses HIMSS AC
Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen spoke during the HIMSS National Conference in New Orleans last week, offering bold ideas and insights to the more than 20,000 attendees.   He emphasized that "our system is first class in terms of convenience, but very middle of the road in results; our health indicators are in many cases worse than those in economies that spend far less." He called for America to do at least two things: "alter the economics of health care and... forge a system that is much more centered on the individual".   Read more

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Oklahoma Task Force to Address Health Disparities
Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry signed an executive order, creating a Task Force to eliminate health disparities among multicultural, disadvantaged and regional populations.   The Task Force will focus on at six major areas of health including, cardiovascular disease, infant mortality.

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Connect with Your Members of Congress during April Recess
April 2nd marks the beginning of a two-week recess for the U.S. House of Representatives, and that means dozens of Members of Congress will be holding town hall meetings back in their home states.  As a courtesy to our members, HIMSS is tracking over 100 town hall meetings currently scheduled for the April recess in California, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Indiana, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Virginia and Wisconsin.  This is one of the most strategically important times in the legislative cycle for you to connect with your Members of Congress.  If you live in one of these states and would like to attend an upcoming town hall meeting, please contact Arnol Simmons, State Government Relations Coordinator, for details.

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In Their Own Words

“Maryland HIMSS members recently briefed the House Committee.  It was very helpful and the first time some 20 to 25 committee members had ever heard of HIT issues.   We’re not going to make a lot of progress without you and the consumer.  Most of the states don’t know where we’re going.” 

Source: Statement made by Maryland Delegate Shane Pendergrass during HIMSS AC’s Congressional Staff and State Elected Officials Forum.

Tools & Resources

CRS Report: Healthcare Spending and the Aging of the Population

Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports on HIMSS Member Center

Nursing Staffing and Quality of Patient Care

2007 State Legislature Meeting Dates

Questions and Answers

Q: What is the Byrd Rule?

A: The term, named for Senator Robert C. Byrd (D-WV), refers to an amendment to the Congressional Budget Act that bars the inclusion of extraneous matter in any reconciliation legislation considered in the Senate. This provision defines different categories of extraneous matter in any reconciliation legislation considered in the Senate. 

Calendar of Events

HIMSS/eHI Connecting Communities Regional Forum
May 3, 2007 -- Orlando, Florida
May 10, 2007 – Boston, MA
*Early Bird registration through April 10

National Health IT Week
Washington, DC
May 14-18

Register Now for HIMSS Advocacy Day 2007
Washington, DC
May 15, 2007

HIMSS AsiaPac
Singapore
May 15 - 18, 2007

 

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