November 2008

In This Issue:

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

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>> Congressional News

A View from Capitol Hill….A Special Report from HIMSS Congressional Affairs
Even though Congress is returning to Capitol Hill this week for a lame duck session, nothing seems to be limping along on the legislative agenda. The aftermath of the November 4, 2008 elections, in conjunction with the economic climate, has lawmakers very busy. On Monday, November 17, 2008, the Senate will reconvene, with the House expected to reconvene on Wednesday, November 19, 2008. While newly elected Members of Congress will be getting introduced to both chambers at this time, sitting Members will be actively engaged in oversight hearings concerning the financial bailout and deliberations concerning a loan package for the automotive industry.  Read more

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Key Committee Chairs to Change in the 111th Congress
Key committee chairmanships, including Senate Appropriations and House Energy and Commerce, will change in the 111th Congress.  Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) announced on November 5th that he would seek the chairmanship of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV) stated he would step down as chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee.  Read more

HIMSS members are encouraged to meet with members of Congress and their staff throughout the year.  HIMSS Oregon Chapter Advocate James McCormack (left) met with Rep. David Wu’s (D-OR) Legislative Assistant Nils Tillstrom on November 13th. Joining McCormack were Kathy Westpheling, HIMSS manager of Public Policy, and Wayne Humphries (right), HIMSS manager of Public Policy Initiatives.  

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Republican Leadership Preparing for 111th Congress
Sen. John Cornyn of Texas is set to become the next chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), after Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN) dropped his bid to run the campaign committee, according to Roll Call.  Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-AZ) and Republican Conference Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) are all expected to keep their posts. The current NRSC chairman, Sen. John Ensign of Nevada, is running uncontested for the head of the Republican Policy Committee, which Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) is vacating to pursue a bid for Texas governor. And the vice chairmanship, which Cornyn currently holds, will almost certainly go to Sen. John Thune (R-SD), who is running uncontested for that spot.  The NRSC chief has the power to recruit GOP candidates and determine whom to bankroll with its campaign war chest.

Rep. Dingell's Letter to President-Elect Obama Outlines Six Key Healthcare Issues
The House Energy & Commerce Committee is one of the two key House committees with jurisdiction over healthcare issues. Committee Chairman John Dingell (D-MI) is also fighting to retain his leadership of this committee in the 111th Congress, with a challenge from the left by Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA).  A letter from Chairman Dingell to President-Elect Barack Obama discusses six activities that he believes must be priorities for healthcare reform in 2009. 

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>> In the News

HHS Issues Second Report on Personalized Health Care
HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt released the second report from his Initiative on Personalized Health Care, examining the potential for new findings in genetics and other molecular-level medicine to improve the quality and cost-effectiveness of health care.  The report, "Personalized Health Care: Pioneers, Partnerships, Progress," includes reports from 10 institutions where personalized health care techniques are beginning to be used.  It also includes seven commissioned papers examining the opportunities and challenges for personalized health care from the perspectives of different stakeholders in the health care sector.

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AHIC Makes Recommendations to HHS
At the American Health Information Community's final meeting on November 12th, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Mike Leavitt and National Coordinator for Health IT Robert Kolodner lauded the group's work, Healthcare IT News reports.  AHIC recommended that HHS: 1. Lead efforts to build regulatory compliance into electronic health records, as well as data necessary for quality measurement, pay-for-performance and other administrative programs. 2. Reduce redundancy in information-gathering by developing EHR templates that would help users provide the information necessary for different purposes. 3. Develop and make available a standard methodology for measuring the direct and indirect costs of adopting EHRs. 4. Create a national repository of EHR templates already developed and used for clinical purposes. 5. Develop and make public a standard methodology for assessing the direct and indirect costs of EHR adoption in hospital settings.  Read more

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HIT Execution without Planning Is Futile
Focused on effective planning practices for IT, George T. Hickman, FHIMSS, CPHIMS, and Detlev H. (Herb) Smaltz, PhD, FHIMSS, FACHE, share their experience and expertise in The Healthcare Information Technology Planning Fieldbook, recently published by HIMSS.  The Healthcare Information Technology Planning Fieldbook presents information in two sections.  Section I – Building Your IT Plan offers a step-by-step applied theory of planning followed by Section II – Case Studies from the Field. Throughout the 145 pages, readers will find 24 tables and figures, plus five other templates that can be accessed online and adapted for use by CIOs and other health IT professionals.  Read more

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Medicare Selects Four Companies for Medicare PHR Choice Pilot
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the selection of four personal health record (PHR) companies to participate in the new Medicare PHR Choice Pilot in Arizona and Utah.  In early 2009, this pilot program will offer beneficiaries with Original Medicare the opportunity to choose one of the selected PHR companies to maintain their health record information electronically.  The four selected companies are Google Health, HealthTrio, NoMoreClipboard.com, and PassportMD. 

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Electronic Medical Records: Slow but Steady Growth in Ambulatory Care
Market growth of electronic medical record implementations in ambulatory healthcare settings, such as private medical practices or specialty clinics, continues at a slow but steady pace, according to results from the Ambulatory Healthcare IT Survey, conducted by HIMSS and HIMSS Analytics. The 2008 survey collected information about key technology use in the ambulatory market, such as EMRs and e-prescribing. Read more

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Thousands of Jobs Available in Obama Administration
President-Elect Barack Obama is currently accepting applications for more than 7,000 jobs in his Administration.  The Obama-Biden Transition Team has created a web site with detailed information on the process.  The General Services Administration and the National Archives and Records Administration hope that this online Presidential Transition Resources web site will introduce you to the operation of the Federal government and the resources available to help you begin your service in the new Administration. HIMSS members are also encouraged to review the United States Government Policy and Supporting Positions (Plum Book), which lists the over 7,000 federal civil service leadership and support positions in the legislative and executive branches of the Federal Government that may be subject to noncompetitive appointment, nationwide.  Applicants are encouraged to apply online. 

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Privacy and Security -- The Opportunities and Hurdles
The Capitol Hill Steering Committee on Telehealth and Healthcare Informatics in Collaboration with The Healthcare Leadership Council (HLC) discussed “Protecting Electronic Healthcare Information:  Implementing Sounds Security and Privacy Practices” during a briefing today at the Reserve Officers Association in Washington, DC.

Dixie Baker, Ph.D., senior vice president and technical fellow, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) and chair of HIMSS Privacy and Security Task Force explained there’s not uniform agreement on privacy and security and the relationship between the two.  In healthcare it’s who has control of information.  All of us have a right to privacy in healthcare. In order for a provider to provide quality care, they must have complete access to information. Read more

>> State News

Post-Election Webinar Highlights Implications for HIT Policy Changes in 2009
Change is not only on the horizon but also certain in Washington.  More than 300 health IT professionals participated in HIMSS Post- Election Highlights and Implications for HIT Policy Changes in 2009 webinar in an effort to learn more about the imminent change that is forthcoming as a result of the election of President-Elect Barack Obama, the 111th Congress, and state elections.  Read more

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IHIE Launches Free Exchange for Physicians
The Indiana Health Information Exchange (IHIE) has launched a new Quality Health First program. This chronic disease and preventive health program has been designed to simplify how data is gathered, presented and delivered to physicians and quality managers.  It provides them with an actionable guide that is used to help improve their patients' health.  As one of the nation's only health information exchange organizations providing chronic disease and preventive health services, IHIE continues to lead the industry with valuable and realistic solutions to help improve health and lower healthcare costs. 700 physicians so far have joined.  There is no cost to physicians.

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More Than $1.3 Million in New Grants to Benefit Arizona Healthcare Consumers
United Healthcare is funding $1.3 million in new grants from qualified organizations for grants ranging from $50,000 to $500,000. The grants, which will be distributed over the next year, fall under several different categories, including: technology improvements for safety-net providers; medical education programs in traditionally underserved communities; population-based preventive health strategies; cash or in-kind contributions to help establish and support healthcare information technology initiatives designed to improve healthcare delivery.   Applications are due Dec. 15, and grants will be awarded in January 2009. Copies of the Request for Proposal, which includes complete instructions and information on qualifications, are available by contacting Deborah Chambers at 602-954-3381 or deborah_chambers@uhc.com.

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California Seeks Public Comment on Standard Security Controls for HIEs
The California Privacy and Security Advisory Board seek public comment on the draft Baseline Security Standards. The comment period for the draft Baseline Security Standards is thirty (30) days beginning Monday, October 27, 2008. The deadline for public comments is Tuesday, November 25, 2008. This baseline is intended to be the informing document that provides framework and standards guidance & input to each task group as it does its work. In the Board's view, the "baseline" column (the column labeled: Standard Security Controls Necessary to Implement HIE) which is mostly HIPAA where it has called out rules that apply, is intended to be the "floor" from which the security committee will work - in other words, CA's standards will be no lower that those indicated in the baseline column.   
Link to documents
Please send any comments directly to: PSAB@ohi.ca.gov

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In Their Own Words

“On health care reform, the American people are too often offered two extremes -- government-run health care with higher taxes or letting the insurance companies operate without rules. Barack Obama and Joe Biden believe both of these extremes are wrong, and that’s why they’ve proposed a plan that strengthens employer coverage, makes insurance companies accountable and ensures patient choice of doctor and care without government interference.” Read more

Source:  The Transition Office of President-Elect Barack Obama, The Obama-Biden Plan.

By the Numbers

The Impact of IT on Patient Care……In early September, the GAO published a report examining efforts of states and hospitals to reduce infections through various initiatives, including the use of information technology (IT). Respondents were equally likely to indicate that creating flags to identify specific medical conditions in previously hospitalized patients and using EMRs to identify patients who haven’t had required tests will be two areas which will have a positive impact on patient care.

Source:  HIMSS Vantage Point, November 2008.

Tools & Resources

Member Only Benefit: GRANTS OFFICE
A detailed list of current federal, state and local grants is available on HIMSS web site, under the Member Center.  Visit HIMSS Member Center, then click Search for Grants (left column).

Member Only Benefit: Congressional Research Service Reports
To access CRS Reports, visit HIMSS Member Center (Click HIMSS PULSE on the left column)
Audio Recordings Available Online for 6th Annual HIMSS Public Policy Forum
Health IT Priorities in the New Political Landscape was the focus of HIMSS 6th Annual Public Policy Forum at the National Press Club on October 28, 2008. Listen to full audio coverage of the panel discussions, release of HIMSS Security Survey, and keynote speakers. Read more
Feds Launch Quality-Measures Clearinghouse

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) released the National Quality Measures Clearinghouse, which is designed to advance collaboration and align quality measurement efforts throughout the industry. Healthcare professionals can use the inventory to aid them in quality policy and implementation initiatives, according to AHRQ. The site also features a comparison tool for different measures, summaries of how the measures were developed and expert commentary from the editorial board overseeing the clearinghouse.

The 2009 State Legislative Session Calendar by State Legislatures magazine is now available.  HIMSS members are encouraged to use this calendar to schedule their State Advocacy Days and meetings with state legislatures throughout the year.

Calendar of Events

HIMSS Virtual Conference Brings Healthcare Policy Issues to the Forefront
November 19-20, 2008
The fourth HIMSS Virtual Conference & Expo on Nov. 19-20 makes it easy for senior IT leaders, directors, analysts, project managers, clinicians and others to grow professionally, research technology solutions and connect with their peers online. Free to qualified registrants*, the HIMSS Virtual Conference & Expo educational program includes opening and closing keynote sessions, education sessions around IT leadership, clinical informatics, ambulatory information systems and healthcare reform.  Register and learn more about HIMSS Virtual Conference & Expo online. Contact HIMSS Distance Education Manager Mary Beth Micucci with questions.  * Registration is complimentary to qualified registrants.  Non-qualified individuals may attend for a nominal fee ($79 HIMSS Members/$99 non-members).

5th Nationwide Health Information Network (NHIN) Forum
December 15-16, 2008 in Washington, DC
This forum will be open to the public and will include participants in the NHIN Trial Implementations who worked through the NHIN Cooperative, including Health Information Exchanges and Federal agencies and other key stakeholders, as well as ONC program offices.  This forum will showcase the work of the NHIN Cooperative, including experiences and lessons learned from the Trial Implementations.  To Register for this Event: www.blsmeetings.net/nhinf

 

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