December 2008

In This Issue:

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

>> Congressional News

HIMSS Releases Health IT Blueprint for Obama Administration and Congress
On December 17, HIMSS issued a report: Call for Action: Enabling Healthcare Reform Using Information Technology – Recommendations for the Obama Administration and the 111th Congress. The full report and letters to President-elect Barack Obama and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary-Designate Tom Daschle are available online.  The Society also delivered letters to Congressional Committee chairmen and ranking members with jurisdiction over healthcare. In addition, Capitol Hill and Transition Team meetings are being scheduled with key stakeholders to discuss HIMSS recommendations and HIMSS is also working collaboratively with AHIMA, AMIA, ATA, CHIME, eHI, and NAHIT on common efforts. Read more

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Economic Stimulus to Include Billions for Health IT
President-elect Barack Obama would like Congress to pass an economic stimulus package in time for him to sign the legislation on Jan. 20, according to a letter sent December 18th to the Senate Democratic Conference from Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-NV) office.  The transition team for President-elect Barack Obama is working to complete a two-year economic stimulus "blueprint" to allow Democratic congressional staff members to draft legislation by the new year.  The Washington Post reports Obama plans to propose a stimulus package of between $670 billion to $770 billion but expects additions by Congress to increase the cost to about $850 billion.  According to Democrats, funds for health care programs likely will account for about one-fifth of the Obama stimulus package. Read more

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A View from Capitol Hill….A Special Report from HIMSS Congressional Affairs
Congress is not in session but activities are well underway in what is expected to be a busy year for healthcare and health IT. Next year, healthcare is expected to take center stage with reauthorization of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), healthcare reform, Medicare reimbursement, and an economic stimulus package. Even with the change in leadership of two prominent Committees, we can continue to expect strong support for health IT. Read more
 

NewDems Announce New Leadership Slate
Poised to tackle the unique economic challenges of the times, the New Democrat Coalition, the largest coalition of moderate Democrats in the House, announced a new leadership team for the 111th Congress. Congresswoman Ellen Tauscher (CA-10) was elected to retain her position as Chair of the group for an additional term. Rounding out the leadership team are the NewDem Whip, Rep. Joe Crowley (NY-07); PAC Chair, Rep. Adam Smith (WA-09); and Vice-Chairs Ron Kind (WI-03), Melissa Bean (IL-08), and Allyson Schwartz (PA-13).

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Collaborative Recommends….No Community Left Behind
The National Health IT Collaborative for the Underserved presented its recommendations to President-elect Barack Obama, Secretary-Designate Thomas Daschle, and the Obama-Biden Transition Team on December 22nd.  The Collaborative propose health IT as an essential element of a reformed medical intervention system, as well as an indispensable requirement for a health promotion/disease prevention infrastructure that supports underserved consumers in taking charge of their health.  The Collaborative, a public/private/community partnership, was formed by the HIMSS Foundation’s Institute for E-health Policy, Summit Health Institute for Research and Education, Association of Clinicians for the Underserved, Apptis Corporation and HHS Office of Minority Health. Since its launch, eHealth Initiative has joined the collaboration.

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HIMSS Urges Congress to Include Health IT in Economic Stimulus Plan
On December 22nd, HIMSS sent letters to House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles Rangel and Ranking Member Dave Camp and House Committee on Finance Chairman Max Baucus and Ranking Member Charles Grassley requesting that as they address an economic stimulus package in the 111th Congress they take careful consideration of the needed IT infrastructure improvements for healthcare throughout the U.S.  HIMSS urges an investment of a minimum of $25 billion for health IT; expansion of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program Federal Medical Assistance Percentages by providing funding to support the adoption of EMRs, PHRs, and PBHRs; funding for grants and other incentives to establish Health IT Action Zones; apply Health Information Technology Standards Panel and Certification Commission for Health Information Technology among all Federally Funded Health Programs; and expansion of the Federal Communications Commission’s Rural Health Care Pilot Program to incorporate all providers in underserved communities that require access to telehealth networks.

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>> In the News

HIMSS Members Sponsoring Community Discussions Across the Country
From an opportunity created by the Obama-Biden Transition Team, HIMSS members are hosting more than 45 healthcare-focused community discussions in their homes and workplaces. Convening between December 15 and 31, these community discussions will help the transition team develop appropriate healthcare policy recommendations.  To date, HIMSS members are sponsoring discussions from Pennsylvania to California and Michigan to Florida.  HIMSS Arlington, Virginia office sponsored a discussion on December 19th and outlined detailed recommendations for the Obama Administration.  HIMSS Chicago office is hosting a group discussion on December 30th.   Community discussions on healthcare IT will ensure the transition team has input and ideas from your colleagues and industry experts in your region of the country. There is still time for you to host an event. Sign up today at: http://change.gov/page/s/hcdiscussion and contact Arnol Simmons on 703/562-8826 or asimmons@himss.org to receive additional information and assistance from HIMSS.

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HHS Secretary Leavitt Unveils Privacy Framework
Speaking at the fifth Nationwide Health Information Network Public Forum, held on December 15-16, 2008 in Washington, HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt released the “Nationwide Privacy and Security Framework for Electronic Exchange of Individually Identifiable Health Information.” Describing his efforts to engender a high level of trust among individual healthcare providers and other participants in the US healthcare system, Leavitt expressed the Framework in terms of a set of eight principles.  Read more

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HIMSS Board Elects Four New Members
In an election held from Oct. 15 through Nov. 15, four members were selected to the HIMSS Board of Directors. Willa Fields, RN, DNSc, FHIMSS; Reid Scott Holbrook, FHIMSS; Jenifer Jarriel, BS, MBA; and Miriam J. Paramore, FHIMSS, will serve three-year terms beginning in July 2009.  Read more

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HHS to Assess Electronic Health Networks
A research group within Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) plans to determine the value doctors derive from electronic records by distributing questionnaires and conducting focus groups in Colorado, according to Government Executive magazine. The two-year project is expected to cost nearly $34,000 if approved by the Office of Management and Budget, and is designed to gather clinicians' feedback on a soon-to-be-launched online portal that will allow Colorado healthcare providers to find and organize patients' medical histories from multiple sources. Read more

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EHRs May Reduce Cost of Malpractice
Use of electronic health records (EHRs) may help reduce paid malpractice settlements for physicians, according to a new study. The study, which appeared in the November 24 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, showed a trend toward lower paid malpractice claims for physicians who are active users of EHR technology.  This study was based at the Department of Ambulatory Care and Prevention of Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare.  Read more

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A View of the Feds….A Special Report from HIMSS Office of Federal Affairs
Expectations are high for the holiday season.  For this inaugural View from the Federal Branch, I will highlight some of the areas that HIMSS members have been watching for the past several months, as well as a little bit of speculation on the new administration.

First, activities around the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) and the Nationwide Health Information Network (NHIN) had a particularly busy month and close out to 2008.  Read more

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AHRQ to Seek Bids for Up to $50M in Contracts
Next month, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) will seek bids for up to $50 million in health IT project contracts.  AHRQ plans to award numerous contracts in four domain areas.  Read more

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>> State News

CALR Highlights – Third Quarter ‘08
HIMSS continues to ramp up activity at the state level through our chapters. Currently, we have 62 volunteer advocates from 46 different Chapters and 42 states covering 68 US House districts. In 2008, 77 percent of the members of the Chapter Advocate Liaison Roundtable (CALRs) participated in a regular monthly field briefing and 50 percent of the CALRs have completed at least one higher-level monthly advocacy activity. Read more

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NCSL Releases Report on Health IT
The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) released a report, Health Information Technology 2007 and 2008 State Legislation.  States have taken significant steps during the past two years to address policy issues associated with health IT. From January 2007 through August 2008, more than 370 bills with provisions relating to health IT were introduced in state legislatures, according to the report. The NCSL has also produced a Frequently Asked Questions document about Health IT for legislators.  Read more

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Statewide Center for Telehealth Established
The California HealthCare Foundation has established the California Center for Connected Health (CCCH), a strategy and planning body to lead and coordinate telehealth adoption throughout the state. The Sacramento-based organization will be led by Sandra Shewry, former director of the California Department of Health Care Services, who will become president and CEO, effective January 1, 2009.  The California HealthCare Foundation is providing $5.5 million in initial financing to support CCCH operations and the launch of a specialty access project.

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In Their Own Words

“Healthcare, healthcare, healthcare – it is the common denominator of all the economic and social issues facing our nation. I am a firm believer that the New Dems will champion the necessary reform of our healthcare system in the coming Congress, and I look forward to leading that effort. Families, businesses and government can no longer sustain out-of-control costs. A first step will be to pass a comprehensive children’s health plan to ensure working families can afford healthcare for their children. We must then work with the new Administration to provide all Americans with market-based quality, affordable healthcare.”

Source: Statement by Rep. Allyson Schwartz (D-PA)

By the Numbers

50%:  50% of respondents in a straw poll said the healthcare sector will invest heavily in IT over the next year. Almost 35% of respondents think that virtualization has the strongest growth potential, while 32% and 31% cited security and storage solutions, respectively.

Source:  CDW Corporation

Tools & Resources

Watch HIMSS Press Conference Via Web Cast
HIMSS released A Call for Action: Enabling Healthcare Reform Using Information Technology, a detailed report outlining specific priorities and recommendations for the 111th Congress and the Obama Administration, during a December 17th press conference on Capitol Hill. Learn more

HIMSS Call for Action: Enabling Healthcare Reform Using Information Technology outlines specific priorities and recommendations for the Obama Administration and 111th Congress to harness IT's power to reform healthcare and stimulate the U.S. economy.

• HIMSS Recommendations to Obama Administration and 111th Congress
• EMR Adoption Model for Hospitals and Expected Benefits for Each Stage
• EMR Soft Return on Investment
• EMR Hard Return on Investment
• Frequently Asked Questions about Health Information Technology
• HIT legislation in the 110th Congress

Key Issues in Analyzing Major Health Insurance Proposals
by the Congressional Budget Office

Budget Options, Volume 1: Health Care
by the Congressional Budget Office
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)

Calendar of Events

Conference Call for AHRQ Funding Announcements
January 13, 2009, 1:00-3:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Dial-in Number: 1-888-324-0236, Participant Passcode: 2362915
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) will host a Technical Assistance (TA) conference call to provide an overview of AHRQ’s new health IT funding opportunity announcements (FOAs) and information relevant to the health IT Special Emphasis Notice (SEN).  These announcements can be found at:

• Small Research Grant to Improve Health Care Quality through Health Information Technology (IT) (R03) (PAR-08-268)
• Exploratory and Developmental Grant to Improve Health Care Quality through Health Information Technology (IT) (R21) (PAR-08-269)
• Utilizing Health Information Technology (IT) to Improve Health Care Quality (R18) (PAR-08-270)
• Interest in Career Development (K01, K02, K08) and Dissertation (R36) Grants focused on Health Information Technology (IT) (NOT-HS-08-014)

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