Welcome to HIMSS' Health IT Policy Update, bringing you the latest news on legislative and regulatory activities related to health IT from HIMSS' Government Relations office. We welcome your feedback, and if you're reading this complimentary newsletter online or receiving it as a forward, please subscribe.

Congressional Affairs

Institute Briefing Focuses on DoD and VA Health SystemsElectronic health records and health information sharing between the DoD and VA has been an issue of high concern to Congress and the agencies, the HIMSS Foundation’s Institute for e-Health Policy focused on this timely issue during the July 9th briefing, click the link to learn more about this successful event.

House 21st Century Cures Initiative Continues
Click the link above to learn about the outcome of this week’s House Energy and Commerce Committee Subcommittee on Health hearing titled “21st Century Cures: Modernizing Clinical Trials.”

Energy & Commerce Committee Releases Mid-Year Report on Accomplishments
On July 8, 2014, the House Committee on Energy & Commerce released a report addressing the Committee’s key initiatives and accomplishments for the first half of 2014, to read the report click the link above.

HIMSS Board Approves 2014-2015 Public Policy Principles
On June 27, 2014, the HIMSS Board of Directors approved the 2014-2015 HIMSS Public Policy Principles. Click the link above learn the details of the revised principles.

Federal Affairs

HIMSS Submits Comments on FDASIA Health IT Report
On Monday, July 7, HIMSS submitted comments on the FDASIA Health IT Report: Proposed Risk Based Regulatory Framework with general support for its findings and outcomes, click the link to learn more about HIMSS’ response.

HIMSS Submits Comments to CMS on its Hospital IPPS and EHR Incentive Program NPRM
On Monday, June 30, HIMSS submitted comments to CMS on its Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems for Acute Care Hospitals and Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program NPRM, click the link to learn the details of HIMSS’ response.

CMS Releases 2015 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule
Late on July 3, CMS released its 2015 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule NPRM. Included within are updated telehealth procedures, and it includes proposals and updates related to the ambulance fee schedule regulations, the Physician Compare Website, the Physician Quality Reporting System, the Medicare Shared Savings Program and the Value-Based Payment Modifier, for more information click the link above.

Health IT Policy Committee Sunsets Workgroups, Announces New Strategy
This week the Health IT Policy Committee held its monthly meeting receiving recommendations for the final time the Committee's existing workgroups before the transition to the new workgroup composition commences, learn more about the Committee’s work by clicking the link above.

New Competition Launches to Fight Heart Attacks and Strokes
This week ONC announced the EHR Innovations for Improving Hypertension Challenge, a new initiative to reward measures that healthcare professionals have used to help patients control their blood pressure, to learn more about the competition click the link above.

New OCR Chief to Step in this Month
According to sources at the HHS Office for Civil Rights, the new agency head is scheduled to step into her new role sometime over the next week, click the link above to learn more about Jocelyn Samuels.

State Affairs

Hawaii Passes HIT Legislation in 2014
The Hawaii State Legislature continued to hone in on health IT during the 2014 legislative session, click the link to learn more about two pieces of legislation relating to health IT.

HIMSS Chapter Advocacy 4th Quarter Report
Every three months, the HIMSS State Government Affairs team releases a report summarizing the activities and achievements of the HIMSS Chapter Advocacy Roundtable including advocacy events, awards, staffing updates, and much more. Click the link to review the roundtable’s accomplishments and to see what initiatives they have in store for the rest of this year.

HIMSS News

HIMSS Accepting Nominations for NA Board of Directors and Nominating Committee
Nominations are being accepted for positions on the HIMSS North America Board of Directors and Nominating Committee. To find out more, visit the HIMSS website. All nominations are due to Joan Flagg by Aug. 22.

HIMSS Analytics Releases 2012 Year-End U.S. Hospital IT Data in the Dorenfest Institute for Health Information
The Dorenfest Institute for Health Information, managed by the HIMSS Foundation, has made available its 2012 year-end HIMSS Analytics® Database. Read more>>

NEW! OPEN CALL: HIMSS15 Poster Presentation Submissions
HIMSS invites you to submit a proposal to present a poster session at HIMSS15 in Chicago, IL. The conference will be held April 12-16, 2015. The call for proposals will be open until Aug. 1. Learn more and apply>>

NEW! VOLUNTEER: HIMSS Medical Practice and Community Health Center Community
Learn about the unique health IT challenges and opportunities faced by medical practices and CHCs during quarterly webinars. The Community unites volunteer leaders, providers, REC staff, consultants, vendors, HIT decision makers and industry thought leaders on topics such as Meaningful Use, patient engagement and workflow. Community membership is open to all current HIMSS members. Contact Valerie Griffen to register.

NEW! VOLUNTEER: HIMSS Rural Health IT Community
Join industry experts for an in-depth look at the expanding role of health IT for rural health clinics, critical access hospitals, networks and medical practices during this quarterly webinar series. Areas of focus will include HIE, meeting incentive program objectives, quality initiatives and healthcare reform. Community membership is open to all current HIMSS members. Contact Valerie Griffen to register.