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Membership  |  HIMSS Public Policy

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

Breaking News: DeSalvo Leaving ONC to Serve as Acting Assistant Secretary for Health; Reider Also Announces Resignation
On Thursday, October 23, 2014, HHS Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell asked Dr. Karen DeSalvo, National Coordinator for Health IT, to serve as Acting Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH), effective immediately.

HIMSS Comments on Announced ONC Leadership Changes
Comment from Carla Smith, MA, CNM, FHIMSS, Executive Vice President HIMSS North America.

Minimize Regulatory Disruption to Patient Care Gains Support
AMA joins other organizations in recommending additional flexibility in the Meaningful Use Program.

Many Familiar Names Will Not Be Returning to Congress
Several notable leaders will be not returning to Washington in 2015 due to retirement and unsuccessful election campaigns.

21st Century Cures Conversation Continues Around the Country
Public roundtables provide an opportunity for input and recommendations.

HIMSS Launches Several Educational Resources for National Cybersecurity Awareness Month
These resources were developed by HIMSS (with the help of our HIMSS members) and the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA), in honor of NCSAM.  The purpose is to raise the level of awareness and understanding with regard to health information security, which all healthcare ecosystem stakeholders need to do.

FDA Holds Public Workshop on Medical Device and Healthcare Cybersecurity
Participants identified barriers to promoting medical device cybersecurity, discussed innovative strategies to address challenges that may jeopardize critical infrastructure, and considered proactive development of analytical tools, processes, and best practices by the stakeholder community in order to strengthen medical device cybersecurity.

HIMSS Convenes Conference Call for ONC to talk to the Vendor Community on the Ebola Event
The call included discussion on how health IT developers could maximize their resources so that the broader healthcare community is poised to mitigate this event as well as future public health risks.

CMS Announces Applications for Quality Improvement Strategy Development
Applications now being accepted.

HIMSS Chapter Advocacy Roundtable FY15 1st 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 to date and to see what initiatives they have in store for the rest of this year.

HIMSS Mobile "Value" Survey Launch | Results Released at mHealth Summit
HIMSS mHealth just launched the mobile value survey yesterday, October 22, 2014. Survey closes November 14, 2014.

Federal Power Trio to Address mHealth Privacy & Security
Key officials from the ONC, the Office for Civil Rights at HHS, and the FDA will participate on a federal panel at Healthcare IT News’ mobile Privacy & Security Symposium, Dec. 7, in Washington, DC.

AHIMA Convention Addresses Timely Issues
The American Health Information Management Association’s (AHIMA) 86th annual Convention and Exhibit took place Sept. 27 – Oct. 2 in San Diego, CA.

Bridging the patient engagement gap: The importance of the financial journey on a patient’s care experience
The shift to value-based care and the rise of consumerism are two forces that have changed the way providers and patients interact.

RENEW YOUR HIMSS MEMBERSHIP

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Health IT Policy Update is a weekly online newsletter published by HIMSS.

Copyright© 2014 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 33 West Monroe Street, Suite 1700, Chicago, IL 60603–5616; nvitucci@himss.org

For information on Health IT Policy Update:
Rich Hodge
Senior Director, Congressional Affairs
HIMSS North America
rhodge@himss.org, 703-562-8847

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HIMSS Media Solutions

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.