View this email as a web page

Please add himss@himss.org to your Safe Sender list

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.

Impact of Immigration Executive Order on Funding the Government
With lawmakers adjourning Friday and the next week for the Thanksgiving holiday, that leaves few legislative days left before government funding runs out on December 11th.

CMS Creates New “Chief Data Officer” Position
Niall Brennan, formerly Acting Director of CMS’ Offices of Enterprise Management, will become the first Chief Data Officer and will run the newly created OEDA.

OIG Report Highlights Health IT Challenges
Report pointed to health IT issues like the EHR Incentive Program and interoperability as being among their top challenges.

Truman Medical Centers Selected as 2014 HIMSS Enterprise Davies Award Recipient
A multifaceted, not-for-profit health system, Truman Medical Centers (TMC) consists of two academic acute care facilities with 600 total beds, more than 50 outpatient clinics, a behavioral health program, the Jackson County health department and a long-term care facility.

IHE North American Connectathon 2015 Focuses on Innovation and Interoperability
Focused on the secure and seamless exchange of patient health data across information technology systems , more than 100 health IT organizations will gather in Cleveland, Ohio on Jan. 26-30, 2015 at the Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise (IHE) North American (NA) Connectathon 2015 to test the interoperability of their systems.

CMS Provides Summary of Care Meaningful Use Requirements in Stage 2
The Summary of Care menu objective in Meaningful Use Stage 1 is now a core objective in Stage 2.  CMS has provided guidance on meeting this core objective in Stage 2 as part of an updated FAQ.

Are Providers Forced to Think Like a Health Plan?
Healthcare reform is forcing a dramatic shift in focus from volume-of-services to value-of-services delivered.

Effectiveness of Emerging Private Sector Price Transparency Models in 2015 – Part 1 of 2
Price transparency is taking shape as it migrates from birth in 2011 to early market creation stage in 2015.

RENEW YOUR HIMSS MEMBERSHIP

Login to the Member Center today to renew online or email membersupport@himss.org if you need an invoice sent via email. Renew at the Regular Membership level ($160) for the opportunity to invite a colleague to join HIMSS complimentary for one year (colleague must be new to HIMSS). For more details click here.

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

Advertising inquiries:
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.