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.

Congress has been on Presidents day district work period February 16-20, 2015.  Next week, HHS Secretary Burwell will testify on the federal fiscal year 2016 HHS Budget Request.  We will have full coverage in next week’s Policy Update.

Institute for e-Health Policy to conduct education event on Capitol Hill
Learn about health information technology and why it is so important to transforming healthcare in America on February 25, 2015. 

President Obama Signs Executive Order on Cybersecurity
This new Executive Order is a framework to promote even more information sharing about cyber threats, both within the private sector and between government and the private sector.

Utilization of Health Information Technology in Post-Acute Care Settings Survey
Your input is needed. This survey helps identify the benefits and challenges providers encounter when participating in CMS programs that promote health care interoperability.

AHRQ is Sponsoring a Webinar on Projects to Inform Stage 3 Meaningful Use Requirements Through Evidence
The expert panel will discuss projects assessing the feasibility of selected proposed objectives related to care coordination, interoperability, and patient and family engagement

Nominations Open for Health IT Federal Advisory Committees
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is accepting nominations for openings on the Health IT Policy Committee (HITPC) in the following four categories of representation or expertise: patient or consumer advocate, health care provider, representative of a health plan or third party payer, and expertise in health care quality measurement and reporting.

Utah HIMSS Talks Medicaid Expansion During Advocacy Day
On February 10th, Utah HIMSS members gathered in Salt Lake City at the State Capitol to discussed the topic “Utah and the Medicaid Expansion Question” during Utah’s 4th Annual Healthcare IT Advocacy Day.

2015 Security Breach Legislation
The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) recently reported that at least 21 states have introduced or are considering security breach notification legislation in 2015.

HIXs Across the States
The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) outlines the background of the issue, covers actions from 2010 to January 2015, and provides for next steps in State Actions to Address Health Insurance Exchanges.

Analytical Challenges for Hospitals in Advanced Payment Systems
Provider organizations that participate in advanced payment systems face a number of new challenges in attempting to extract actionable information from the data involved in these systems.

How Data and Communication Technology Can Enhance Provider Care Delivery
With an emerging trend dubbed “The Silver Tsunami,” it is estimated that one-fifth of the U.S. population will be 65 or older by 2030.

ICD-10 LCDs
There are many ways that you can and should prepare for the ICD-10 transition. One key area that should not be overlooked is the review of Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs) to identify potential areas of concern that may impact your organization.

Interview with Jane Turlo and Toni Brosio-Ward
As a preview to their education session at HIMSS15, Jane Turlo, CEO of Seattle Radiologists, along with Toni Brosio-Ward, Director of Revenue Cycle at Seattle Radiologists, discuss the benefits and challenges of their practice’s initiative to proactively educate patients about their financial responsibilities.

I’m not just the CEO of a Patient Revenue Cycle Company – I’m also a Patient
When my daughter was born 21 years ago, our out-of-pocket cost was $50. Today, a family might spend $5,000 or more.

Patient Satisfaction with Financial Experience No Laughing Matter
I recently attended the Healthcare Payment Innovations Conference in Phoenix, AZ, where health plans, banks, providers and revenue cycle vendors joined to share their thoughts on how the move to consumer-driven healthcare is changing the way we do business – from the way consumers purchase healthcare insurance to the way both patients and payers are paying for care.

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© 2015 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.