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.

National Health IT Week & Policy Summit Wrap-Up
This year’s NHIT Week brought together 489 partner organizations, featured more than 30 local partner events, and was recognized by the U.S. Senate through a bipartisan resolution.

Senators Cassidy, Whitehouse Introduce “TRUST IT” Act
This bipartisan legislation seeks to strengthen and improve health information technology (IT) systems by requiring greater transparency and accountability.

CMS and ONC Release Two Final Health IT-Related Regulations and Final Interoperability Roadmap
The new CMS rule changes the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs reporting period in 2015 to a 90-day period aligned with the calendar year.

HIMSS Hosts Webinar Series on Meaningful Use, Certification and Interoperability
Join HIMSS Subject Matter Experts as they provide details to ensure that health IT professionals across the industry understand the intent and impact of the Medicare & Medicaid EHR Incentive Program Final Rules, 2015 Edition Health IT Certification Criteria Rule, and the Shared Nationwide Interoperability Roadmap.

OCR Launches New Site to help with HIPAA Privacy and Security Questions
This tool will help mHealth developers who are not familiar with the HIPAA Rules to educate themselves on how the rule would apply to their products.

Various Telehealth Definitions, Policies are Confusing for Providers
The differences among these definitions are creating confusing environments, according to the Center for Connected Health Policy (CCHP). 

CareFirst BSBC Offers $3M in Grants for Telemedicine Initiatives
This is the second time that CareFirst has funded telemedicine projects.

Louisiana Becomes First State to Launch Patient Engagement Statewide Campaign
The website will contain information about patient rights, medical records and educate users on how to use their records to improve their own health.

Georgia Expands Inter-state Information Exchange to Alabama
The Georgia Health Information Network (GaHIN) has expanded its reach across neighboring state borders to connect with South Carolina’s HIE and now Alabama's HIE, One Health Record. 

Harnessing Cybersecurity in Healthcare: What You Need to Know
Just as we cannot expect technology to run itself, we also cannot expect that cybersecurity defense is automatic. Skilled and knowledgeable personnel are needed to keep data safe and secure....

mHealth 2.0: inclusive healthcare
mHealth, when combined with mobile payment and innovative business models, offers tremendous opportunities to connect people to quality healthcare....

Pop Health: The Shift from Episodic to Continuous Care
In the future, with connected healthcare, the possibility of right care, in the right place, at the right time will be a reality....

HIMSS Shares Insights on Meaningful Use Stage 3/Certification Rules and Interoperability Roadmap
Take time to review the HIMSS summaries of and statements on the proposed rules....

2015 Vote for Bylaws and HIMSS Nominating Committee
Influence the direction of HIMSS! If you're a HIMSS member, cast your ballot on bylaws changes and incoming members of the nominating committee....

Connecting Care to the Final Rules: Learning Formats For Everyone
Designing educational events for health IT professionals presents both challenges and opportunities: challenges because not everyone learns the same way and opportunities because not everyone learns the same way....

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 for the opportunity to invite a colleague to join HIMSS complimentary for one year (colleague must be new to HIMSS).

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:
Samatha Burch
Senior Director, Congressional Affairs
HIMSS North America
sbburch@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.