What's Happening in Health IT

In This Issue

• Regional Extension Center (REC) Program Evaluation Report Released
• Now Available: Electronic Clinical Quality Measures eCQMs Updated for 2017
• Model Privacy Notice
• ONC Health IT Certification Program: Enhanced Oversight and Accountability Proposed Rule
• ONC 2016 Annual Meeting May 31 – June 2, 2016
• Federal Advisory Committee Schedule Apr. 11 – Apr. 15

Regional Extension Center (REC) Program Evaluation Report Released

Today ONC released a comprehensive evaluation of the Regional Extension Center (REC) program. We’re excited to announce that our efforts have already made a major impact. Survey data included in the report indicates that 68 percent of the eligible professionals who received incentive payments under Stage 1 of the incentive program were assisted by an REC, compared to just 12 percent of those that did not work with a REC. The survey also found that many providers working with RECs received frequent and tailored help – often face to face, for as long as it was needed. Learn more on our Health IT Buzz Blog.

Now Available: Electronic Clinical Quality Measures eCQMs Updated for 2017

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has posted the 2016 annual update for electronic clinical quality measures (eCQMs) for eligible hospitals and eligible professionals. Providers will use these updated measures to electronically report 2017 quality data for CMS quality reporting programs. The updated measure specifications are available on the Electronic Clinical Quality Improvement (eCQI) Resource Center and CMS website eCQM Library.

Model Privacy Notice

ONC is seeking comments on the scope and content of the voluntary Personal Health Record Model Privacy Notice (MPN) developed by ONC and published in 2011. In response to stakeholder requests for an electronic means to inform consumers about how health technology products store, use, and share health information (especially products of health technology developers not covered by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, Pub. L. 104-191), we have initiated a process to update the MPN to better align with the current consumer health technology landscape.

The public comment period is open until 5.p.m. ET. April 15, 2016. Read the Health IT Buzz Blog postand Federal Register Notice for more information.

ONC Health IT Certification Program: Enhanced Oversight and Accountability Proposed Rule

The “ONC Health IT Certification Program: Enhanced Oversight and Accountability” proposed rule was published in the Federal Register on March 2, 2016. The comment period for the proposed rule is open until 5 p.m. ET. May 2, 2016.

You can review and comment on the proposed rule online. To assist in commenting on the proposed rule, ONC provides a Microsoft Word Version of the proposed rule and a Public Comment Template.

We are conducting a webinar on the proposed rule on April 21.  Please register now for the webinar.

ONC 2016 Annual Meeting May 31 – June 2, 2016

We are pleased to announce the sixth Annual Meeting will be held May 31 – June 2, 2016, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. We have extended the Annual Meeting to three days this year to devote an entire day of focus to enabling consumers to become partners in their health via health care through access to their health information and technology. 

REMEMBER to bookmark www.healthit.gov/ONCmeeting and check back for more details – including the agenda and registration – as they become available!

Federal Advisory Committee Schedule Apr. 11 – Apr. 15

Wednesday, April 13
1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. ET. The Standards: Precision Medicine Task Force Meets. Learn more:
http://ow.ly/10sh8g

Friday, April 15
11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.ET. The Standards: 2017 Interoperability Standards Advisory Task Force Meets. Learn more:
http://ow.ly/10shwx