May 7, 2010 - Advocacy Corner

Privacy Rule Due in May. Among the privacy requirements of the HITECH Act, are new rules to strengthen how organizations handle patients' health information. Scheduled for release this month, new rules will expand the number of organizations (business associates) that may have access to personal data; spell out new limitations on the sale of protected health information and stronger individual rights to access electronic medical records; and restrict the disclosure of certain information.

In preparation for the rule, the HHS Office of Civil Rights (OCR) on May 3 published a request for information (RFI) to better understand the interests of individuals about potential disclosures, the administrative burden on covered entities and business associates of accounting for disclosures, and other information to help inform rulemaking in this area. While CHIME is not directly commenting on the RFI due May 18, members of CHIME leadership are working with AHA to articulate the CIO viewpoint.

Beacon Community Grants Are Important Models for IT Transformation. Grants of $220 million, announced by HHS earlier this week, are intended to connect doctors, hospitals and patients across the community, using health-care information technology to achieve meaningful and measurable improvements in health care quality, safety and efficiency. In announcing the 15 community awardees, HHS indicated that in addition to important health improvements, the grants would help create as many as 1,100 jobs, each paying an average of $70,000 per year.

The most important health care innovations are those that are designed and tested by providers and community leaders all across the country. “Beacon Communities will offer insight into how health IT can make a real difference in the delivery of health care,” said Secretary Sebelius. “The Beacon Community Program will tap the best ideas across America and demonstrate the enormous benefit health IT will have to improving health and care within our communities. “

Awardees represent a broad spectrum, for example---Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems (Brewer, ME) “to expand community connectivity for an existing Health Information Exchange and promote the use of telemedicine and patient self-management,” and Louisiana Public Health Institute (New Orleans, LA) “to reduce racial health disparities and improve control of diabetes and smoking cessation rates by linking technically isolated health systems and empower patients by increasing their access to Personal Health Records.” For a detailed list of communities, key strategies and funding, click here.

CHIME Joins Coalition Letter Urging Revisions to MU Rules. Reinforcing comments on the CMS meaningful use rule submitted earlier this spring, CHIME urged HHS to permit greater flexibility and more time to achieve meaningful use. The letter addressed to Secretary Sebelius and signed by 51 healthcare associations, comments on the proposed rule's "all-or-nothing" approach to meeting the requirements to demonstrate meaningful use of EHRs. Additionally, it calls for a feedback loop on program performance; a focus on clinical functions; a less restrictive definition of a hospital; less burdensome reporting requirements; greater attention to operational issues; and harmonizing the Medicaid and Medicare EHR incentive programs.

According to proposed rules, hospitals must successfully implement all 23 objectives of meaningful use. Because individual providers may take a different path to reach those goals, the letter recommends that providers should be able “to implement a percentage or limited number of the meaningful use objectives and have “greater flexibility in choosing which requirements to implement.” On the timing for meaningful use, the letter urge[s] CMS to extend the transition to meaningful use to 2017, consistent with the ARRA.” For text of the coalition letter coordinated through AHA and signed by other hospital and medical specialty groups, click here.

CHIME State Advocacy Award Nominations due May 14. This second annual award recognizes “CIO Leadership Promoting State-level Education Efforts for Health IT.” Since launching the award last year, the responsibility of States in HITECH implementation and the respective role of CIOs have undergone major transformation. Nominations of colleagues as well as self-nominations are encouraged. Please submit nominations Sharon Canner, at scanner@cio-chime.org by May 14. Applications should include a brief statement, along with a list of recent accomplishments relative to state-level education and leadership for health IT.

Upcoming CHIME Events:

• “What to Expect from the Proposed EHR Certification Process, May 13 Webinar (11:00 AM ET) for CHIME members, features Advocacy leadership discussing CHIME comments to ONC. For registration information please, click here.
  
  
• StateNet and ALT Policy Briefing June 16. During National Health IT Week (June 14-18), CHIME will hold the first in-person meeting of StateNet. Scheduled from 1-3:30 pm, the meeting features discussion of HITECH state issues and opening remarks by ONC senior staff. There is no cost to attend, but registration is required by June 10. To reserve your place and to learn about special hotel rates, see this registration link.