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| Letter from the Administrator |
Welcome to the second edition of the OHITX Open Channel Newsletter.
What a crazy time this has been. We are sure you’ll agree that the HITECH Act is affecting absolutely everyone in healthcare. Whether you’re looking for updates for general awareness, implementing new technologies to earn incentives or avoid penalties, or taking advantage of grants for workforce development and training, this is an exciting, albeit challenging time.
At OHITX, our goal is to track and disseminate the information in a timely, understandable format so you can be efficient in your day-to-day operations and future planning. We support members through relevant educational programs that simplify and help establish a framework for HIT adoption and meaningful use.
Take a few minutes of your time to read the newsletter and get up to speed on health IT news, and be sure to check our website for ongoing updates. News and information is added daily.
We value the opportunity to serve as your partner as we bring together the major players in the health IT ecosystem in an open and collaborative environment to advance healthcare initiatives.
Colleen E. Sauter, OHITX Administrator |
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| Broadband and Healthcare IT |
FCC National Broadband Plan and Healthcare IT
On March 16, 2010, the FCC released a National Broadband Plan. The plan establishes national priorities to maximize usage of broadband for the public’s greater good in the areas of education, energy and the environment, economic opportunity, government performance and civic engagement, public safety and homeland security, in addition to healthcare.
On the healthcare front, the plan calls for the acceptance of four recommendations:
- Create incentives for e-health (e-care utilization)
- Modernize regulations to support health IT adoption
- Unlock the value of data
- Ensure sufficient connectivity for healthcare delivery
The plan is directly aligned with HHS priorities around heath IT and meaningful use, and positions broadband and mobile medicine as essential for healthcare because they:
- Enable the efficient exchange of patient and treatment information anytime, from anywhere
- Remove geographic and time constraints via telehealth
- Establish a solid foundation for future innovation and connected-care solutions
It also recognizes the importance of ONC’s standards and protocols for interoperability and data sharing, ensuring the development of systems and processes that protect patient data and promote its safe, efficient exchange.
Special emphasis has been given to closing the broadband access gap for providers, especially those located in rural and underserved areas, by revamping funding mechanisms that support infrastructure build-out and adoption.
To track the progress of the plan and prevent fraud, various outcomes-based measures will be required to qualify for funding. The FCC will periodically publish a status report on healthcare broadband activities for public awareness.
Review the National Broadband Plan at BROADBAND.GOV ››
For a comprehensive list of resources on broadband, visit the OHITX Broadband Resource Section.
Download a PDF of the National Broadband Plan ›› |
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| HITECH Act Updates |
Meaningful Use, Certification, HIT Grant Awards and More
The last few months have been busy with announcements on key definitions related to meaningful use, EHR standards and certification. View the announcements from HHS ››
So what’s next? The public comment period on the CMS’ Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on meaningful use closed on March 15, 2010, and the final ruling has yet to be announced. ONC’s Interim Final Rule (IFR) on standards, implementation specifications, and certification criteria went into effect in January of 2010. It, too will be finalized later this year after adjustments following the comment period.
ONC released an NPRM on certification in early March. Days later, it released a revised NPRM for the temporary and permanent certification programs outlined in the first NPRM, with a comment period which ended on May 10, 2010.
A final rule addressing the temporary certification program for EHR technologies was published June 24, 2010. The rule clarifies the process and timelines for parties interested in applying, then serving as testers and certifiers of EHR systems.
In addition, over $1.5 billion in grants have been awarded to support health information exchange (HIE)/HIT adoption through the Regional Extension Center (REC) program, workforce training, and research. Here is an award breakdown:
- $386 million for State HIEs
- $537 million for RECs
- $225 million for various workforce training programs
- $84 million for the SHARP program on HIT research
- $250 million for primary care workforce grants
- $83.9 million for HIT Implementation grants to Health Center Networks
To view the formal award announcements for each category and see how your state or educational institution faired in the grant process, click here.
The ONC has announced the availability of an additional $30.3 million in funding to support Beacon Communities. The two cooperative agreement grants will be awarded in August of 2010, bringing the total number of Beacon Community grants awarded to 17.
View the grant information by searching CFDA# 93.727 at http://www.grants.gov/search/basic.do |
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| Membership Update |
OHITX is growing with members in 41 states and Canada!
Because of this, we are undergoing an exciting transformation that will support the growth of OHITX, streamline operations, and position us to expand offerings and member benefits.
New Membership Structure
- New membership categories
- Complimentary membership for providers and affiliates
- Legacy corporate members maintain complimentary membership and related benefits through April, 2011
- All members of an organization receive the full array of member benefits and unlimited amount of members per organization
New Website
- Premium content reserved for members in a secure, password-protected resource section
- Member and events management functionality, allowing us to continue to deliver relevant content and educational materials to our members
- OHITX health IT News Blog to share HIT news, updates and opinions
New Sponsorship Program
- Gain visibility as an advertiser on the OHITX website and online events
- A great opportunity to support OHITX educational programs and communications
- Special member-only discounts and opportunities
View the membership structure, benefits overview and category definitions: http://www.ohitx.org/membership
Learn more about sponsorship opportunities: http://www.ohitx.org/sponsorships |
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| OHITX 2010 Program Plan |
We continue to offer relevant and timely information about health IT, ARRA and HITECH Act updates through our webinars. Below are a few of the most recent webinars.
- 06.23.10 | HITECH Act: The yellow brick road to meaningful use
- 06.02.10 | HIE: Building a sustainable model to achieve meaningful use
- 04.21.10 | e-Prescribing: A prescription for adoption
Request a copy of a webinar
Missed a webinar? Get a copy ››
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| News Brief Central |
The weekly OHITX News Brief is a great way to stay on top of important news and updates affecting the healthcare IT industry.
For your convenience, we offer both recent and archived News Briefs.
View the News Brief Archive ››
Sponsor a future OHITX News Brief today!
Learn more ››
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| OHITX HIT Blog |
The OHITX HIT Blog is updated on a daily basis with healthcare news from around the country.
Check in often to stay in-the-know and feel free to post a comment.
View the Health IT News Blog ››
Gain exposure with a healthcare audience. Advertise on our blog. Find out more ›› |
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| Become a Member of OHITX |
Not Yet a Member of OHITX?
Become a member of OHITX today.
At OHITX, we are fiercely committed to breaking down the silos and working together to enable the delivery of the highest quality healthcare services in the most efficient manner.
Join OHITX today!
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| Get LinkedIn |
Get LinkedIn
Collaborate with healthcare IT peers in the U.S. and abroad.
Participate in the OHITX LinkedIn site.
Join the OHITX LinkedIn group and start a discussion today.
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www.ohitx.org | Become a Member of OHITX | Get LinkedIn | Contact Us
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