Federal health care policy issues and health care reform
Top Stories
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News
29 Oct 2020
ONC delays compliance for information blocking provisions
Due to COVID-19, healthcare systems will now have until April 5, 2021 to comply with information blocking provisions in ONC's final interoperability and information blocking rule. Continue Reading
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Feature
30 Sep 2020
Election results won't affect federal health IT initiatives
Federal health IT initiatives such as interoperability and patient access to data tend to transcend politics. Experts say they will again no matter who wins in November. Continue Reading
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Feature
16 Sep 2020
Finding a new HHS CIO means navigating tricky waters
When HHS launches its CIO search, it will look for someone who is both politically savvy and technically skilled, an executive search consultant said. Continue Reading
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Feature
14 Aug 2020
EHR vendors eye safe data access for third-party health apps
EHR vendors are designing data authorization scopes for third-party health apps. It's a process that hinges on patient trust and requires transparency. Continue Reading
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News
07 Aug 2020
CIOs challenged to make healthcare delivery faster, cheaper
In this Q&A, former Intermountain Healthcare CIO Marc Probst talks about how the pandemic has affected the healthcare CIO's agenda. Hint: It's all about efficiency. Continue Reading
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News
14 Jul 2020
For ONC final rule, compliance clock is ticking
Having passed the June 30 effective date, healthcare CIOs will be playing a significant role in ensuring compliance with the federal regulator's final rule. Continue Reading
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Feature
01 Jul 2020
Pandemic helps to change telehealth policy -- slowly
Telehealth policy is changing, thanks to COVID-19, but providers worry some changes won't last. Continue Reading
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Feature
24 Jun 2020
Ground telehealth applications in security -- now
A recent software error at telehealth services provider Babylon Health is a stark reminder for healthcare CIOs to keep telehealth security and privacy top of mind. Continue Reading
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Feature
08 Jun 2020
COVID-19 could be a watershed moment for telehealth policy
Stakeholders are calling on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to make telehealth policy changes permanent. Continue Reading
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News
22 Apr 2020
COVID-19 delays enforcement of federal interoperability rules
ONC and CMS will give health systems additional time to comply with portions of the interoperability rules finalized last month. Plus, OIG released a proposed rule on information blocking enforcement. Continue Reading
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Feature
17 Apr 2020
Commercial video conferencing tools are risky for healthcare
Healthcare providers are allowed to use some commercial video conferencing tools during the pandemic, but analysts say they should choose their tools carefully. Continue Reading
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Feature
17 Apr 2020
Interoperability rules won't succeed without the CIO
COVID-19 is the crisis at hand, but healthcare CIOs also have to work on complying with new interoperability rules finalized last month. Continue Reading
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Feature
07 Apr 2020
Invest in digital health tools strategically -- especially now
Healthcare CIOs should invest in and deploy new digital health tools cautiously and strategically, despite the FDA's decision to relax regulations during the coronavirus pandemic. Continue Reading
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Feature
18 Mar 2020
In a pandemic, demand for telehealth services soars
Telehealth services are in high demand due to the coronavirus pandemic, but can providers keep pace? Continue Reading
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Feature
13 Mar 2020
Stakeholders sound off on ONC, CMS interoperability rules
New healthcare regulations from ONC and CMS strive to make it easier to share health data. Industry players have something to say about that. Continue Reading
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News
12 Mar 2020
Stakeholders focus on information blocking in ONC final rule
Healthcare stakeholders say the information blocking provision in the long-awaited ONC final rule is a good step toward greater data sharing. Continue Reading
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Conference Coverage
09 Mar 2020
HIMSS 2020 Orlando news, trends, analysis and awards
More than 40,000 healthcare professionals attend the HIMSS20 conference to learn about the latest developments in digital health transformation and regulations. Continue Reading
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News
09 Mar 2020
ONC, CMS information blocking, interoperability rules finalized
After months of delay, ONC and CMS announced the release of their long-awaited information blocking and interoperability rules. Continue Reading
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News
05 Mar 2020
HIMSS 2020 canceled due to coronavirus
On Monday, President Trump was slated to speak at HIMSS 2020. On Thursday, the health IT event was canceled for the first time in 58 years due to the coronavirus outbreak. Continue Reading
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News
04 Mar 2020
At HIMSS conference, coronavirus threatens to eclipse Trump's talk
President Trump will likely talk about patient empowerment and interoperability at HIMSS 2020 -- all set against a backdrop of growing concern over the coronavirus. Continue Reading
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Blog Post
02 Mar 2020
Trump to speak at HIMSS 2020 conference
U.S. President Donald Trump will be a 2020 HIMSS Global Health Conference and Exhibition conference speaker. Karen Groppe, HIMSS senior director of strategic communications, announced the news ... Continue Reading
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News
26 Feb 2020
Interoperability rule will be in HIMSS spotlight -- again
At HIMSS 2020, federal regulators' proposed interoperability rule will be the talk of the conference, whether it's been finalized or not. Continue Reading
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Blog Post
13 Feb 2020
Health data sharing rules ignite debate between Epic, HHS
Contentions over proposed health data sharing rules, which would require health systems to implement standardized APIs, continue to heighten. EHR vendor Epic recently sent a letter signed by about ... Continue Reading
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News
29 Jan 2020
Patient privacy at heart of new debate for data sharing rules
EHR vendor Epic is stirring the privacy and data access debate once again as proposed rules from ONC and CMS are under review at the Office of Management and Budget. Continue Reading
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Feature
20 Jan 2020
ONC's federal health IT strategic plan shows growth -- to a degree
ONC's five-year strategic health IT draft plan lays out comprehensive goals, but, in some instances, how to achieve those goals is still murky. Continue Reading
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Feature
19 Dec 2019
Healthcare 2020 trends emphasize virtual, holistic patient care
Forrester Research and Frost & Sullivan say telehealth and social determinants of health data analytics platforms will gain ground in 2020. Continue Reading
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News
21 Nov 2019
Security is at the heart of healthcare data sharing concerns
As proposed interoperability and information blocking rules from ONC and CMS are reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget, the healthcare community expresses more concern about patient data security. Continue Reading
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Feature
25 Oct 2019
Value-based care models hung up on lack of resources
The adoption of value-based care models in healthcare is hindered by a lack of resources, according to more than 1,000 respondents of a Definitive Healthcare value-based care trends survey. Continue Reading
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News
18 Oct 2019
Healthcare cybersecurity shouldn't impede interoperability
The healthcare community uses security as a crutch to deny the sharing of patient data. That has to stop, according to Athenahealth CISO Taylor Lehmann. Continue Reading
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News
26 Sep 2019
TEFCA inches forward by tapping The Sequoia Project
TEFCA is aimed mostly at health information exchanges, but AMIA's Jeffery Smith said healthcare CIOs can't ignore its progress. Continue Reading
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News
24 Sep 2019
ONC urged to slow down for the sake of patient data security
Patient data security is sorely lacking in ONC and CMS's proposed information blocking and interoperability rules, according to healthcare leadership organizations. Continue Reading
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Feature
23 Sep 2019
CIOs express hope, concern for proposed interoperability rule
Proposed interoperability rules from ONC and CMS are on track to be finalized in November. Here, healthcare CIOs share their thoughts on how proposals will turn into practice. Continue Reading
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News
04 Sep 2019
Transition to value-based care requires planning, communication
Establishing a value-based care environment requires institutional readiness and oftentimes changing an organization's mindset on how it delivers care. Continue Reading
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News
23 Aug 2019
Experts say there's still a long road ahead for the FHIR standard
Panelists at ONC's 3rd Interoperability Forum in Washington, D.C., talked about the FHIR standard lacking maturity, as well as facing implementation challenges. Continue Reading
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News
23 Aug 2019
Success of healthcare APIs hinges on data safety, patient awareness
Healthcare APIs took a front seat during ONC's recent forum in Washington D.C. Panelists and healthcare experts outlined issues such as lack of patient awareness that could affect usage. Continue Reading
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News
23 Jul 2019
CHIME, AHIMA push Senate on national patient identifier
The U.S. House of Representatives voted to lift a ban on using federal funds to create a national patient identifier. Healthcare leaders now want the U.S. Senate to do the same. Continue Reading
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Blog Post
09 Jul 2019
ONC deputy national coordinator for health IT departs
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT will have a new deputy leader starting next month. ONC announced Monday that Jon White, M.D., deputy national coordinator for health IT, will ... Continue Reading
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Feature
20 Jun 2019
Data sharing in healthcare is a double-edged sword for patients
Former healthcare CIO John Halamka gets candid about the proposed rules on interoperability and information blocking and explains why innovation may come at a cost. Continue Reading
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Feature
06 Jun 2019
Health experts on proposed information blocking, interoperability rules
ONC and CMS will begin considering feedback on the interoperability and information blocking rules the federal agencies proposed in February. Continue Reading
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Feature
05 Jun 2019
Proposed interoperability in healthcare rules called 'essential first step'
Proposed rules are a good first step toward interoperability in healthcare, but don't go far enough, according to healthcare leaders. Continue Reading
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Feature
31 May 2019
Heterogeneous data sharing in healthcare vital to personalized care
In this Q&A, Life Image CTO Janak Joshi talks about heterogeneous data sets and their importance to healthcare AI companies, and makes a pitch for imaging data to ONC. Continue Reading
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News
13 May 2019
Lower HIPAA violation fines shouldn't translate into lax security
Healthcare organizations will pay less for HIPAA violation fines annually under Health and Human Services' new fines structure, but security should still be top of mind for CIOs. Continue Reading
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Feature
09 May 2019
Seeing through the hype: Where AI in healthcare shines
While AI in healthcare shines in clinical areas like radiology, it is currently more widely adopted in nonclinical areas, such as medication development by pharmaceutical companies. Continue Reading
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News
08 May 2019
Senator to ONC, CMS: Take interoperability in healthcare slow
In a hearing, chairman of the Senate HELP Committee cautioned ONC and CMS officials to go slow if they want to get interoperability in healthcare done right. Continue Reading
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News
03 May 2019
Regulation for AI-based medical devices could drive adoption
AI algorithms in healthcare currently regulated by the FDA are static and require manual updates. The FDA is now looking into what it would take to regulate AI algorithms that are dynamic. Continue Reading
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Guide
02 May 2019
Patient engagement strategies get consumerization booster shot
Healthcare organizations are being tasked with developing effective methods to keep their patients engaged, with nudges from government agencies that anything less won't be tolerated. Continue Reading
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Opinion
14 Mar 2019
Information blocking rule aims to facilitate health data exchange
The recent information blocking rule from ONC penalizes healthcare organizations and EHR vendors that prevent patients from accessing their health data. Continue Reading
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Conference Coverage
07 Feb 2019
HIMSS 2019 news, trends and analysis
At HIMSS 2019, 40,000-plus attendees will learn more about plans for patient data interoperability and the growing influence of patient engagement. Our team will cover the event. Continue Reading
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News
01 Feb 2019
Value-based care models, social determinants of health on HIMSS19 docket
The growing shift from traditional healthcare delivery models to value-based care models that focus on more holistic views of a patient will take center stage at HIMSS 2019. Continue Reading
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News
10 Jan 2019
CMS interoperability and patient access rule delayed by shutdown
The healthcare sector is anxiously awaiting the release of federal health agencies' rules on interoperability, but the government shutdown will further delay their release. Continue Reading
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Tip
30 Nov 2018
Questions about the FHIR standard? We have expert answers
Think you're in the know when it comes to the FHIR API? A hands-on FHIR training session at AMIA 2018 answered some questions you might not have thought to ask. Continue Reading
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News
28 Nov 2018
New ONC health IT draft report aims to improve EHR usability
A new draft report from the ONC acknowledges the challenges with EHRs and provides suggested solutions, including decreased regulation and more stakeholder cooperation. Continue Reading
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Infographic
01 Nov 2018
Payer-provider partnerships may fuel future affordable care
Taking an untraditional route to value-based care, payer-and-provider partnerships highlight the collaborations between benefit planners and healthcare systems. Continue Reading
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Opinion
01 Nov 2018
March to value-based healthcare results in 'payviders'
Our columnist's research indicates that value-based care is prompting the creation of 'payviders,' but the pace is slow. Technological considerations also come into play. Continue Reading
- 01 Nov 2018
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Feature
26 Oct 2018
FDA strengthens medical device cybersecurity program
The FDA recently took additional steps to encourage better medical device cybersecurity, including releasing a cybersecurity playbook for healthcare organizations. Continue Reading
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News
24 Oct 2018
Broadband will boost telemedicine applications, FCC chairman says
Telemedicine proponents have an ally: the chairman of the FCC. Here's what Ajit Pai has planned to get broadband into poor and rural communities in the U.S. Continue Reading
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News
05 Oct 2018
Medicare's new member of its healthcare data center: The cloud
The U.S. Digital Service is slowly moving a Medicare mainframe to the cloud as a way to prepare for value-based care. Here's a look inside the office's deliberate strategy. Continue Reading
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Feature
06 Sep 2018
Opioid crisis solutions include analytics, EHR integration
Health IT stands ready to help battle opioid deaths through greater use of data analytics and improved integration of EHRs and prescription drug databases. Continue Reading
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News
04 Apr 2018
Report: Patient relationship management could curb readmissions
A new report from Chilmark Research points to future gains for patient relationship management software, potentially in the tricky area of decreasing 30-day patient readmissions. Continue Reading
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Blog Post
28 Feb 2018
AAFP recommends steps to reduce health IT regulations
The American Academy of Family Physicians has recommended steps to relieve the burden of health IT regulations on physicians. In a letter to CMS administrator Seema Verma and ONC national ... Continue Reading
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Feature
06 Nov 2017
How a healthcare data scientist can aid in value-based care
As hospitals begin to make the transition to value-based care, data scientists can help analyze patient trends that will lead to improved outcomes and better quality of care. Continue Reading
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Guide
28 Jul 2017
Healthcare data storage options
The volume of healthcare data is growing exponentially, and organizations have to figure out how to store it all. This guide looks at possible healthcare data storage options. Continue Reading
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Guide
24 Sep 2015
A last-minute guide to the ICD-9 to ICD-10 transition
The ICD-9 to ICD-10 transition has been a long time coming in the U.S. This guide examines the increase in codes and what providers did to prepare. Continue Reading
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Guide
20 May 2015
Guide to healthcare compliance resources and agencies
There are a handful of groups that function as healthcare compliance resources and regulate rules and programs such as HIPAA and meaningful use. Continue Reading
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News
14 Dec 2012
RSNA attendees hoping radiology IT will improve field's prospects
Economic forces are buffeting health care, and radiologists are set to see the worst of it. Radiology IT might hold the key to stabilizing the specialty. Continue Reading
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Feature
01 Dec 2010
Meaningful use resource for radiologists goes online
A new online resource uses simple widgets to sort out meaningful use eligibility and compliance requirements for radiology practices of all sizes. Continue Reading
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Feature
30 Nov 2010
Workgroup focuses on quality measures for Stage 2 of meaningful use
Policymakers want help from the health care community in crafting quality measures that will be incorporated into the meaningful use program. Continue Reading
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Feature
17 Nov 2010
CCHIT launching custom EHR certification program for hospitals
CCHIT's new EHR certification program will let hospitals continue to use home-grown EHR software and still qualify for meaningful use incentives. Continue Reading
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Feature
17 Nov 2010
Hospitals on track to meet meaningful use criteria, according to HIMSS
An HIMSS survey found hospitals are able to meet several core Stage 1 meaningful use requirements. Their progress will be monitored by HIMSS on a quarterly basis. Continue Reading
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Feature
17 Nov 2010
Working together for HIT: An ePrescribeFlorida Case Study
A case study on the advance of the ePrescribe Florida program, from organizational creation through the lasting impact on the industry. Continue Reading
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Feature
26 Oct 2010
CIOs chime in about health IT workforce shortage
Staff who can help implement electronic health records and who understand clinical software systems are hard to find, executives say. Continue Reading
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Feature
25 Oct 2010
Why the switch to ICD-10 will be worth it
Many have deemed the ICD-10 conversion costly, expensive and disruptive. But the mandate is not without its benefits, including more precise payments. Continue Reading
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Feature
07 Oct 2010
Health IT sending older physicians over the retirement cliff?
More confirmation from the field that some physicians might say "no deal" to ONC and close down their practices instead of going paperless. Continue Reading
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Feature
07 Oct 2010
Data breach notifications on the rise at Office for Civil Rights
The majority of data breaches in health care organizations are caused by theft and loss of data, the latest OCR report says. Continue Reading
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Feature
30 Sep 2010
Who's selling PHRs to consumers?
The personal health record now has a couple of high-powered advocates: the U.S. Surgeon General and the chair of AHIMA. Continue Reading
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Feature
30 Sep 2010
Mitigating cost, management of health IT intellectual property
To avoid intellectual property headaches, the HITSC explores national licensing options for standards that are incorporated in EHRs. Continue Reading
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Feature
07 Sep 2010
ONC doles out first EHR certification powers
ONC gives Drummond Group and CCHIT first crack at EHR certification for meaningful use incentive payments to health care providers. Continue Reading
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Feature
30 Aug 2010
Only 2% of hospitals are ready for meaningful use
Researchers have found that only 2% of hospitals can achieve meaningful use with the EHR system they have. More must be done to expedite the transition. Continue Reading
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Tip
25 Aug 2010
How the HITECH Act changes HIPAA compliance
Thanks to the HITECH Act, HIPAA compliance has become stricter, with bigger fines for data breaches and restrictions on the use of personal data. This tip outlines the major changes to HIPAA compliance. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
21 Apr 2010
FAQ guides for health care IT
These FAQ guides provide detailed answers to some of the most commonly asked questions in health care IT, plus links to related articles, tips and terms. Continue Reading
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News
04 Mar 2010
National health IT policy coordinator ready to implement rules
David Blumenthal, the national coordinator for health IT policy, said at HIMSS10 that his work is starting to shift from drafting regulations to implementing and supporting them. Continue Reading