Upcoming Health IT Deadlines

Health Information Technology Policy Committee Vacancy, a Notice by the Government Accountability Office on 05/11/2012. Letters of nomination and resumes should be submitted between May 5 and 25, 2012 to ensure adequate opportunity for review and consideration of nominees.

Nationwide Health Information Network: Conditions for Trusted Exchange, a Proposed Rule by the Health and Human Services Department published on 05/15/2012. To submit comments and assured consideration, written or electronic comments must be received at specified addresses provided in the proposal, no later than 5 p.m. on June 14, 2012. Submitted comment can be read here.

Countdown for first-year eligible hospitals to begin reporting and get paid for 2012. July 3, 2012 is the last day for eligible hospitals to begin their 90-day reporting period to demonstrate meaningful use for the Medicare EHR Incentive Program.

Reported Dates

The HIT Policy Committee will hold a virtual meeting on May 30th. There June meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, June 6th. The HIT Standards Committee Meetings will be held on May 24th. Participation for all committee meetings are open to the public. Attend a meeting virtually, learn how.

Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs

• Nebraska launched their Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program on May 7, 2012. Nebraska becomes the 44th State to launch their Medicaid EHR Incentive Program.
• Last month, Louisiana’s Medicaid EHR Incentive Program was the first in the nation to issue an incentive payment for Eligible Professionals for meaningful use of certified technology. The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals made the payment to the Winn Community Health Center, a federally qualified health center (FQHC), on behalf of three EPs. The Winn Community Health Center, a small rural community center staffed by a physician, a nurse practitioner, and a physician’s assistant, was also the first FQHC in Louisiana to enroll with the state health information exchange (HIE).
• Wisconsin Regional Extension Center (WHITEC) reported, as of May 14, 2012, Eligible Professionals (EPs) are able to attest to Stage 1 meaningful use through the WI Medicaid EHR Incentive Program. In addition, the application program now has new features, including a dashboard and the ability to save or abort an application.

HEALTH DATA PALOOZA III: Unleashing the Power of Data to Improve Health will be held in Washington DC on June 5-6, 2012 during Health Data and Innovation Week.