New Accountable Care and Health IT Workgroup Forming

The HIT Policy Committee is forming a new workgroup on Accountable Care and Health IT. It will be charged with addressing and making recommendations on how HHS policies and programs can advance the EVOLUTION of a health IT infrastructure that enables providers to deliver care and improve population health while reducing costs in accountable care models. The workgroup will focus on specific high priority areas where programs and policies can shape the availability and use of health IT infrastructure necessary for Accountable Care Organizations to realize the three part aim.

Applications for membership consideration will be accepted on the ONC’s Workgroup Application Database. Interested people are asked to register on the Database by February 15th. The ONC will be reviewing all applications.

We are still waiting for who was selected to the two consumer focused workgroups that were announced in December and accepted applications through January 14th, the HIT Policy Committee’s Consumer Empowerment Workgroup and the HIT Standards Committee’s Consumer Technology Workgroup. The Consumer Empowerment Workgroup will be charged with providing recommendations on policy issues and opportunities for strengthening the ability of consumers, patients, and lay caregivers to manage health and health care for themselves or others. The Consumer Technology Workgroup will be charged with providing recommendations on standards and interoperability issues and opportunities related to strengthening the ability of consumers, patients, and lay caregivers to manage health and health care for themselves or others.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) provided for the creation of an HIT Policy Committee and an HIT Standards Committee through the framework of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). Answers on FAQs for workgroups state the membership positions are volunteer and there is no pay. Time commitments will vary but on an average, the workgroups meet 1-2 hour per week. Workgroup meetings are generally virtual but might require in-person hearings. All in-person meetings are held in the greater DC area, and travel/lodging/per diem support is provided for workgroup members. Virtual participation in hearings are also possible.