States Get Guidance for Promoting I.T.
HDM Breaking News, August 10, 2009
The State Alliance for e-Health, an initiative of the National Governors Association, has published interim guidelines for states as they begin to implement provisions of the HITECH Act within the economic stimulus law.
The 32-page report explains state roles and responsibilities in creating state-level health information exchanges; forthcoming stimulus grants for HIE efforts and electronic health records loan programs; Medicare and Medicaid incentive payments for EHR use; and forthcoming data standards and EHR certification criteria.
The guidelines detail eight specific actions states should be taking now:
* prepare or update the state plan for HIE adoption;
* engage stakeholders;
* establish a state leadership office;
* prepare state agencies to participate;
* implement privacy and security strategies and reforms;
* determine the HIE operational and business model, with three examples;
* create a communications strategy; and
* establish opportunities for health I.T. training and certification.
For a copy of the 32-page guidance, "Preparing to Implement HITECH: A State Guide for Electronic Health Information Exchange," click here.
--Joseph Goedert
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