HIT Policy Committee Nationwide Health Information Network Workgroup Announces December 16 Meeting

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) HIT Policy Committee’s Nationwide Health Information Network Workgroup will hold a public meeting on December 16, 2009. The meeting is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m./Eastern Time at the OMNI Shoreham Hotel, 2500 Calvert Street, NW., Washington, DC.

ONC HIT Standards Committee Meeting Set For October 14

HIT Standards Committee to meet on October 14 to continue their work to design America’s future health IT system.

2 New HIPAA Criminal Actions Highlight Risks From Wrongful Use/Access of Health Information

Two recent separate criminal actions against hospital workers for wrongfully accessed medical records in violation of the medical privacy provisions of HI are the latest reminders to health care providers, health plans, health care clearinghouses, their business associates and members of their workforce that the criminal provisions of the HIPAA Privacy Rules have teeth.Participate In September 9 or September 17 Briefings on New HIPAA Data Breach Rules for updates on new breach notification requirements and other recent developments.

Sept 23 Deadline For HIPAA-Covered Entities & Business Associates To Comply With New HHS Health Information Data Breach Rules Published Today

Employer and other health plans, health care providers, health clearinghouses and their business associates must start complying with new federal data breach notification rules on September 24, 2009 contained in regulations published in today’s Federal Register. You are invited to catch up on what these new rules mean for your organization and how it must respond by participating in the “HITECH Act Health Data Security & Breach Update” on Thursday, September 10, 2009 from Noon to 1:30 P.M. Central Time.

HHS Delegates Authority for the HIPAA Security Rule to Office for Civil Rights

The Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) today (August 3, 2009) transferred authority for the administration and enforcement of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Security Rule to the Office for Civil Rights (OCR). Prior to this announcement, responsibility for interpretation and enforcement of the Security Rule rested with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). HHS anticipates the transfer of authority will eliminate duplication and increase efficiencies in how the department ensures that Americans’ health information privacy is protected.

Office of National Coordinator for Health Information Technology Invites Input on Meaningful Use Of Electronic Medical Records For Purposes of Definition

Friday, June 26. 2009 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time is the deadline to submit comments to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) on the recommendations about what should be considered the term “meaningful use” of electronic health records (EHRs) by a health care provider under the HITECH Act provisions of the Stimulus Bill.

June 11 Deadline To Comment on Proposal To Establish Regional Centers Under HITECH ACT

On May 28, 2009, the new Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology Program (“ONC”) published a Federal Register Notice and Request for Comments (the “Notice”) that describes the program ONC proposes to use to establish “Regional Extension Centers” to assist providers seeking to adopt and become meaningful users of health information technology under Title XIII of Division A and Title IV of Division B (the “HITECH Act”) of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (“ARRA”). The deadline for commenting on the Notice is 5 p.m. on June 11, 2009.