Health information exchanges in 10 states entered into an agreement to use the federally developed Direct clinical messaging protocol to help their members transmit and receive patient medical records in the event of a disaster.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has added five new frequently asked questions related to health information exchange (HIE) and public health reporting requirements under the EHR Meaningful Use program, and updated an existing FAQ.

The Department of Veterans Affairs has awarded CACI International a $14 million contract to provide core development support on the VA’s Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record program.

In a panel discussion on health information exchange during the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ eHealth Summit, one participant pointed out the importance of realizing these are culture transformation projects. Leaders must “not just watch milestones go by” but foster real engagement and transformation of organizations and cultures, said Hunt Blair, principal advisor of state HIT-enabled care transformation for the Office of the National Coordinator of Health IT.

“If individuals lack trust that information will be protected as health IT moves forward and as mobile devices continue to be used, it’s going to affect their willingness to disclose and share information and could have life-threatening consequences,” John Benevelli, acting senior advisor, HIPAA Compliance and Enforcement, Office for Civil Rights. Benevelli spoke on a panel discussing privacy and security at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ 2013 eHealth Summit.

A former employee stole protected health information from a Colorado spine clinic.

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) has issued guidance that explains important contract terms when negotiating with a vendor to purchase an EHR product in an effort to better help organizations select the most appropriate EHR.

The frequency, severity and impact of data breaches are escalating with the looming threats of organized crime, corporate espionage and cyberterrorism, according to a report from ID Experts, an Ore.-based security company.