Policy & Regulations

This channel includes news coverage of healthcare policy and regulations set by Congress, the states, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and medical associations and societies. 

Act places restrictions on VA, DoD EHR funding

To prevent wasteful spending on Department of Defense (DoD) and Veterans Affairs’ (VA) EHR systems, Congress has added funding restrictions to the 2014 Omnibus Appropriation Act.

WEDI to HHS: More ICD-10 testing needed

The Workgroup for Electronic Data Interchange has submitted a letter to the Department of Health & Human Services secretary encouraging the agency to consider additional Medicare testing prior to ICD-10 implementation.

Thumbnail

Application period open for entities seeking ONC-AA status

The Office for the National Coordinator for Health IT announced a 30-day period for applicant organizations seeking to become ONC-Approved Accreditors.

HITPC: ONC spotlight on HIT safety, 2015 certification criteria

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT’s latest activities revolve around health IT safety, health information exchange (HIE) governance and the upcoming 2015 edition certification criteria. Jodi Daniel, JD, MPH, director of ONC's Office of Policy and Planning, explored these issues and more at the Health IT Policy Committee on Jan. 14.

Thumbnail

HITPC: Major health IT challenges hamper ACOs

Many accountable care organizations are frustrated with the inability to integrate data across platforms and systems, reported the ACO Workgroup at the Health IT Policy Committee meeting on Jan. 14.

HITPC approves eCQM recommendations

The Health IT Policy Committee formally endorsed Quality Measure Workgroup recommendations governing the development of electronic clinical quality measures at its  Jan. 14 meeting. These measures include those that are patient and population centered, longitudinal and that cross settings of care, according to chair Helen Burstin, senior vice president, performance measures, National Quality Forum.

Healthcare.gov contractor changes hands

After the debacle of the healthcare.gov rollout last fall, it’s hardly surprising that the problems would lead to changes. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will not renew its contract with CGI when it expires Feb. 28 and instead bring Accenture Federal Services on board.

Thumbnail

HITPC: DeSalvo explains why she said yes

In her second day on the job, new national coordinator for health IT, Karen DeSalvo, MD, MPH, MSc, addressed the Health IT Policy Committee about her career and why she accepted her new position.

Around the web

The tirzepatide shortage that first began in 2022 has been resolved. Drug companies distributing compounded versions of the popular drug now have two to three more months to distribute their remaining supply.

The 24 members of the House Task Force on AI—12 reps from each party—have posted a 253-page report detailing their bipartisan vision for encouraging innovation while minimizing risks. 

Merck sent Hansoh Pharma, a Chinese biopharmaceutical company, an upfront payment of $112 million to license a new investigational GLP-1 receptor agonist. There could be many more payments to come if certain milestones are met.