NEW ORLEANS—Communities that have received financial assistance through the federal government’s Beacon Program will cease to receive funding after Meaningful Use (MU) Stage 1, so their fate is “unknown” after 2014 when that is set to expire, according to Judy Murphy, RN, deputy national coordinator for programs and policy at the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC).

March 6, 2013, 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM | This session demonstrates how to integrate Value-Based Purchasing (VBP), Readmissions Management and Business Intelligence into a hospital's health IT strategic vision by leveraging data assets.

March 5, 2013,  9:45 AM - 10:45 AM | The important role of data governance to strategic initiatives like EHR Meaningful Use, ICD10 compliance, and Accountable Care Organizations is described. Data governance best practices and benefits are analyzed.

March 4, 2013, 9:45 AM - 10:45 AM | The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has specifically called out the use of encryption for Stage 2 Meaningful use. How best should providers do this? Understand the pitfalls and challenges involved.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights is looking to fill its ranks with several health information privacy specialists. HHS is accepting applications for these fast-tracked positions, which are based in Washington, D.C., through March 12. Pay is at the GS levels of 13-14, with an annual salary range of $89,033 to $136,771.

We asked health IT leaders about their current and future IT plans, and they answered. From ICD-10 to Meaningful Use (MU) to privacy and security, there are a lot of initiatives to manage. And, the findings indicate that healthcare organizations are facing those initiatives at varied paces.

With just 20 months until the go-live date of Oct. 1, 2014, the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Edition diagnosis and procedure codes—better known as ICD-10—offers an updated medical coding system replacing ICD-9, now in use for more than 30 years.

We already had an article about data breaches scheduled for this issue when the Omnibus Rule was released. However, the rule certainly contains a lot of new information to incorporate into your privacy and security efforts. Subcontractors now fall under the same requirements as business associates and those contracts are going to require updating. Providers are going to be held to high standards for a thorough, detailed risk analysis which should include documented, effective staff training.