Health Information Technology Spotlight (HITS)
The Governor's Health Information Technology Council
On July 20, 2006, Governor Kaine issued Executive Order 29 (.pdf) creating the Governor’s Health Information Technology Council. The primary objectives of the Council are to establish an interoperability framework, encourage public-private partnerships to increase adoption of electronic medical records and encourage vendors and entrepreneurs to build to the national certification standards for Healthcare Information Technology as well as identify areas where health information technology can lower health care costs for the Commonwealth as an employer and health insurer.
What's New
Virginia Health IT Update for 6/16/2009:
Meaningful Use Definition:
The Health IT Policy Committee’s Meaningful Use Workgroup has given its recommendation to the full committee for defining “meaningful use” of EHR technology. This definition will be used to determine whether a physician or hospital provider is a “meaningful user” of an EHR and qualifies for increased reimbursement from CMS. The incentive payments begin in 2011 and by 2015 providers will be expected to be “meaningful users” or face financial penalties. More details on the definition and instructions for providing comments on the definition are available here.
Regional Extension Centers:
Please also note on the same page the draft plan for the Health Information Technology Extension Program Regional Centers. We would encourage you to take a look at that as well.
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