January 2023 COVERstory
January 2023 takes a deep dive into federal health and IT policy and features insights from National Coordinator Micky Tripathi, a recap on the evolution of the ONC, and a look into the future of interoperability.
From the Editor:
For nearly two decades, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology has been moving the health industry to digitize health records and demonstrate a baseline of capabilities with information systems.
Now, the federal agency is embarking on new initiatives that seek to help the industry achieve benefits from information technology, facilitate the exchange of health information to improve patient care, and support health-related initiatives of other federal agencies.
This series of articles, based in part on an in-depth interview with Micky Tripathi and Steve Posnack of ONC, aims to give the industry insight into ONC’s current and future role, and can help organizations better understand the arc of emerging federal policy.
Key Takeaways
As you dive into this COVERstory, we hope you find it becomes a reference helping you:
- 1. Gain a historical perspective of how the ONC is responding to the current state of federal regulations and its growing authority.
- 2. Understand the coming attractions driving the ONC to become more proactive and aligned with the industry and other federal agencies.
- 3. Place within historical context the reasoning behind federal incentives and how this ties into the current state of interoperability and the new TEFCA initiative.
- 4. Connect the dots between the many acronyms and acts that have been created over the last decade. 21st Century Cures, TEFCA, MU/Promoting Interoperability, FHIR, USCDI, and many more.
- 5. Understand how key leaders perceive the current alignment between the ONC and the industry.
- 6. Learn some approaches that will help your organization better anticipate and respond to the ever-evolving landscape of federal regulations.
FEATURED ARTICLE
ONC focus on new targets exemplifies evolution of its purpose
With the healthcare industry widely using electronic health records, ONC shifts attention to information blocking, interoperability and supporting other fed agencies... Read the article
RELATED CONTENT
Interoperability - a long time conundrum - is now in ONC's sights
The federal agency is looking to facilitate the free flow of health information by attacking information blocking and setting a strategy for national data exchange... Read the article
More on Interoperability:
ONC - From a small office to key support agency
The technology office gained significance in 2009, when it helped establish the EHR incentive program. Billions of dollars later, heavy lifting still remains... Read the article
More on the evolution of the ONC:
Despite challenges ahead, ONC and industry more aligned than ever
Industry groups and watchers have wide respect for the accomplishments over the past two decades of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology... Read the article
More on ONC and industry alignment:
ONC blogs give a glimpse at expanded support for federal programs
New initiatives show the potential for using EHR data and easier information exchange to bring improvements to care and aid health initiatives... Read more