News & Updates
March 19, 2021
Events
Aneesh Chopra’s Vision for the Path Forward: Monthly WEDI Member Meeting with guest speaker Aneesh Chopra.
In the News
Key healthcare and health IT provisions in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
A follow up to February’s two-day Quest for Health Equity event, Epilogue is a series of online sessions free to WEDI members focusing on the challenges, solutions and continued efforts centered around data exchange and how improved flow of health information can increase opportunities for everyone to live the healthiest life possible.
WEDI, as the leading authority on the use of health IT to improve health care information exchange, extends our congratulations to Xavier Becerra on becoming the 25th Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Secretary Becerra will now oversee the response to the COVID-19 pandemic while executing other aspects of the Administration’s healthcare agenda, including the important task of tackling health equity issues. At the same time, we urge the Secretary to maintain the focus on reducing the administrative burden and cost plaguing healthcare. Implementing effective solutions that improve data interoperability, automate payer-provider information exchange, and maintain the confidentiality of patient records must all be priorities for the new HHS Secretary. Attaining our shared vision of a cost- effective and secure healthcare system can only be achieved through collective action and strong public-private partnerships. - Charles Stellar, WEDI President and CEO
Extension of the Public Comment Period for Proposed Modifications to the HIPAA Privacy Rule
OCR first released the NPRM to the public on the HHS website on December 10, 2020, and it was published in the Federal Register on January 21, 2021. The 45-day extension moves the current deadline for the public to submit comments from March 22, 2021, to May 6, 2021. The notice of extension of the comment period is available at https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2021-05021.pdf - PDF.
JAMIA Article:
Reducing the Clinician Burden
Although the growth of health IT has contributed to the improved quality and safety of health care over the past decade, it has also presented new challenges for clinicians. These challenges include poor usability, workflow integration, and cumbersome documentation requirements. Read the latest Buzz Blog to learn about ONC’s efforts to make health IT work more effectively for clinicians.
2021 ONC Annual Meeting
March 29-30 from 12-5ET
Now Available for ONC Certification: 
SVAP Approved Versions for 2020
The Standards Version Advancement Process (SVAP) Approved Versions for 2020 are now available in the ONC Health IT Certification Program. The SVAP allows health IT developers the flexibility to voluntarily update their certified health IT to include newer versions of adopted standards used in the Program.
Increased Medicare Payment for Life-Saving COVID-19 Vaccine
This new and higher payment rate will support important actions taken by providers that are designed to increase the number of vaccines they can furnish each day, including establishing new or growing existing vaccination sites, conducting patient outreach and education, and hiring additional staff.
Interoperability Standards Priorities Task Force
Thursday, 03/25/2021, 2:00-3:30
LEAP in Health IT SEN
ONC published a special emphasis notice (SEN) under the Leading Edge Acceleration Projects (LEAP) in Health IT notice of funding opportunity. The goal of this notice is to advance health IT standards and tools to improve the electronic exchange of social determinants of health data. The notice also highlights the need to develop tools for making electronic health record data research and artificial intelligence-ready. 
AHRQ Seeks Public Input by April 16 on Clinical Algorithms
That May Promote Bias in Medical Decision-making
AHRQ is seeking public comments on clinical algorithms used in medical practice that may introduce bias into decision-making or negatively affect access, quality, or health outcomes among racial and ethnic minority groups. Following public input, AHRQ will undertake an evidence review of commonly used algorithms to assess whether race and ethnicity is explicitly included.
The deadline for providing comments is 11:59 PM ET on April 16.
Episode 27: Set it, Tune it, Tweak it- Maintaining Security Fundamentals with Fortified Health Security’s CEO Dan L. Dodson
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The next Payment Models Workgroup meeting will be March 23rd at 3ET.
The group is drafting a survey to assess the payment models in use by WEDI membership using the HCP-LAN 4 categories of payment models.

WEDI workgroups provide thoughtful leadership and common-sense approaches that enhance the exchange of clinical and administrative healthcare information. They collect input, exchange ideas, and make recommendations that inspire impactful and far-reaching change in our industry.
WEDI | www.wedi.org