Draft HIT Plan now available for
public review and comment
Secretary Bigby, the HIT Council, Richard Shoup and the MeHI/MTC staff announce that the Massachusetts Draft State-wide HIT Plan is now available for review and public comment.
Read more >>Public comment invited by HHS
Two important regulations were issued on December 30, 2009:
- Interim Final Rule on Standards and Certification Criteria
- Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for Meaningful Use criteria
Read the HHS press release >>
Read the notice from David Blumenthal,
National Coordinator for Health Information Technology >>
Health IT Roundtable with Governor Patrick
 |
Left to right; MTC Executive Director Mitchell Adams, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, Massachusetts Secretary of Health and Human Services JudyAnnBigby, MD |
Governor Patrick and Secretary Bigby held an event on November 19 to update health IT company representatives on the state’s work to bring federal funds to Massachusetts for the planning and development of health IT. Joined by MeHI and MTC representatives, they discussed how our state can be a model for other states as they move toward widespread HIT adoption and heard company perspectives on how Massachusetts is doing in preparing for widespread HIT adoption and ways to coordinate with the private sector to ensure HIT is successful in improving patient care and managing health care costs. View photos from the event>>
Request for Information for Electronic Health Records Systems (EHRs)
The Massachusetts eHealth Institute, a non-divisible component of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (“MTC”) is issuing this Request for Information for Electronic Health Records Systems (EHRs) to seek information from those organizations that are capable of providing a large number of EHRs at distributed provider sites in Massachusetts at a volume discount. Read more & download RFI >>
Request for Information from Implementing Optimization Organizations
MeHI has issued a Request for Information from Implementing Optimization Organizations to seek information from these organizations that are capable of carrying out the deployment of a large number of electronic health record systems at distributed provider sites in Massachusetts. Read more and download RFI >>
Governor Patrick supports MeHI's REC Application
September 11, 2009 - In a letter submitted to The Office of the National Coordinator, Governor Deval Patrick stated, "It is my pleasure to write this letter offering my enthusiastic support for the Massachusetts eHealth Institute to be selected as the Regional Extension Center for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts."
Read more >>
Electronic Health Records and the 21st Century Health Care System
A Message from Dr. David Blumenthal, National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
August 19, 2009 - In my role as National Coordinator for Health IT, I have the privilege to be part of a transformative change in health care that will help to extend the benefits of health information technology (HIT) to all Americans. With the passage earlier this year of the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, we have the tools to begin a major transformation in American health care made possible through the creation of a secure, interoperable nationwide health information network. Read more >>
Secretary Bigby Sends Letter to U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Sebelius
August 3, 2009 - Massachusetts Secretary of Health and Human Services JudyAnn Bigby has sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius to inform her of the steps MeHI and the Commonwealth are taking to promote cost containment, transparency, and efficiency in the delivery of quality health care. The comprehensive statewide plan currently under development will align the Commonwealth's priorities with those of the federal Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act. Read the letter >>
Meaningful Use of Electronic Health Records
June 25, 2009 - Secretary of Health and Human Services JudyAnn Bigby files comments on the draft recommendations for the definition of meaningful use of electronic health records (EHR) which CMS will incorporate into its incentive program for physicians and hospitals in the years 2011 to 2015. Read more >>
Public comment period held for privacy, security standards
June 18, 2009 - URAC, a healthcare accreditation and education organization, is holding a public comment period for revisions to the HIPAA Privacy and Security standards.
Purchasers, policy makers, consumers, healthcare providers, healthcare management organizations, health plans, electronic medical records and software companies are being urged to review the revised standards and provide feedback now through August 3, 2009. Read more >>
Successful Public Hearings Garner
Ideas from Health Care Experts across Massachusetts
Public Hearings to Receive Comments on the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH Act) Provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) finished up on April 28, 2009.