Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released the final 2020-2025 Federal Health IT Strategic Plan (the Plan). The Plan demonstrates the federal government’s ongoing, coordinated focus on improving the access, exchange, and use of electronic health information.

Successful health research hinges on the quality of the data used to advance discovery and needed health IT functionality. Electronic health data are increasingly available and can be a significant boon for the medical research community. Coupled with ubiquitous use of consumer and patient health technologies and increasing prevalence of application programming interfaces, or APIs, there is potential to expand existing data sources for research.

As the capability to sequence an individual’s genome or exome continues to expand—and the cost continues to fall—more states are considering how next generation sequencing (NGS) could support their newborn screening programs, which test approximately four million babies born in the United States each year for congenital, treatable diseases.
Results from NGS can help enhance newborn screening programs by providing more information beyond traditional biochemical and other tests. Not all states have the expertise needed to interpret NGS results,

Health information technology can play an important role in helping to achieve the aims of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This year marks the 30th anniversary of the passage of the ADA – a major milestone in our Nation’s history that has helped increase access and opportunity for individuals with disabilities. The ADA prohibits discrimination and is intended to guarantee that people with disabilities have equal opportunities to fully participate in mainstream American life, including state and local programs and services.