GAO Appoints New Members to Health IT Advisory Committee

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has appointed five new members to the Health Information Technology Advisory Committee (HITAC). “Widespread access, exchange, and use of electronic health information has great potential, but has been challenging to achieve,” Gene L. Dodaro, comptroller general of the United States and head of GAO, said in a press release. “I am confident these new appointees will make valuable contributions to the committee as it continues to advise the federal government on how to best implement the great potential of electronic health information,” Dodaro added. The 21st Century Cures Act, enacted in December 2016, established HITAC and gave the comptroller general responsibility for appointing at least 14 of the members. The committee provides recommendations to ONC on policies, standards, implementation specifications, and certification criteria related to advancing health data interoperability.