Health IT Policy Committee: Recommendations to the National Coordinator for Health IT

The Health Information Technology Policy Committee (HITPC), a committee established in accordance with the federal advisory committee act (FACA), provided recommendations on health IT policy issues to the National Coordinator for consideration. A formal transmittal letter must transmit the recommendations from the HITPC to the National Coordinator. Once the FACA has been satisfied (i.e., a transmittal letter sent from the committee to the National Coordinator), the National Coordinator can then determine the disposition of the recommendations.

* Persons using assistive technology may not be able to fully access information in this file. For assistance, contact ONC at onc.request@hhs.gov.

December 16, 2015

Health IT Policy Committee Report to Congress: Challenges and Barriers to Interoperability

At the November 10, 2015 meeting, the HITPC approved the report to Congress. The report, which was included as a requirement in the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015, reviews the technical, operational and financial barriers to interoperability, and the role of certification in advancing or hindering interoperability across various providers. 

 Below are the four recommendations in the report:

  1. Develop and implement meaningful measures of HIE-sensitive health outcomes and resource use for public reporting and payment.
  2. Develop and implement HIE-sensitive vendor performance measures for certification and public reporting.
  3. Set specific HIE-sensitive payment incentives – that incorporate specific performance measure criteria – and a timeline for implementation that establishes clear objectives of what must be accomplished under alternative payment models.
  4. Convene a Summit of major stakeholders co-led by the federal government (e.g., ONC and CMS) and private sector to act on the ONC Roadmap to accelerate the pace of change toward interoperability.

September 1, 2015

At the August 11, 2015 meeting, the Health IT Policy Committee approved recommendations from the Quality Measurement Task Force regarding comments to CMS’ 2016 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) NPRM.

August 18, 2015

At the August 11, 2015 meeting, the Health IT Policy Committee approved recommendations from the Privacy and Security Workgroup related to the opportunities and challenges of health big data. These recommendations informed a report at the request of the White House to consider the impacts of big data analyses.

August 11, 2015

At the June 30, 2015 meeting, the Health IT Policy Committee approved recommendations from the Advanced Health Models and Meaningful Use Workgroup that came out of a hearing held on June 3, 2015.

June 30, 2015

At the June 30 meeting, the Health IT Policy Committee approved recommendations from the Quality Measurement Task Force (QMTF). The QMTF reviewed the CMS 2016 Medicare Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems Notice of Proposed Rule Making and made recommendations on clinical quality measurement standard versions and a new type of measure using core clinical data elements.

June 6, 2015

At the May 22, 2015 meeting, Health IT Policy Committee approved comments from various workgroups in response to CMS’ Stage 3 Meaningful Use NPRM.

April 29, 2015

At the April 7, 2015 meeting, the Health IT Policy Committee approved comments on ONC’s Shared Nationwide Interoperability Roadmap from the following workgroups:

March 10, 2015

At the March 10, 2015 meeting, the Health IT Policy Committee approved recommendations from the Strategy and Innovation and the Consumer Workgroup on the Federal Health IT Strategic Plan:

January 20, 2015

At the joint Committee Meeting on October 15, 2014, the Health IT Policy and Health IT Standards Committee approved recommendations from the JASON Task Force in response to the JASON report.

October 14, 2014

At the July 8, 2014 meeting, the Health IT Policy Committee approved recommendations from the Accountable Care Workgroup on how HHS can advance priority health IT capabilities in a variety of accountable care arrangements to support improvements in care and health while reducing costs.

August 6, 2014

At the July 8, 2014 meeting, the Health IT Policy Committee approved safety center recommendations from the Safety Task Force.

At the March 11, 2014 and June 20, 2014 meeting, the Health IT Policy Committee approved long-term post-acute care (LTPAC) and behavioral health (BH) certification recommendations from the Certification and Adoption Workgroup.

July 21, 2014

At the July 8, 2014 meeting, the Health IT Policy Committee approved recommendations on the next generation of e-measure constructs from the from the Quality Measure Workgroup.

July 15, 2014

At the June 10, 2014 meeting, the Health IT Policy Committee approved recommendations from the Privacy and Security Tiger Team related to Data Segmentation for Privacy.

June 24, 2014

At the June 10, 2014 meeting, the Health IT Policy Committee approved recommendations that were the output from the May 7, 2014 Certification Hearing.

June 10, 2014

At the April 4, 2014 meeting, the Health IT Policy Committee approved recommendations from the Privacy and Security Tiger Team related to friends, family, and personal representatives.

April 1, 2014

At the March 11, 2014 meeting, the Health IT Policy Committee approved recommendations from the Meaningful Use Workgroup related to Meaningful Use Stage 3. Included as attachments are all of the Meaningful Use Stage 3 recommendations that have been approved by the HITPC from numerous workgroups.

February 20, 2014

At the September 4, 2013 meeting, the Health IT Policy Committee approved recommendations from the Food and Drug Administration Safety Innovation Act (FDASIA) Workgroup.

February 3, 2014

At the January 4, 2014 meeting, the Health IT Policy Commiteee approved recommendations from the Quality Measure Workgroup regarding Meaningful Use Stage 3.

January 22, 2014

At the December 4, 2013 meeting, the Health IT Policy Committee approved recommendations from the Privacy and Security Tiger Team regarding accounting of disclosures. Recommendations were informed by a virtual hearing held on September 30, 2013.

January 9, 2014

At the December 4, 2013 meeting, the Health IT Policy Committee meeting approved recommendations from the Consumer Engagement Workgroup regarding patient generated health data for Meaningful Use Stage 3.

November 21, 2013

At the November 6, 2013 meeting, the Health IT Policy Committee approved recommendations from the Privacy and Security Tiger Team regarding privacy and security considerations that should be addressed as part of the certification process for data intermediaries. No changes were made to recommendations that were presented in September 2010, but key points for further consideration were included.

November 14, 2013

At the November 14, 2013 meeting, the Health IT Policy Committee approved recommendations from the Information Exchange Workgroup related to Meaningful Use Stage 3. These recommendations included the following:

  • Query for a patient record, approved at the July 9, 2013 HITPC meeting
  • Provider directories, approved at the August 7, 2013 HITPC meeting
  • Provider data migration and patient portability, approved at the November 6, 2013 HITPC meeting

HITPC Transmittal Document [PDF - 168 KB]

October 29, 2013

At the June 5, 2013 and August 7, 2013 meetings, the Health IT Policy Committee approved recommendations from the Privacy and Security Tiger Team related to Meaningful Use Stage 3.

August 23, 2013

At the August 7, 2013 meeting, the Health IT Policy Committee approved recommendations regarding query and response.

June 6, 2013

At the May 28, 2013 meeting, the Health IT Policy Committee approved recommendations regarding patient safety and electronic health record systems.

May 3, 2013

At the January 8, 2013 meeting, the Health IT Policy Committee approved recommendations regarding patient authentication.

April 22, 2013

At the April 3, 2013 meeting, the Health IT Policy Committee approved comments regarding the Office of the National Coordinator and Centers for Medicare/Medicaid Services Request for Information on Advancing Interoperability and Health Information Exchange.

September 26, 2012

At the September 26, 2012 meeting, the Health IT Policy Committee provided recommendations to the Privacy & Security Tiger Team regarding provider authentication. 

June 29, 2012

At the June 29, 2012 meeting, the Health IT Policy Committee provided comments regarding the Office of the National Coordinator’s (ONC) Nationwide Health Information Network: Conditions for Trusted Exchange Request for Information (RFI).

June 7, 2012

At the June 7, 2012 meeting, the Health IT Policy Committee provided comments regarding the Office of the National Coordinator’s (ONC) Standards and Certification Criteria (S&CC).

May 7, 2012

At the May 7, 2012 meeting, the Health IT Policy Committee provided comments regarding Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for Standards, Implementation Specifications, and Certification Criteria for Electronic Health Record Technology, 2014 Edition.

December 14, 2011

At the December 7, 2011 meeting, the Health IT Policy Committee approved recommendations on a security policy framework for electronic health records (EHR).

October 31, 2011

At the October 12, 2011 meeting, the Health IT Policy Committee approved recommendations on the initial set of policies developed by the HHS Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) to govern its Query Health pilot project.

October 18, 2011

At the October 18, 2011 meeting, the Health IT Policy Committee provided recommendations to the National Coordinator on issues raised by an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) (published July 26, 2011, Human Subjects Research Protections) regarding secondary uses of electronic health record (EHR) data for research uses. The recommendations were developed by the HITPC Privacy and Security Tiger Team.

August 16, 2011

At the August 3, 2011 meeting, the Health IT Policy Committee approved recommendations from the Privacy & Security Tiger Team to the National Coordinator on the issue of the capability of patients to view and download information about their health care.

August 5, 2011

At the August 3, 2011 meeting, the Health IT Policy Committee approved recommendations from the HITPC Quality Measures Workgroup to the National Coordinator on a quality measure framework and quality measures for Meaningful Use Stage 2.

July 26, 2011

At the June 8, 2011 meeting, the Health IT Policy Committee approved recommendations by adding an appendix to the National Coordinator on Meaningful Use Stage 2 (MU2),  which were approved by the Committee on June 8, 2011. These missing objectives are summarized in the transmittal letter of July 26, 2011, and an accompanying  comprehensive matrix of all Stage 2 recommendations. The appendix and comprehensive matrix have been transmitted to the National Coordinator.

July 25, 2011

At the July 6, 2011 meeting, the Health IT Policy Committee approved recommendations from the Privacy & Security Tiger Team to the National Coordinator on the issue of amendments/corrections to electronic medical records.

June 16, 2011

At the June 8, 2011 meeting, the Health IT Policy Committee approved recommendations from the Meaningful Use Workgroup to the National Coordinator on Meaningful Use Stage 2 (MU2).

June 13, 2011

At the June 8, 2011 meeting, the Health IT Policy Committee approved recommendations from a report from the Certification-Adoption Workgroup to the National Coordinator on usability of Electronic Health Records (EHRs).

At the May 11, 2011 meeting, the Health IT Policy Committee approved recommendations from the Information Exchange Workgroup to the National Coordinator on individual-level provider directories (ILPDs).

June 8, 2011

At the June 8, 2011 meeting, the Health IT Policy Committee approved recommendations from the Privacy & Security Tiger Team to the National Coordinator on the issue of qualification of certificate authorities, which are the organizations that issue digital certificates to health care entities.

April 18, 2011

At the April 13, 2011 meeting, the Health IT Policy Committee approved recommendations from the Enrollment Workgroup to the National Coordinator on a proposed set of federal data services which could be used to streamline eligibility and enrollment in health and human services programs.

April 14, 2011

At the April 13, 2011 meeting, the Health IT Policy Committee approved recommendations from the PCAST Report Workgroup and the Privacy & Security Tiger Team related to suggested pathways to help achieve health information technology capabilities on the issue of public trust in Health IT and health information exchange, respectively.

February 8, 2011

At the February 2, 2011 meeting, the Health IT Policy Committee approved recommendations from the Privacy & Security Tiger Team to the National Coordinator on matching individuals/patients to their information.

January 14, 2011

At the November 19, 2010 meeting, the Health IT Policy Committee approved recommendations from the Information Exchange Workgroup to the National Coordinator on Entity-level Provider Directories (ELPDs).

December 16, 2010

At the December 13, 2010 meeting, the Health IT Policy Committee approved recommendations from the Governance Workgroup to the National Coordinator on Models of Governance to allow secure and meaningful information exchange within and across states, grounded in a common foundation of standards, technical specifications, and policies.

November 29, 2010

At the November 29, 2010 meeting, the Health IT Policy Committee approved recommendations from the Privacy & Security Tiger Team to the National Coordinator on privacy and security policies and practices on provider authentication.

September 7, 2010

At the August 19, 2010 and August 30, 2010 meetings, the Health IT Policy Committee and the Health IT Standards Committee approved recommendations to the National Coordinator on steps to ensure a more efficient, consumer-mediated and transparent enrollment process for health and human services programs, as mandated by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) for further development in consultation with the Secretary.

September 1, 2010

At the August 19, 2010 meeting, the Health IT Policy Committee approved recommendations from the Privacy & Security Tiger Team to the National Coordinator on privacy and security policies and practices.

May 10, 2010

At the May 6, 2010 meeting, the Health IT Policy Committee approved recommendations from the Adoption-Certification Workgroup to the National Coordinator on the (Permanent) Certification NPRM.

April 30, 2010

At the April 21, 2010 meeting, the Health IT Policy Committee approved recommendations from the Adoption-Certification Workgroup to the National Coordinator on the subject of Health IT Safety.

April 6, 2010

At the April 5, 2010 meeting, the Health IT Policy Committee approved recommendations from the Adoption-Certificatoin Workgroup and the Privacy & Security Tiger Team to the National Coordinator on the (Temporary) Certification NPRM.

March 8, 2010

At the February 2010 meeting, the Health IT Policy Committee approved recommendations from the Information Exchange Workgroup to the National Coordinator on the Interim Final Rule (IFR) on Initial Set of Standards, Implementation Specifications, and Certification Criteria for EHRs.

To make public comments on CMS’ NPRM go to http://www.regulations.gov.

March 5, 2010

At the February 2010 meeting, the Health IT Policy Committee approved recommendations from the Meaningful Use, Adoption-Certification, and Privacy & Security Policy Workgroups to the National Coordinator on (1) the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding CMS’ incentive program for the meaningful use of EHRs; and (2) the Interim Final Rule (IFR) on Initial Set of Standards, Implementation Specifications, and Certification Criteria for EHRs.

To make public comments on CMS’ NPRM go to http://www.regulations.gov.

August 14, 2009

At the August 14, 2009 meeting, the Health IT Policy Committee approved recommendations from the Adoption-Certification and Information Exchange Workgroups to the National Coordinator on EHR certification criteria and functional requirements.

August 10, 2009

At the July 16, 2009 meeting, the Health IT Policy Committee approved recommendations from the Meaningful Use and Adoption-Certification Workgroups to the National Coordinator on the definition of meaningful use of EHRs and on the EHR certification process.