Top News
AMIA Endorses ACMI Statement on Recent Supreme Court Ruling
AMIA Board President and Chair Gretchen Purcell Jackson, MD, PhD, FACS, FACMI, FAMIA, released a statement endorsing the American College of Medical Informatics (ACMI) position on the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization Supreme Court Ruling, with minor modifications. Read the full statement here.
2023 Medicare PFS Proposed Rule
In their latest proposed rule, CMS aims to create a more equitable health care system that results in greater access, higher quality, and continue to push innovation. CMS cited JAMIA in the proposed rule regarding the lack of clinician training resulting in high rates of negative healthcare experiences for LGBTQ+ individuals. Additionally, the proposed Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) would expand access to Accountable Care Organizations, behavioral health services, cancer screening, and dental care. The proposed rule will have changes to the PFS, Medicare Part B payment policies, Medicare Shared Savings Program, and Quality Payment Program. There will be more to come from the AMIA team responding for public comment on the proposed rule.
Administration
CMS Establishes Framework for Health Equity at Agency for Next Decade
The CMS Office of Minority Health released an extensive framework mapping out to 2032 to address the health disparities. The agency has identified five priorities to support health care for all served by one of CMS’ programs. From their site:
- Expand the Collection, Reporting, and Analysis of Standardized Data
- Assess Causes of Disparities Within CMS Programs and Address Inequities in Policies and Operations to Close Gaps
- Build Capacity of Health Care Organizations and the Workforce to Reduce Health and Health Care Disparities
- Advance Language Access, Health Literacy, and the Provision of Culturally Tailored Services
- Increase All Forms of Accessibility to Health Care Services and Coverage
CMS Webinar Overview of 2023 Proposed Rule for Quality Payment Program
The July 26 webinar will guide registrants through the proposed policies for the 2023 performance year of the Quality Payment Program. CMS staff will also cover future direction of the Quality Payment Program, 2023 proposed policy changes for traditional MIPS, MIPS Value Pathways, the Medicare Shared Savings Program, and Advanced APMs, and key differences between 2022 and proposed 2023 requirements. Register here.
SDOH Information Exchange Learning Forum: Policy and Funding
The July 19 forum brings a chance to share and hear lessons learned, promising practices, and challenges related to exchanging social determinants of health (SDOH) data. This webinar will be about privacy and security considerations, as well as financing models to support organizations pursuing SDOH information exchange. Click here to check out all the forums.
Legislation & Politics
Senators Bennet and Cortez Masto Urge HHS to Modernize HIPAA Privacy Rule to Protect Reproductive Rights
In response to the Dobbs decision by the Supreme Court, Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) requested HHS to draft new rules to protect the privacy of patients obtaining abortion services. The letter addresses the need for new rules such as redefining Covered Entities, assuring individuals information will not be shared with law enforcement agencies targeting folks who have an abortion, and that Pregnancy Care Centers should also follow the Privacy Rule.
Around the Web
- How Being an ICU Nurse Prepared Me to be NLM Director; NLM Musings from the Mezzanine
- Interoperability, User-Centered EHR Design Key to Tackling Clinician Burnout; EHR Intelligence
- VA appoints new health data exec to lead interagency partnerships; FedScoop
AMIA’s Washington Download is your source for health informatics policy news and information from around the Beltway, covering action from the Hill, the Administration and important AMIA collaborators.