2014 National Health IT Week
and HIMSS Policy Summit
HIMSS
Government
Relation Team
Arlington, Virginia
September 2014
2014 National Health IT Week
• September 15-19, 2014
• Description – In its ninth year, NHIT Week is a collaborative forum showcasing
the essential role of health IT in transforming healthcare in America.
• Purpose – Focus on the potential and achievements of health IT to transform
healthcare including improve quality, expand access, and help control costs.
• Location – Washington, DC and around the country
• Audience – The public, media, and key government decision makers
• PR/Communications – Promote to the Congress, Administration, public key
media, HIT trade media
• Special Considerations• U.S. Senate and various state legislatures pass NHIT week resolutions
• US President, NCSL, and the NGA issue proclamations recognizing NHIT
Week.
• NHIT Week Corporate/Organizational Partners (400 last year)
• Local NHIT Events Tool Kit
• Contact(s) – Jeff Coughlin, 703-562-8824; jcoughlin@himss.org
National Health IT Week Agenda
• Thursday, September 11th - NHIT Week Press Briefing
• Monday, September 15th - NHIT Week Site Visit – U.S. Army Fort Belvoir
•
Community Hospital
• Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT Events
• Tuesday, September 16th - Federal Health IT Bus Development Workshop
• Special Event on Health Disparities and Infant Mortality, and Health IT
Solutions
• Wednesday & Thursday, September 17-18th • HIMSS Policy Summit (Congressional Fly-In)
• Wednesday, September 17th - NHIT 101 Training
• NHIT Week Awards Reception and Networking Event
• Thursday, September 18th - Capitol Hill Technology Showcase
• NHIT Week Press Conference
• NHIT Week & HIMSS Policy Summit Reception
Essential Messages for
NHIT Week 2014
•
Interoperable Data Exchange is Essential to
Healthcare Transformation.
•
Health IT is Critical to Improving Quality of
Healthcare.
•
Health IT Is Stimulating the U.S. Economy.
•
Theme - “Achieving Value through Interoperability”
2014 National Health IT
Leadership Awards
• Congressional Award - Senator Richard
Blumenthal (Rhode Island)
• Federal Award - Judy Murphy, Deputy National
Coordinator and Chief Nursing Officer, Office of
the National Coordinator for Health Information
Technology (ONC)
• State Award - Hawaii State Senator Rosalyn
Baker
HIMSS Policy Summit
Congressional Fly-In
• September 17-18, 2014
• Description – 13th annual HIMSS Policy Summit is a day and a half Congressional
fly-in for HIMSS members and others to articulate HIMSS’ top requests to Congress
• Purpose – Participants visits their members of Congress or staff to explain HIMSS
top three Congressional Asks and discuss health IT accomplishments and potential
• Location – Grand Hyatt Washington, 1000 H Street, NW, Washington, DC and
Capitol Hill
• Audience – HIMSS members and others; registration required (total anticipated 300)
• PR/Communications – Promote to the media and invite key HIT trade media
• Special Considerations- Virtual March on Washington and Webinar
• Contact(s) - Richard Hodge, 703-562-8847; rhodge@HIMSS.org
HIMSS Policy Summit Agenda
Wednesday & Thursday, September 17-18th
•
Wednesday – Committee Breakout meetings - Public Policy Cmte,
Chapter Advocate Roundtable, HIMSS Government Relations
Roundtable, Diversity Roundtable
•
•
NHIT Week Awards Reception and Networking Event
Thursday – Policy Summit Training
•
Federal Agency Speaker – Dr. Karen DeSalvo, ONC, HIT
•
Congressional Speakers – Members of Congress Invited
•
Congressional Staff Panel Discussion
•
Congressional Asks Training
•
Capitol Hill Advocacy Training
•
Congressional Office Visits
•
NHIT Week & HIMSS Policy Summit Reception
HIMSS Top Three Congressional
Asks for 2014
• Drafted via a set process starting in January
• Issues selected by Congressional Asks Work Group –
open to all HIMSS members
• Consistent with HIMSS Public Policy Principles –
www.himss.org/Policy Center/Congressional Affairs
• Appropriate for action by Congress
• Public Policy Committee reviews and recommends
• Reviewed by other committees and content experts
• Approved by Senior Leadership / Board of Directors
Congressional Ask #1
Minimize the Disruption of
Healthcare from Federally
Mandated Health Information
Technology Program Changes.
To minimize disruption to the nation’s healthcare delivery
capability and undue burden on providers, Congress should
require the Secretary of HHS to publish a review and evaluation
of the expected five-year roadmap of all mandated health
information technology requirements and program changes
administered by HHS that affect the operations of providers,
payers, and/or health information technology vendors.
Congressional Ask #2
Fund the Office of the National
Coordinator for Health Information
Technology to Support Mission.
In order to realize the huge promise of interoperable health
information technology critical to nationwide healthcare
transformation, Congress should fund the Office of the
National Coordinator for Health Information Technology at
sufficient levels requested in the Administration’s FY 2015
Budget Request.
Congressional Ask #3
Expand Telehealth in Support of
Healthcare Transformation.
To expand healthcare access, help control costs, enhance
information interoperability, and improved quality for rural
and underserved populations, Congress should pass
legislation that enables the nationwide realization of the full
benefits of telehealth services
HIMSS Government Relations Team
Thomas Leary, VP, Government Relations,
Executive Director, HIMSS Foundation
Vacant, Coordinator
Richard Hodge, Senior Director, Congressional Affairs
Arnol Simmons, Manager, Government Activities
Vacant, Manager, Congressional Affairs
Vacant, Manager, Government Relations Communications
Neal Neuberger, Executive Director, HIMSS Foundation’s
Institute for e-Health Policy
Kathie Westpheling, Manager, Student Experiences
Jeff Coughlin, Senior Director, Federal and State Affairs
Stephanie Jamison, Director, Federal Affairs
Katie Boyer, Manager, Federal Affairs
Julie Brown, Project Manager, State Government Affairs
Evan Yeckley, Coordinator, Federal Affairs
policy@himss.org
www.himss.org/library/health-it-policy