The federal Health IT Advisory Committee published its annual report workgroup update Feb. 20, outlining the next few years' priorities, which include interoperability and patient access to medical records.
The 25-member Health IT Advisory Committee was created under the 21st Century Cares Act, which former President Barack Obama signed into law December 2016. The committee of experts — appointed by Congressional leaders, the HHS secretary and the comptroller general of the Government Accountability Office — provide policy recommendations to the ONC related to interoperable health IT infrastructure.
HITAC listed the following three target areas its focused on as well as recommendations for solutions:
1. Interoperability: Increase level of health IT infrastructure that allows for electronic access, exchange and use of health information.
2. Privacy and security: Advance and maintain trust in interoperability and protect patients.
3. Patient access: Establish the facilitation of secure access by an individual and their caregivers to such individual's protected health information.
During its meeting, HITAC also launched four new task forces that will issue recommendations on the ONC's recent set of interoperability rules, which the agency released Feb. 11.
HITAC plans to send its final fiscal year 2018 annual report to HHS and Congress this spring.
To view the full update, click here.