HHS awards $267M for health IT regional centers

The Health and Human Services Department funds centers designed to help doctors and rural hospitals use health IT.

How the VA VistA system is like a fighter jet

Dr. Steve Ondra's metaphor comparing the VA's electronic health record systems to fighter jets took wing at the AFCEA Health IT Day today.

HHS provides $144M for health IT training and research

The Health and Human Services Department is handing out $144 million to set up health IT workforce training programs and health IT research projects.

VA/DOD center might offer lessons for health IT

A first-of-its-kind health facility in Chicago could serve as a case study in how DOD and the VA can integrate electronic health record systems.

IT plays critical role in health care reform

Health information technology and electronic health records (EHRs) underpin many of the provisions in the comprehensive health reform legislation passed by Congress and signed into law by the president.

Kaiser policies for veteran health records still raising questions

A conflict may exist in Kaiser Permanente's descriptions of its security policies on electronic health records.

What HHS' entry into e-health record certification means

It remains to be seen whether HHS'Notice of Proposed Rulemaking released yesterday is a game changer for certification of electronic health records.

HHS awards $100M for pediatric e-health records

The Health and Human Services Department is investing in the development of pediatric electronic health records in 18 states.

HHS plans move to cloud for regional centers

The software will help the RECs to more effectively track and manage medical providers implementing electronic health record systems

Hospitals face compliance problems with HITECH Act

Hospitals are coping with new privacy and security regulations for health information technology that went into effect Feb. 17.

HHS wants contractor to test privacy of 'anonymous' data

One of the important issues in the health IT discussion is whether patient medical data can be kept private and anonymous, and now the HHS is looking for a contractor to research that question.

HHS pumps $60M into research on health IT adoption

HHS officials today announced a new program with $60 million for research on overcoming the barriers to adoption of electronic health records.

CMS awards health IT planning grants to states

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services handed out $17 million in matching funds to seven states and one territory for preparations for handling health IT payments from the economic stimulus law.

HHS puts up $235M for health IT

The Health and Human Services Department will fund 15 communities to demonstrate the use of digital health records.

HHS to award health-data network contracts by year's end

HHS is planning to award a series of competitive contracts for the Nationwide Health Information Network later this year.

VA and industry join to develop health record strategy

The VA's CIO has asked an industry group to advise the department on whether to deploy the VistA digital health record system more broadly to private hospitals and providers.

Verisign to support HHS health network

The Health and Human Services Department announced it is preparing to award a sole-source contract to Verisign for managed public-key infrastructure services and digital certificates on the Nationwide Health Information Network.

SSA testing Microsoft HealthVault

SSA has made an agreement with Microsoft HealthVault to link to patient medical data to improve the determinations of disability.

Health IT opportunity might change competitive landscape

The deployment of health IT systems is creating a rising tide of opportunities for government contractors and new players, such as Microsoft and Google.

State CIOs want bigger role in health IT opportunity

State CIOs can play a critical role in deployment of health IT, according to a new report.