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HHS rules providers, payers, must notify of health info breaches

The Health and Human Services Department published a rule Aug. 19 that requires healthcare providers and health plans to alert patients to unauthorized access of their health information. The regulations apply to physicians and their offices, hospitals, insurance plans and other healthcare organizations covered by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

Blumenthal Offers 'Meaningful Use' Timeframe

The final definition of the �meaningful use� of electronic health records that will be used to determine eligibility for incentive payments under the economic stimulus program will not be available until the middle or end of spring 2010. Thats the prediction of David Blumenthal, M.D., national coordinator for health information technology, who held a press conference Aug. 20.

Health IT standards panel advances SNOMED use

The Health IT Standards Committee this week set up a �glide-path� for the adoption of SNOMED CT as the standard clinical vocabulary for electronic heath information healthcare providers must use in order to qualify as meaningful users of health IT under the economic stimulus plan.

Alaska seeks firms to build HIE

Alaska wants to build a statewide health information exchange. The states Department of Health and Social Services earlier this month published a notice seeking Alaska-based organizations to create a statewide clinical information-sharing system.

Health IT panel endorses preliminary certification procedure

The federal advisory committee that makes recommendations on electronic health records today approved the concept of establishing a preliminary federal certification process that would begin in October and continue until the fiscal 2011 regulations are in place.

Google or Microsoft could hold NHS patient records say Tories

Health records could be transferred to Google or Microsoft under a Tory government, The Times has learnt.

Patients will be given the option of moving their medical notes to private companies after the Conservatives said that they would replace Labours �centrally determined and unresponsive national IT system�.

Maine Readies Launch of Health Information Exchange Network

Later this month, Maine will launch a two-year demonstration project of a statewide electronic health record network designed to improve health care quality, lower costs and help detect and track infectious disease outbreaks, the Bangor Daily News reports.

Virus blamed for EHR breach in Canada

Officials are saying that a virus is to blame for compromising thousands of patient medical records at Alberta Health Services.

Medical records system bill passes panel

Legislation to establish a loan program to help Louisiana health care providers move to an electronic medical records system cleared a House panel Thursday.

HIPAA 5010 Certification Prepared

The Data Interchange Standards Association is partnering with two firms to launch an online data certification service for providers, payers and vendors preparing to migrate to the HIPAA 5010 standards for electronic claims and related transactions.