HHS News 
Top News
- Contractors with security clearances lack path to report problems
- Proposed commission would give teeth to cost-saving ideas but some lawmakers skeptical
- Feds outside the Beltway react to furloughs
- Contracting executives guilty of 8(a) program fraud
- EPA CIO Jackson returning to private sector
- Navy strikes enterprise licensing deal with Oracle
- 29-year-old NASA engineer going where no one has gone before
- USPS reaches energy reduction goal ahead of schedule
- NOAA meteorologist helps save lives one storm at a time
- ICE Director John Morton stepping down
- NASA picks 8 new astronauts, 4 of them women
- House passes sweeping $638 billion defense bill
- NIH tops list of best companies for baby boomers
- Latest postal reform proposal OKs 5-day delivery
- IRS official contradicts claims about reviews
- House presses VA for more details after cyber attacks
- DoD maintains BRAC fight, despite opposition
Healthcare IT In Government "Progress & Best Practices"
July 6th
Program will discuss the current status and progress made in Healthcare IT & with the NHIN, best practices & benefits, challenges or major hurdles to still overcome, new technology advances, and the vision for the future for Health IT and NHIN.
Analysis: HHS health IT program is the right start
The Department of Health and Human Services has made it possible for vendors to certify that their electronic health records hardware and software meet the definition of meaningful use for health information technology. Dr. John Loonsk, former director of interoperability and standards in the Office of the National Coordinator, explains what this means.
Hearing offers suggestions for reducing Medicare waste, fraud
Errors, waste, and fraud in the Medicare system was the topic of conversation before the House Ways and Means Subcommittees on Health and Oversight today.
CMS gets ahead of healthcare changes
We get update on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' responsibilities when it comes to health care reform from the director of the Office of Acquisition and Grants Management, Rod Benson.
GAO: Agency rules allow conferences at resort locations
A recent GAO report looked at agencies' policies for choosing the locations of conferences and found that cost was the number one factor when it came to planning. Details from GAO's Lorelei St. James.
OMB must sell Congress on budget cuts
Former OMB officials say having solid data on why certain programs need to be ended or cut is key to making this initiative work. OMB directs agencies to suggest which low performing programs or those outside of the agency's mission to target for termination or reduction by Sept. 13.
MOC: how HHS is paying for engagement
Citizen engagement is invaluable to agencies, but not without cost. John Teeter, the deputy CIO at HHS, explains.
National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
March 1st, March 3rd, May 10th 2010
David Blumenthal, M.D., M.P.P
National Coordinator
Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
US CTO Chopra describes the work to be done on openness
Assessments show that we are off to a good start--but have much more work to do as we transition our overall efforts towards effective agency implementation. U.S. Chief Technology Officer, Aneesh Chopra explains.
DHS & HHS noted for language use
The I-94 form from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, received the Grand WonderMark Award from the Center for Plain Language for the worst and most unclear communication. Chairman Dr. Annetta Cheek tells us about the other winners and losers.
Sankaran leaving Federal Health Architecture role
He has been with the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT almost since its inception. Sankaran writes to his colleagues that the time is right to pursue other opportunities.
HHS pressed on flexibility in Health IT mandates
The Department of Health and Human Services continues to be the lead agency for the Obama Administration's priority of establishing a nationwide system of permanent electronic health records. But at least one large stakeholder group working with HHS is looking for some changes to the program.
OMB tells all agencies to go back to Grants.gov
HHS upgraded the portal and it is now ready to handle the large number of applications. OMB had moved 10 of the largest grant making agencies away from the portal last spring because of concerns the system could not handle the influx of applications from the Recovery Act.
GOVERNMENT …as Avatar
Alan P. Balutis
Director and Distinguished Fellow
Cisco Business Solutions Group
How to build a nationwide information exchange
By the time the NHIN Direct Project is done, there will be one nationwide exchange, consisting of the organizations that have come together in a common policy framework to implement the standards and services. Acting director of the office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, Dr. Doug Fridsma, explains how it will work.
Agencies count on federal financial managers
In the federal government, they wield spreadsheets, strive for "clean audit opinions", and are the first line of defense in accounting for the spending of taxpayer dollars. "They" are the top federal CFOs and financial managers, and yesterday, they met here in Washington to discuss their profession.
Committee to set standards for health IT in three areas
HHS also preparing to further implement nationwide health network for at least five agencies.
