New This Week on HealthIT.gov

New This Week on HealthIT.gov

Welcome to the almost official middle of 2013.  Yep, hard to believe that we're already at the end of June.  

In This Issue: 

• Health IT Adoption Report to Congress
• ONC Regulations FAQs
• Pop Quiz on Security Risk Analysis
• EHR data now included on Medicare's Physician Compare Website
• New & Improved Healthcare Marketplace Website

Health IT Adoption Report to Congress  

This week we released the Update on the Adoption of Health Information Technology and Related Efforts to Facilitate the Electronic Use and Exchange of Information. This report looks at the most up-to-date health IT adoption numbers from January 1, 2012 to April 30, 2013, the steps that ONC and CMS has taken to help in the adoption and exchange of electronic health information, and identifies and discusses barriers and how our programs are helping to address those barriers.

  

ONC Regulations FAQ: What is the relationship between EHR certification and the CMS’ annual CQM specification updates? 

The answer to this question, and others that we get frequently, is in a joint CMS - ONC response just posted this week in our FAQs. You can find the answers by visiting the ONC Regulations FAQs.

  

Pop Quiz on Security Risk Analysis (True or False) 

• Simply installing a certified EHR fulfills the security risk analysis MU requirement. – False
• Each year, I’ll have to completely redo my security risk analysis – False
• My EHR vendor took care of everything I need to do about privacy and security – False

The Myths about Security Risk Assessments are excerpts from the Guide to the Privacy and Security of Health Information. See the Top 10 Security Risk Analysis myths dispelled here: Top 10 Myths of Security Risk Analysis.

  

EHR data now included on Medicare’s Provider Compare Website 

If patients want to know if their doctor or other health care professional is meaningfully using an EHR to better coordinate and improve their care, they can check out CMS' redesigned the Physician Compare website. Of course there's more information there, like the specialties offered by doctors and group practices, board certification and hospital affiliations.

  

New & Improved Healthcare Marketplace Website – We're Ready!

HHS re-launched the updated HealthCare.gov to make it easy for consumers to learn about the new Health Insurance Marketplace. New tools that have been added to the website include videos, and other resources for consumers and small businesses to get clear, easy-to-understand information to compare plans when open enrollment begins on October 1. For Spanish-speaking consumers, CuidadoDeSalud.gov has also been updated. And, in case you prefer talking to a live person in one of 150 languages, you can call the toll-free line at 1-800-318-2596.