What's Happening in Health IT

In This Issue

Happy Friday! Now that the 2015 Edition Certification (#2015EdCert) rule is out, what’s next for ONC, you might be asking yourself. Well, we have lots still to do, so read on!

#2015EdCert Test Procedures Posted for Public Comment

ICYMI: ONC recently published a set of “Certification Companion Guides” along with the final rule. The Certification Companion Guides (CCGs) are designed to help health IT developers more quickly understand and interpret regulatory requirements so that they can focus on product development. A CCG has been developed for each certification criterion and will serve as the single, consolidated information source for any clarifications related to a certification criterion. Simultaneously, ONC is publishing on a rolling basis 2015 Edition test procedures for comment. The 2015 Edition test procedures follow a new outcome-focused format based on stakeholder feedback. Test procedures will have a 30-day comment period from their publication date. Similar to the open and transparent approach we administered with test procedures associated with the 2015 Edition notice of proposed rulemaking, stakeholders will be able to comment on test procedures online and all comments will be visible. Check out the full blog post by Steve Posnack.

Register Now! ONC Webinar on the 2015 Edition Health IT Certification Criteria

Hear from the experts about the 2015 Edition Health IT Certification Criteria. At 3:30 p.m. ET Thursday, October 29, 2015, ONC will be hosting a detailed session on the 2015 Edition final rule.Register now for the free webinar.

The webinar will provide an overview of:

the components of the 2015 Edition final rule;
the differences between the proposed and final rules;
previous editions of certification criteria and certification policies and the 2015 Edition rule and
important milestones and timelines related to the final rule.

Presenters are Elise Sweeney Anthony, J.D., Deputy Director, Office of Policy and Michael L. Lipinski, J.D., Division Director, Federal Policy and Regulatory Affairs.

Register Now! Due to space limits, this FREE webinar will be on a first come, first serve basis to the first 1,000 registered. Slides from the presentation are now available (scroll down, last link in the Resources box).

Rural Health IT Funding Workshops in Kentucky and Tennessee

Attention rural #HealthIT professionals in Kentucky and Tennessee! Rural health IT funding workshops are scheduled for November 12 (Clarksville, Tenn.) and November 13 (Hazard, Ky.). The Clarksville workshop will be held at the Austin Peay State University, University Center Ballroom. The Hazard workshop will kick off at the Hazard Community and Technical College, in the Devert Owens Building’s Multi-Purpose room. Meet with local stakeholders and representatives from the Federal government and learn about numerous health information technology funding opportunities. Find directions and more details about both FREE workshops and sign up now for the Clarksville event or the Hazard event!

FCC Holds Broadband Tech Forum in Detroit

The Federal Communications Commission’s Connect2Health Task Force (featuring FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn), is joining TechTown Detroit, and Wayne State University for a Broadband Health Tech Forum in Detroit on Wednesday, October 28, 2015. The forum, Leveraging the Power of Broadband to Address Disparities, Drive Health Innovation, and Spur Entrepreneurship,will focus on a variety of issues concerning broadband technology, urban health disparities, and innovation and entrepreneurship; and will strategize on ways to ensure that the benefits of current and future broadband-enabled health technologies and wireless medical solutions are fully available to everyone – from rural and remote areas, to urban underserved communities. The Forum will start at 9 a.m. at Wayne State University’s Integrative Biosciences (iBIO) Center, which will include a panel discussion on whether broadband is a social determinant of health. The afternoon portion of the program will take place at TechTown Detroit from 1-3 p.m., and will focus on innovation and entrepreneurship in the health technology space. This event is free and open to the public, but space is limited. If you would like to attend, please e-mail C2HFCC-Detroit@fcc.gov with "Registration" in the subject line and provide your name, organization affiliation and contact information.

Be a Health Literacy Hero

As Health Literacy Month comes to a close, check out these resources to raise awareness about health literacy, including the Health Literacy Month Handbook and the Health Literacy Month Checklists.

Job openings at ONC

Chief Scientist

Open 10/20/15 to 11/10/15

https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/417628900

Program Analyst

Open 10/21/15 to 10/27/15

https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/417660200

IT Specialist (Software Applications)

Open 10/23/15 to 10/29/15

https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/416845100

Federal Advisory Committee Schedule Week of October 26 (all times EDT)

2:00 p.m.: The Health IT Policy Committee’s Privacy & Security Workgroup meets. Follow along here: http://bit.ly/1GvqNfR