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Learn more about HHS’s Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC)
From the ONC Desk ONC Staff Profile: Athena Curtiss – Budget as Public Health
Athena Curtiss | January 23, 2023
As the team lead for budget formulation, Athena Curtiss works in the office of the chief operating officer, financial and human capital division, which is responsible for the formulation and execution of ONC’s budget.
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Health Data Evidence on the Growing Use of Health IT to Address the Opioid Epidemic
Chelsea Richwine | January 19, 2023
In the midst of a growing drug overdose crisis exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, clinicians’ use of prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) and electronic prescribing of controlled substances (EPCS) technology is critical to improving opioid prescribing practices, informing treatment decisions, and supporting safe and effective patient care. Recent efforts, such as mandating use of EPCS technology and integrating PDMPs into electronic health record (EHR) systems, aim to improve prescribing practices by increasing the utility of information contained in PDMPs and decreasing prescription diversion and doctor shopping.
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Health IT ONC’s Health Information Technology Advisory Committee: 2022 Recap and a Look Ahead to 2023
Mike Berry | January 19, 2023
The Health Information Technology Advisory Committee (HITAC) plays an important role in ONC activities and objectives. Required by the 21st Century Cures Act, the HITAC has been operational since 2018 and represents a wide range of experts in health IT who inform ONC’s policies and programs.
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Health IT, Interoperability 2023 ISA Reference Edition Is Here
Andrew Hayden | January 10, 2023
We are excited to continue a New Year’s tradition at ONC with the release of the annual Interoperability Standards Advisory (ISA) Reference Edition! The 2023 ISA Reference Edition, the ninth annual publication, reflects more than 150 comments received by ONC during a 60-day public comment period that closed September 30, 2022.
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Health Equity, Health IT Disparities in Patient Access to Electronic Health Information: Insights from a National Survey
Chelsea Richwine | January 5, 2023
Patients have a right of access to their health information under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule. Recent policy efforts aim to simplify and increase patient access to electronic health information (EHI), as easy access to health information enables patients to monitor health conditions, follow treatment plans, and find and fix medical record discrepancies. Patient access also plays a major role in promoting patient-centered care by enabling individuals to make more informed decisions about their health.
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