HHS Announces EHR Commitment from Healthcare Industry; House Energy and Commerce Committee Discusses Future of LTC Delivery

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Sylvia Matthews Burwell announced a commitment made by companies that provide 90 percent of nation’s electronic health records (EHRs) used in hospitals and the five largest private health care systems to make EHRs work better for patients and health care providers.
 
The companies and health care systems committed to three principles, including allowing consumers to easily and securely access their electronic health information, helping providers share health information with other providers and patients, and implementing standards, policies, guidance, and practices for electronic health information and adopting best practices related to privacy and security. 
 For More Information:
•    Fact Sheet
•    List of individual organizations that have made commitments and their pledges
•    Federal Health IT Strategic Plan 2015-2020
•    Connecting Health and Care for the Nation: A Shared Nationwide Interoperability Roadmap

This week, the House Energy and Commerce Committee held a hearing to examine the financing and delivery of long-term care in the U.S. According to data published by the Bipartisan Policy Center, the number of Americans expected to need long-term care services at some point is expected to grow from 12 million in 2014 to 27 million by 2050. At the hearing, lawmakers discussed various policies that would establish a sustainable, robust private market for long-term care. 
 
AMDA will continue to monitor and keep you apprised of any legislation put forward by the committee related to the future of long-term care delivery.