News & Updates September 23, 2021

Upcoming WEDI Events October 18-21: WEDI National Conference 2021  October 27: Update on New York Workers’ Compensation Regulatory Timelines and Stakeholder Requirements Knowledge Center WEDI Submits Comments on QHIN and TEFCA In the News HHS Announces the Availability of $25.5 Billion in COVID-19 Provider Funding HHS Asst. Secretary Rachel Levine: LGBTQ+ people are not invisible under the Biden-Harris Administration In March, Rachel Levine, MD made history as the first openly transgender federal official confirmed by the Senate.   Levine, the Assistant Secretary for Health in the Department of Health and Human Services, is part of a larger effort in the Biden administration to make even more history in addressing health equity at the federal level. Most recently, HHS established the Office of Climate Change and Health Equity to use the lessons learned from COVID-19 to address climate change-infused health disparities. The administration also created the COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force, which Levine has taken part in and the HHS Health Disparities Council, of which she is a co-chair. There’s also a specific council that focuses on LGBTQ+ health equity issues. Click here to read more

November 9, 2-3:30pm ET WEDI Members Only Free November 16, 10-5pm ET Open to Healthcare Professionals Free

Biden-Harris Administration Issues Proposed Rules to Promote Transparency in Air Ambulance Costs, Agent and Broker Compensation The U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor, and the Treasury (collectively, the Departments), along with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), are announcing proposed rules that would require plans, issuers, and providers of air ambulance services to submit detailed data regarding air ambulance services specified in the reporting requirements of the No Surprises Act. The rules additionally outline the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) authority to fully enforce Title I (the No Surprises Act) and Title II (Transparency) of Division BB of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, in states that do not have the authority to enforce or fail to substantially enforce one or more of the provisions, and would help consumers understand the compensation being paid to agents and brokers who help them select health insurance. This is the latest regulatory action in a series of rulemaking implementing the No Surprises Act. Read more

Moving ahead on Information Sharing The ONC Cures Act Final Rule went into effect on April 5, 2021 and as a result we have seen an increase in both the quantity and complexity of questions regarding the regulations. We’re eager to help the industry successfully implement these new requirements and, even more important, to reap the many benefits it offers for patients, providers, health insurers, developers, and the possibilities it opens up for public health, population health, research – really, for the entire health care ecosystem. Read More

WEDI: HHS No Surprises Act Needs Data Standards to Prevent Burden WEDI gave several recommendations related to HHS’ No Surprises Act, such as the development of data standards to prevent administrative burden. Read More

Medicare Coverage of Innovative Technologies (MCIT) The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is committed to ensuring people on Medicare have quicker access to innovative medical technologies for life-threatening or irreversibly debilitating diseases – like cancer and heart disease.In January 2021, we published a final rule called The Medicare Coverage of Innovative Technology and Definition of ‘Reasonable and Necessary’ (MCIT/R&N). The rule would have granted expedited Medicare coverage for up to four years for any U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA)-designated breakthrough device once the device received or cleared market authorization. For various reasons, CMS decided to repeal this rule and explore a new one. Public comment on the proposal will be open from September 15 until October 15. If the proposal is finalized, we intend to conduct future rule-making to explore an expedited coverage pathway that provides access to innovative beneficial technologies.  More Information

Public Health IT Workforce Development Program Awardees Announced ONC awarded $73 million in cooperative agreements to 10 college and university consortia across the U.S. as part of the Public Health Informatics & Technology Workforce Development Program (PHIT Workforce Program). The program is funded by the American Rescue Plan and seeks to train more than 4,000 individuals over a four-year period through an interdisciplinary approach in public health informatics and technology. Read More

Resources for You Podcast Episode 53: TEFCA Table Talk Part 2- Stakeholder Perspective Panel TEFCA! C-CDA to FHIR Conversion I’ve got an app for that…. But can my doctor see it? No Surprises Act Interim Final Rule and Data Exchange Challenges

Tripathi: Interoperability Resources for Cures Act Compliance Coming What it will take to maintain the accelerated pace of innovation in health care post-pandemic

CMS has created a series of fact sheets to help explain how HIPAA electronic adopted transactions streamline health care billing through the use of standards and operating rules.

HL7 FHIR and OMOP Workshop September 29-30 X12 Fall 2021 Standing Meeting September 26 – October 6

Hot Headlines: Lung Cancer Screening Eligibility Highlights Health Disparities Can genomics help address the cancer screening crisis? Data Management Improves Care Quality, Reduces Health Disparities Administration Tackles Access to Care, FTC Expands Breach Rule

Get to know the WEDI Board:

WEDI Board member, Sandy Stuart (Kaiser Permanente) said most people don't know that she owns her own Harley Davidson & has travelled all over the United States via motorcycle! WEDI Board member, Michael Kottmer, (WPS Insurance) said his hidden talent is being a hobby bee keeper & completing marathons!

Genomics Workgroup Interested in learning more about genomics? The next Genomics meeting will be September 28th from 1-2ET. Contact sholvey@wedi.org to get involved

WEDI Workgroups WEDI workgroups provide thoughtful leadership and common-sense approaches that enhance the exchange of clinical and administrative healthcare information. They collect input, exchange ideas, and make recommendations that inspire impactful and far-reaching change in our industry.

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