New Federal Health IT Strategy Sets Sights on a Heathier, More Innovative, and More Equitable Health Care Experience
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The draft Plan:
- Outlines federal health IT goals and objectives that are focused on improving access to health data, delivering a better, more equitable health care experience, and modernizing our nation’s public health data infrastructure.
- Places an emphasis on the policy and technology components necessary to support the diverse data needs of all health IT users.
- Supports the Department’s recent Health Data, Technology, and Interoperability: Certification Program Updates, Algorithm Transparency, and Information Sharing (HTI-1) final rule to advance the access, exchange, and use of electronic health information (EHI), and deliver more transparent and equitable care for individuals.
- Aligns with the HHS Health Care Sector Cybersecurity concept paper and voluntary health care specific Cybersecurity Performance Goals (CPGs) to help health care organizations prioritize implementation of high-impact cybersecurity practices.
Health IT is integral to how health care is delivered, how health is managed, and how the health of populations and communities is tracked. Thanks in part to the development of common standards, such as the United States Core Data for Interoperability (USCDI) and Health Level Seven International® (HL7®) Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources® (FHIR®), health information has become more accessible and useful. Recent data shows that more than 88 percent of hospitals report electronically sending and obtaining patient health information and more than 60 percent report integrating that information into their electronic health records (EHRs). In addition, more individuals report accessing their health information online than ever before.
The draft Plan emphasizes that all populations in the United States can and should benefit from health IT, expanding to include additional sectors, such as public health, and addressing how technologies, such as artificial intelligence, affect health care.
The public comment period for the draft 2024-2030 Federal Health IT Strategic Plan ends on May 28, 2024 at 11:59 pm ET. Visit HealthIT.gov to learn more about how you can submit your comments about the draft Plan.