The President’s proposed FY 2018 Budget request for the HHS Office of the National Coordinator for HIT www.healthit.gov is $38 million which is $22 million below the spending level appropriated through the FY 2017 Continuing Resolution.
ONC’s FY 2018 proposed budget request focuses on two key priorities to include interoperability of health information and the usability of EHRs. As of 2015, more than 96 percent of hospitals and 78 percent of physician offices are now using certified EHR technology.
ONC’s FY 2018 Budget Request states how ONC will continue to coordinate policy by developing ONC’s new Health Information Technology Advisory Committee as required by the 21st Century Cures Act. In FY 2018, ONC would combine two Federal Advisory Committees into a single Health Information Technology Advisory Committee.
The Health Information Technology Advisory Committee would be in place to provide policy and standards recommendations while focusing on interoperability, promote and protect the privacy and security of health information, and work to facilitate secure access.
ONC will also focus on thwarting information blocking by aggressively implementing ONC’s Certification Program rules, create and promote channels for reporting information blocking, and enforce information blocking provisions as required by the 21st Century Cures Act.
The certification program will continue its oversight responsibilities and will look to improve the surveillance of certified products for ongoing adherence to technical, security, and regulatory requirements for interoperability as well as perform surveillance for any potential information blocking.
Also, through new authorities provided in the 21st Century Cures Act, ONC will work with the Office of Inspector General to investigate and issue penalties for developers, networks, and exchanges engaged in information blocking.
ONC will also be actively prioritizing work on standards. ONC will continue to publish the Interoperability Standards Advisory which coordinates the identification, assessment, and public awareness of interoperability standards and specifications. This resource can be used by the healthcare industry to address specific interoperability needs.
As a result of ONC’s shifting agency priorities and focusing on core health IT functions, ONC will reduce adoption support activities such as the National Learning Consortium and the Consumer e-Health program and focus on statutorily required planning, evaluation, and monitoring of interoperability.
Go to https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/fy2018-budget-in-brief.pdf for the HHS Budget in Brief.