Diana Manos

The Health IT Now! Coalition announced Wednesday that it will continue to push lawmakers to include measures to promote healthcare IT in any healthcare reform legislation up for consideration.

The HIT Policy Committee is holding a hearing today in Washington, D.C. to discuss the privacy aspects of healthcare IT found in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

Getting healthcare IT up and running in doctors' offices is not the main objective behind the incentives provided by the federal government under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, according to David Blumenthal, MD, national coordinator of health information technology.

The Senate Finance Committee released a health reform package Tuesday that includes measures to advance healthcare IT.

Experts and federal officials close to the issue of healthcare IT adoption and the promotion of meaningful use under the new stimulus package say intentions are high, but the actual work that lies ahead is monumental.

President Barack Obama took his health reform cause to a higher level Wednesday night in an address to a joint session of Congress.

President Obama is expected to address the issue of a public option, which some Democrats have said is a non-negotiable aspect of passing a health reform bill, in a televised speech tonight.

The Certification Commission for Health Information Technology is expected to release more details on its "modular" certification on Sept. 24, and it is also planning training sessions in Chicago on Sept. 29 and Oct. 1, to orient vendors and developers to new programs.

The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society has announced two recipients of the 2009 HIMSS Davies Public Health Award of Excellence.

With the death of Senator Edward (Ted) Kennedy (D-Mass.) late Tuesday night goes one of the staunchest allies of health reform and healthcare IT advancement.