Top News
AMIA Officially Submits Recommendation for the Inclusion of Clinical Informatics in 2028 Standard Occupational Classification Code
The Office of Management and Budget announced a public comment opportunity for possible revisions of the 2028 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) Codes. After consultation with the U.S. Department of Labor, AMIA is proposing the addition of clinical informatics to the latest SOC codes so the federal government may better capture and amplify the demand, salary needs, and expertise of informatics. AMIA has worked tirelessly with the help from so many of you for the inclusion of clinical informatics in the SOC codes for over a decade. On August 12, AMIA officially submitted our proposal for the clinical informatics occupation to be added to the 2028 version of the SOC Codes.
NAM’s Climate and Health Movement Initiative
The National Academy of Medicine is seeking participation from organizations for their "Accelerating the National Climate and Health Movement" initiative. The launch of this national movement intends to mobilize all health sector organizations to join directly and participate. With this note, Dr. Dzau, NAM President, is excited to invite you to join the NAM in accelerating the national climate and health movement.
There are no specific obligations by joining this initiative. Those who sign up will have the opportunity to access learnings from leading organizations in climate and health, forge new and exciting collaborations, and help make collective progress and showcase the landscape of actors and actions.
Sign up by August 30 to join NAM in accelerating the climate and health movement, and to be part of an announcement at the Climate Collaborative’s Fall public event. The NAM looks forward to amplifying the important work already under way and to come on your sustainability journey.
Regulatory
ONC Releases HTI-2 Proposed Rule for Public Comment
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) released the Health Data, Technology, and Interoperability: Patient Engagement, Information Sharing, and Public Health Interoperability (HTI-2) Proposed Rule on July 10. Key proposals include requiring adoption of USCDI v4 by January 1, 2028, revisions to certain information blocking regulations, reducing documentation burden for e-prior authentication, improving bulk data enhancement performance, and adopting newer versions of “minimum standards” code sets. HTI-2 is available for public comment for 60 days.
You can find more information on HTI-2, including the entire proposed rule text, various factsheets, measurement spec sheets, and how to submit comments on the HTI-2 dedicated page on the ONC website.
There are multiple information sessions to learn about specific aspects of the HTI-2.
HTI-2 Proposed Rule Overview Information Session
HTI-2 Proposed Rule Public Health Information Session
HTI-2 Proposed Rule Information Blocking Information Session
HTI-2 Proposed Rule Patient, Payer, Provider API Information Session
- Register for the information session on Thursday, August 15 at 2 p.m. ET
Congress
AMIA Responds to House Committees on Reforming NIH
The U.S. House of Rep. Energy and Commerce Committee and the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education released a framework for discussion on reforming the National Institutes of Health (NIH) including a call to scientists, researchers, and patient advocates to partner with for the betterment of NIH. Among other items, AMIA asserts the need to consider and protect informatics research funding in any potential NIH reform.
Read AMIA’s full comments on the framework.
ICYMI
ONC Releases Final USCDI v5
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) published the final United States Core Data for Interoperability Version 5 (USCDI v5) on July 18. This latest USCDI v5 added two new data classes and sixteen data elements. The breakdown of the additions is below:
New Data Classes
- Observations
- Advance Directive Observation
- Sex Parameter for Clinical Use
- Order
- Medication Order
- Laboratory Order
- Diagnostic Imaging Order
- Clinical Test Order
- Procedure Order
New Data Elements
- Under Clinical Notes – Emergency Department Note, Operative Note
- Under Immunizations – Lot Number
- Under Medications – Route of Administration
- Under Patient Demographics/Information – Interpreter Needed, Pronouns, Name to Use
- Under Provenance – Author, Author Role
HHS Creates the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy and Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ASTP/ONC)
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced on July 25 a reorganization and renaming of the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) into the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy and Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ASTP/ONC). This reorganization aims to streamline technology, cybersecurity, data, and AI strategy and policy.
According to HHS, this reorganization arose from opportunities in data and technology in healthcare and human services that have grown significantly in recent years. Historically, responsibility for policy and operations has been distributed across the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC), the Assistant Secretary for Administration (ASA), and the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR).
Read the full HHS press release.
Around the Web
AMIA’s Washington Download is your source for health informatics policy news and information from around the Beltway, covering action from the Hill, the Administration, and important AMIA collaborators.