HHS issues draft health IT strategic plan

The Department of Health and Human Services this week released for public comment a draft federal strategic plan for health information technology over the next five years. The plan outlines federal goals and objectives to ensure that individuals have access to their electronic health information to manage their health and shop for care. “The draft federal strategic plan supports the provisions in the 21st Century Cures Act that will help to bring electronic health information into the hands of patients through smartphone applications,” said National Coordinator for Health Information Technology Don Rucker, M.D. “We look forward to public comment to help guide the federal government’s strategy to have a more connected health system that better serves patients.” HHS will accept comments on the plan through March 18. It said federal agencies will use the final plan to prioritize resources, align and coordinate efforts, signal priorities to the private sector, and benchmark and assess change over time.