The Calendar

The HIT Standards Committee will be meeting on Thursday to discuss standards on clinical quality, clinical operations, privacy and security.

On the Hill, House staff are working on the legislation I noted above which came from the three committee bills to create a single bill for a floor vote. This vote will likely be pushed back several weeks after members return following the Labor Day weekend. In the Senate, Max Baucus and the Finance committee will try to bring their negotiations to a conclusion by the September 15 ^th deadline.  But, based on the comments of Senator Conrad over the weekend – if it slips from the deadline, so be it, the Congress “wants to get it right”.  So, I’m anticipating more definitive language and direction in mid-October but, it’s anybody’s guess at this point.

And, let’s not forget the back halls.  Who knows what’s happening back there but, it’s a safe bet that the discussions there will ultimately come to fruition in healthcare reform legislation this fall.

Closing Thoughts

There are multiple moving parts in the health reform debate and, I’m just getting up to speed after a stint with our International Healthcare team for the last two years.  Progress is being made on the ARRA incentives and the definition of “meaningful use”. The healthcare industry is evolving rapidly and I look forward to sharing the exciting new developments – and, my perspective – in the weeks and months to come!

Kevin Fickenscher, MD

The views and opinions expressed herein are my own and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of Dell Services or its affiliates.