Moving Ahead: Call for Comments on E-Referrals Due Jan 14, 2013

Dear Colleagues:

In yesterday’s Federal Register, the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC ) for Health Information Technology published a call for comments on its draft recommendations for the Stage 3 definition of meaningful use of electronic health records. The request for comment is comprised of three sections: 1) meaningful use objectives and measures; 2) quality measures; and 3) privacy and security. All public comments on ONC’s draft recommendations must be submitted before midnight (Eastern time) on January 14, 2013.

NAQC plans to submit comments regarding electronic referral for quitlines. We will distribute NAQC’s draft comments to members and partners before Christmas. We encourage all members and partners to review our comments, provide feedback to us and submit your own individual comments to ONC as well.

Please help us get the word out on this -- It is critically important for ONC to hear about E-referral from as many public health organizations as possible!

IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND LINKS

Call for Comments Link: http://www.healthit.gov/sites/default/files/hitpc_stage3_rfc_final.pdf
Federal Register Notice: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-11-26/pdf/2012-28584.pdf
NAQC’s Draft Comments: Will be distributed before Christmas
Due Date for Comments: On or before midnight, Eastern time, January 14, 2013
Important note: All comments must be submitted electronically (see link below)
Submission Link: http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=HHS-OS-2012-0007

NEXT STEPS FOR ONC

After review of all comments, ONC’s Health Information Technology Policy Committee will convene a public meeting in the first quarter of 2013. A final rule will be published later in the year.

OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS

• On December 14 from Noon to 1:15 pm Eastern time, Drs. Farzad Mostashari (ONC) and Michael Fiore (University of Wisconsin) will present a webinar on "Meaningful Use and Tobacco Cessation: What You Need to Know.” You can register here.
• A summary of NAQC’s November webinar on E-referral is now available here.

Happy Holidays!

Linda A. Bailey, JD, MHS
President and CEO
North American Quitline Consortium