HHS Continuing Efforts to Define a National Strategy

In April 2004, President Bush called for a widespread adoption of interoperable electronic health records within 10 years. He established the position of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. Dr. David Brailer was appointed to the position and in May 2004, he released a framework for strategic action.

In May 2005 GAO recommended that HHS establish detailed plans and milestones for each phase of the framework and take steps to assure that the plans are followed. In this report, GAO assesses the progress to date to develop a national health IT strategy and framework.

GAO finds that HHS has continued to progress. Actions taken include:

• $42 million in contracts to address specific issues such as harmonizing standards for records exchange, compliance certification processes, and privacy and security planning for practices that comply with state laws. Four prototype health IT networks also recieved funding.
  
   
• The National Office of Health Information Technology is prepared to release a strategic plan with detailed plans and milestones later in 2006.
  
   
• HHS has established the American Health Information Community to obtain public and private sector input for how to digitize health records and achieve interoperability.

Based on these steps, GAO concludes that progress is occurring.