Senate HELP Committee Votes Unanimously to Approve "Wired for Health Care Quality Act of 2007" (S.1693)
On Wednesday June 27, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) approved S. 1693, the Wired for Health Care Quality Act of 2007. The HELP committee unanimously voted to send S. 1693 to the Senate floor for a full vote.
Senator Christopher Dodd (D-CT) and Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) are expected to offer amendments once the bill reaches the full Senate. eHI members can download copies of the two amendments from the Policy Section of eHI's website.
The newest draft of the bill reflects many comments which were raised recently during a healthcare stakeholders meeting facilitated by lead staffers from Senators Kennedy, Clinton, Enzi and Hatch's office. The stakeholders meeting allowed those with an interest in the bill to express their opinions during a section by section review of the bill.
eHI staff attended the meeting and cited the need to clarify language on the coordination between the Partnership and the Health IT Standards Panel (HITSP), which was done in the new draft. Staff said that the Partnership is intended to be an independent entity which would better enable collaboration between HITSP and the Certification Commission for Health IT (CCHIT).
eHI comments also focused on the need to include in the bill transparency and public accountability requirements in the provisions related to both the Partnership and the American Health Information Community (AHIC). Those comments were accepted and included in the most recent draft. The new draft would require the Partnership to publish:
- Established governance rules
- A business plan
- Meeting notices 14 days in advance
- Meeting agendas seven days in advance
- Meeting materials at least three days in advance
The full version of eHI's submitted comments can be viewed by clicking here.
Other changes to the Partnership structure focused on membership selection.
Previously, Partnership selection was conducted by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). In the most recent draft, however, the Partnership would be selected by a process identical to the bills selection process for the AHIC allowing the HHS Secretary to make two appointments, and key Congressional leaders and the Comptroller General to make the remaining 11 appointments.
Additions also include a change from establishing the position of the National Coordinator to establishing the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC). In addition, the draft bill sets termination date for ONC on September 30, 2014. Prior to termination, ONC would be required to publish a plan for transitioning any remaining necessary duties. Informal eHI conversations with HELP staff indicate this move was intended to serve as motivation for ONC to move forward with their initiatives on an expedited timeline.
Finally, a new section establishing Quality Reporting Organizations was included in the bill, based on the previously-introduced Medicare Quality Enhancement (MQEA) Act of 2007. The MQEA bill was introduced earlier this year by Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH).
To view the bill as introduced click here.
