eHI Members to Hear from Members of Congress, Staff, and Policy Experts on Health IT and AHIC 2.0 at 2008 Retreat
February 4, 2008
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In less than two weeks, on February 14th, eHealth Initiative (eHI) will host its annual Government Affairs Retreat at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. Six Members of Congress have confirmed that they will address eHI members directly during a unique afternoon session in the Capitol building. The agenda includes a House and Senate staff panel, two speakers discussing the political and policy landscape for 2008, and an overview and discussion of the latest developments regarding AHIC 2.0. Advanced registration is necessary for security purposes at both the Library of Congress and the Capitol Building.
The morning session of the retreat will feature a House and Senate staff panel that will provide guidance to eHI's members on the important aspects and key barriers in health IT legislation. This session will lay the groundwork for eHI members to begin developing eHI's 2008 consensus legislation, involving eHI's multi-stakeholder membership.
S. Lawrence Kocot, Deputy Director of the Engelberg Center for Health Care Reform at the Brookings Institution, will join eHI members over lunch to gain input on the requirements for and the attributes of the successor to the American Health Information Community (AHIC), which is transitioning to the private sector during 2008 eHI members will have a chance to hear first hand about the progress and to provide their much-needed feedback on key issues related to standards for interoperability.
In addition, a major focus of this year's retreat will be developing consensus on the framework for a new piece of health IT legislation, shaped by eHI members. Attendees will interact with House and Senate staff, hear from the former chair of the House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee and a leading polling firm on the outlook for healthcare in 2008, break into groups to develop consensus legislation, as well as hear from Members of Congress.
Breakout groups will focus on four focus areas: engaging consumers and protecting privacy; transforming care delivery and improving population health; aligning incentives and financing; and standards and national leadership. The breakout groups will draft a framework for these four different workgroups to complete over the coming months.
In the afternoon, the entire retreat will move into the Capitol building for a member briefing featuring Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Congressman Mike Rogers (R-MI), Nathan Deal (R-MI) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN). Other members are also expected to join.
There is no charge for registration, and the event is open to all eHI members. Click here to register. Please note, advanced registration is necessary for security purposes at both the Library of Congress and the Capitol Building.
To view the full retreat agenda, click here.
eHI thanks its sponsors of the retreat - Greenway Medical Technologies, Masspro, Intel and Baker Donelson PC. For more information on sponsorship, contact Christine.Bechtel@ehealthinitiative.org.
