2022 ONC Virtual Annual Meeting

Session

What Health Care Providers Need to Know About Information Sharing & the Information Blocking Regulation (Webinar #3)

The third in ONC’s series of this clinician-focused education sessions will happen at the Annual Meeting in February and will focus on information sharing and the information blocking regulation. Hear answers to questions such as

• How can I learn more about information blocking exceptions, including:
  • Preventing Harm Exception
  • Privacy Exception
  • Security Exception
  • Health IT Performance Exception
• How could I evaluate when an exception may apply?
• What are the most recent information blocking educational materials, such as FAQs and other resources?
• Where can I submit a claim of information blocking, ask a question, or find additional information?

View presentation slides [PDF - 1,507 KB]

TEFCA – QHIN Technical Framework Overview

Watch an in-depth review of specific aspects of the Qualified Health Information Network Technical Framework (QTF) published on January 18, 2022. Anticipated topics for discussion include an overview of the framework as well the FHIR® roadmap. This meeting will also provide prospective Qualified Health Information Networks (QHINs) and other interested stakeholders an opportunity to share their support, concerns, and ideas as the Common Agreement is implemented in 2022.

Public Health and Health IT Coordination

Hear about the latest developments, projects and initiatives underway to help strengthen and build a coordinated public health infrastructure.  Topics will include advancements in standards work, the Public Health Informatics and Technology (PHIT) workforce development program and more.

FHIR Endpoint Discovery – Lantern Update

The ONC’s Cures Act Final Rule (Cures Rule) supports patients’ and providers’ access to electronic health information (EHI) through Health Level Seven (HL7®) Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR®) application programming interfaces (API). ONC developed the Lantern tool to monitor the nationwide implementation of FHIR APIs and to learn how easy it was to obtain their endpoints, which aligns with ONC’s goal to make access to this data as effortless as possible. Come learn more about ONC’s progress towards publishing FHIR endpoints and check in on the Lantern tool’s progress.

Session

Ask Us About Information Sharing and Learn About the New e-Prior Authorization RFI

Got questions about information sharing under ONC’s information blocking regulations? Want to know more about ONC’s new e-prior authorization request for information? Join ONC’s experts for virtual office hours to ask your questions.

TEFCA – A Closer Look at the Common Agreement

Watch an in-depth review of specific aspects of the final Common Agreement released on January 18, 2022. Anticipated topics for discussion include an overview of the standard operating procedures (SOPs) as well as the QHIN criteria. This meeting will also provide prospective Qualified Health Information Networks (QHINs) and other interested stakeholders an opportunity to share their support, concerns, and ideas as the Common Agreement is implemented in 2022.

USCDI Expansion – Updates from Versions 2 and 3

Learn about the latest version of the United States Core for Data Interoperability, a standardized set of health data classes and constituent data elements for nationwide, interoperable health information exchange. USCDI draft version 3 was just released for public feedback. During this education session ONC standards experts will discuss what’s new from version 2 to version 3 including 20 new elements and 2 new data classes to advance health IT for improved care, reduced inequities, and stronger public health reporting. This session will also provide updates on USCDI+.

Session

Visit the Exhibit Hall

Watch Live Demos and Presentations about:

Welcome and Keynote Remarks from HHS Leadership

• Xavier Becerra, Secretary of Health and Human Services
• Lisa Lewis Person, Chief Operating Officer, ONC
• Micky Tripathi, National Coordinator for Health IT

Break

Breakout Sessions I

An Introduction to Equity by Design

Speakers will overview the state of the art for advancing health equity, drawing on their experiences within organization on the cutting edge of the field.

• Lisa Lewis Person, ONC (moderator)
• Jay Bhatt, Deloitte
• Michael Crawford, MBA, MHL, Howard University College of Medicine
• Michael Currie, MPH, MBA, UnitedHealth Group
• Jennifer Stoll, OCHIN

The Future of Health Information Exchange and Public Health

Across the United States, leading Health Information Exchanges (HIEs) have stepped up and leveraged their networks of connections and health information expertise to deliver on crucial state needs that include new enriched data reports and data visualization tools,  new connections to the HIEs, new vaccination reporting tools to reduce physician and public health burden, and new approaches to better identify the sources of a disease and help prevent future public health emergencies and outbreaks. The panel will feature recipients of the Strengthening the Technical Advancement & Readiness of Public Health Agencies via Health Information Exchange Program (STAR HIE Program) in a discussion on how they have supported public health agencies in their response to public health emergencies and pandemics such as Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). This includes adapting HIE tools to assist with COVID-19 vaccine outreach and addressing health equity during a pandemic. Panelists will also discuss the formation of an internal Health Equity workgroup designed as an opportunity for peer-to-peer learning in which recipients share strategies for data aggregation, implementation, and public health connections to reach individuals and communities at higher risk of COVID-19 while implementing the program objectives: (1) Build innovative HIE services that benefit public health agencies, and (2) Improve the HIE services available to support communities disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

• John Kansky, MBA, MSE, Indiana Health Information Exchange (moderator)
• Sonia Chambers, West Virginia Health Information Network, STAR HIE Program Health Equity Planning Council 
• Denise Hines, PhD, Georgia Health Information Network, STAR HIE Program Health Equity Planning Council
• Laura McCrary, EdD, Kansas Health Information Network (KHIN) dba KONZA, STAR HIE Program Health Equity Workgroup 

• Neil Sarkar, PhD, Rhode Island Quality Institute, STAR HIE Program Health Equity Workgroup
• Elizabeth Scoles, MPH, Healthshare Exchange of Southeastern Pennsylvania, Inc. (HSX), STAR HIE Program Health Equity Workgroup 

Federal EHR Modernization: Updates and Opportunities

The Federal Electronic Health Record Modernization (FEHRM) office works is working with federal entities such as the Department of Defense (DOD), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and other federal partners to implement a single, common federal electronic health record (EHR) that enhances patient care and provider effectiveness. They are also developing interoperability with other federal partners, such as the Indian Health Service (IHS), and the private sector. Come to the session and receive an update on the implementation of the modernized electronic health record across these federal entities and hear their plans for widescale interoperability.  

• Kim Heermann-Do, MHA, Department of Veterans Affairs (moderator)
• Howard Hays, MD, MSPH, Indian Health Service
• Meredith Josephs, MD, MPH, Federal Electronic Health Record Modernization
• Lance Scott, Federal Electronic Health Record Modernization
• Clifford Wilborn, MS, Federal Electronic Health Record Modernization

Accelerating the Incorporation of Real World Evidence Into Research

This session will focus on how the health IT industry is innovating and building solutions that incorporate real world evidence (RWE) into research.  Panelists will discuss their work and then discuss how best to collaborate and leverage best practices. 

• Stephanie Garcia, MPH, ONC (moderator)
• Kenneth Gersing, MD, National Institutes of Health
• Amy Cramer, MMCi, Pfizer
• Mitra Rocca, Food and Drug Administration
• Susan Winckler, RPh, Esq, Reagan-Udall Foundation for the FDA

Break

Breakout Sessions II

Multi-Sector Initiatives to Strengthen Immunization Systems

This session will focus on findings since the start of the pandemic and improved ways to exchange and manage immunization data for all populations.

• Jennifer Layden, MD, PhD, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (moderator)
• Rachel Abbey, ONC
• Melissa Kotrys, MPH, Contexture
• Mary Beth Kurilo, American Immunization Registry Association
• Eric Larson, American Immunization Registry Association
• Jamie Pina, PhD, MSPH, Association of State & Territorial Health Officials

Innovations in and Implementation of Equity by Design

This session will showcase organizations, companies, officials and thought leaders who are working to change the status quo in the U.S.  From community health workers invested in equity by design to interoperability across systems, speakers will discuss opportunities, obstacles and approaches to creating lasting change.

• Josh Prasad, MPH, Health Resources & Services Administration (moderator)
• Ryan Argentieri, MBA, MA, ONC
• Leon Caldwell, American Hospital Association
• Guillaume Castel, MBA, PerfectServe
• JC Gonzalez, MBA, Morehouse School of Medicine
• Shruti Kothari, MPH, Blue Shield of California
• Joy Lewis, American Hospital Association
• Floribella Redondo, Arizona Community Health Workers Association
• Jackie Ward, PhD, White House Office of Science and Technology

The Impact of Gaps in Interoperability on Diverse Patient Populations

ONC analyses have shown that gaps in interoperability exist between different types of health care providers. How these gaps affect diverse patient populations is less well understood. This session will share early findings from analyses examining interoperability of hospitals and the effects of gaps on patient populations using a variety of measures. Variation in individuals’ access to their electronic health information via portals by race/ethnicity using recent national survey data will also be described.

• Tom Keane, MD, ONC (moderator)
• Jordan Everson, PhD, MPP, ONC
• Vaishali Patel, PhD, ONC
• Yuriy Pylypchuk, PhD, ONC
• Chelsea Richwine, PhD, ONC

The View from Capitol Hill: Examining the Role of Algorithms in Health IT

The congressional panel will consist of a moderated discussion with two House Ways and Means staff. They will discuss their recent report, Fact versus Fiction: Clinical Decision Support Tools and the (Mis)Use of Race.

• Stephen Konya, ONC (moderator)
• Rachel Dolin, PhD, House Ways and Means Committee
• Amy Hall, House Ways and Means Committee

Break

Plenary Session II: Improved Outcomes for Maternal Health

This session will highlight barriers to access and information for at-risk populations of patients and ways to use technology to overcome them. Panelists will discuss how access to electronic prenatal, birth, and postpartum health records (including lab results, genetic tests, ultrasound images, and clinical notes) can improve patient experiences health outcomes, and equity.

• Ryan Argentieri, MBA, MA, ONC (moderator)
• Alison Cernich, PhD, National Institutes for Health
• Shally Madan, Luminate Health
• Katie Baca-Motes, Scripps
• Amy Nichols, PathGroup
• Ed Ramos, Scripps
• Shannon West, Datavant

Session

Visit the Exhibit Hall

Watch Live Demos and Presentations about:

Breakout Sessions III

Technology Supporting Patient Access and Empowerment

The Cures Act Final Rule aims to empower Americans with their health data, delivered conveniently to computers, cell phones, and mobile applications. What it means for patients is ease of access to their electronic health information, protecting patient privacy and security, and promoting the ability to shop for and manage their family’s care. This session will include tech developers and patient advocates to highlight opportunities and challenges with patient access, as well as innovations related to and enabling access.  Let’s have a conversation about the power of health IT to meet patients where they are and turn data into actionable knowledge to improve and streamline the health care experience.

• Deven McGraw, Invitae (moderator)
• Jennifer Blumenthal, OneRecord
• Gretchen Brown, MSN, RN, Stanford Health Care
• Kristen Valdes, b.well Connected Health
• Debi Willis, MyPatientLink
• Ann Marie Yap, Stanford Medicine

The Glidepath of HL7 v2 Standards to FHIR through the Lens of Public Health and At-Home COVID Test Reporting 

In the last year, a cross-agency and multi-sector effort has been underway to determine how best to manage data captured from over the counter (OTC) tests to support decision-making and improved patient care.  This session will discuss the trajectory of the standards-based approach underway, and explore opportunities to expand the solution for use cases in a post-pandemic world.

• Krishna Juluru, MD, National Institutes of Health (moderator)
• Matt Rahn, ONC (moderator)
• Gay Dolin, MSN, RN, HL7
• Vik Kheterpal, MD, CareEvolution
• Riki Merrick, MD, Association of Public Health Laboratories

Leveraging Interoperability Across the Care Continuum – Integrating LTPAC and HCBS in Health Data Exchange

Federal, state, and private stakeholders working to advance interoperability for Long-Term and Post-Acute Care (LTPAC) and Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) will discuss implementation strategies, connections to health information networks, and emerging data standards to optimize sharing of electronic health information and improve the health and well-being of populations served. 

• Brenda Akinnagbe, ONC (moderator)
• Angela Brenner, Missouri Department of Mental Health
• Lynne Katzman, Juniper Communities
• Duane Shumate, MEd, Missouri Department of Mental Health
• Lorraine Wickiser, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

TEFCA: A Security Discussion with the RCE

Join ONC’s Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA) Recognized Coordinating Entity (RCE) for an overview of the published security and privacy policies, as well as those still under consideration.

• Johnathan Coleman, The Recognized Coordinating Entity
• Alan Swenson, The Recognized Coordinating Entity

Break

Plenary III: Health Equity in Action: Opportunities to Create Sustainable Health Outcomes for the American People

ONC is focused intently on ensuring health equity is built into the health IT ecosystem.  On Day 1 of the ONC Annual Meeting, we heard from stakeholders committed to advancing health equity in the day to day lives of their patients and customers.  In this session, we’ll hear from leaders at the White House and HHS about what they’ve seen and heard on the ground, and ways of achieving an ideal future state across the country.

• Micky Tripathi, PhD, MPP, National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, US Dept. of Health and Human Services (moderator)
• Sandi Ford, MD, MBA, Special Assistant to the President for Public Health and Science, The White House
• ADM Rachel Levine, MD, Assistant Secretary for Health, US Dept. of Health and Human Services
• Tom Mason, MD, Chief Medical Officer, ONC

Visit the Exhibit Hall

Watch Live Demos and Presentations from:

Plenary Session IV: Patient Engagement: Experiences from the Field

It's been just over one year since the Information Blocking provisions went into effect on April 5, 2021. Since then, we have seen a spectrum of changes in patient data access, patient engagement, innovation, and sentiments from various stakeholders in the health care ecosystem. This panel will explore the realities on the ground and at point of care from the provider, patient and care partner, and health information management (HIM) professionals' perspectives, highlighting key successes, common points of friction, and opportunities for improvement.  Join us as we discuss avenues for necessary collaboration amongst all stakeholders, call out myths, and dream bigger about the evolution of the traditional roles that providers, patients, HIM professionals should embrace.

• Grace Cordovano, PhD, Enlightening Results (moderator)
• Deborah Adair, RHIA, MPH, MS, Mass General Brigham
• David Rich, MD, West Virginia University Medicine
• Kathy Sabadosa, MPH, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
• Liz Salmi, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Break

Breakout Sessions IV

Responsible Stewardship of Machine Learning and Algorithmic Bias

Even well trained and thoroughly tested machine learning algorithms can exhibit bias or perform poorly in operational settings. Differences in populations, practices, data structures, uses and other factors can lead to performance that diverges from testing results. Widespread evaluation of ML algorithms in the delivery systems where they will be (or are being) used could ensure these algorithms provide equitable benefit. Panelists will discuss their experiences working to evaluate the bias and performance of ML algorithms in healthcare delivery settings, the barriers that inhibit widespread continuous evaluation of ML algorithms in delivery settings, and how the industry might move towards more responsible stewardship.

• Jordan Everson, PhD, MPP, ONC (moderator)
• Cheryl Clark, MD, ScD, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
• Sharon Davis, PhD, Vanderbilt University
• Hadi Kharrazi, MD, PhD, MHI, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health
• Greg Nelson, MCI, Intermountain Healthcare

Using Technology to Increase Equitable Access to Care: Behavioral Health

Behavioral Health Equity is “the right to access quality healthcare for all populations, including access to prevention, treatment, and recovery services for mental and substance use disorders SUD.” (SAMHSA) Unfortunately, disparities continue to exist for behavioral health providers and persons with behavioral health conditions and their families. Technology plays a vital role in improving access and achieving the goal of advancing the behavioral health care continuum to help tackle the growing opioid crisis and reduce disparities. If the U.S. is to achieve this goal, it will take strategy, coordination, and multi-sector and multi-level engagement.

In this session, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) has assembled several Subject Matter Experts in Behavioral Health who will address equitable access from different perspectives – crisis response (through 988), interoperability, integration, and community and organization capacity building. The session will also address challenges (including with technology), available resources, and opportunities for all participants on how they can support current efforts.

• Donna Davidson, MPH, ONC (moderator)
• Le Ondra Clark Harvey, PhD, California Council of Community Behavioral Health Agencies
• Elise Kohl-Grant, MBA, Innovative Management Solutions NY
• Joseph “Joe” Parks, MD, National Council for Mental Wellbeing
• James Wright, LPC, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Patient Access and a FHIR-Enabled App Ecosystem

This session will shed light on the current uptake of FHIR-based APIs and the how the app economy is evolving to meet a variety of needs on the part of patients, clinicians and other stakeholders. ONC will share an overview of its overall measurement approach as it relates to APIs and analyses that provide insights on health IT products capabilities to support FHIR-based APIs and the availability of apps. The Lantern Project will share insights on the implementation of FHIR based APIs that support patient access to their electronic health information using publicly accessible endpoint data. Gaps and next steps related to enhancing measurement of the FHIR-based APIs and the app economy will also be discussed.

• Christian Johnson, ONC
• Brianna Mathiowetz, MITRE
• Vaishali Patel, PhD, ONC

Health Equity and Quality Measurement: Measuring Health Disparities in Quality Improvement

The association between health disparities and health outcomes have long been researched to discover how the intersection of quality initiatives can impact the outcomes. Many factors including race, ethnicity, income and other socioeconomic factors influence the patient's ability to access care as well as the health systems ability to improve care over time. By examining the quality measures in terms of these health disparities, trends have evolved that indicate both improvements and declines. Join us as we review emerging developments in quality measurements in the government, private sector, and academia fields.

• Helen Burstin, MD, MPH, MACP, Council of Medical Specialty Societies (moderator)
• Elmer Abbo, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois
• Andrew Anderson, PhD, Tulane University
• Andrew Hamilton, MS, AllianceChicago
• Cliff Ko, MD, MS, MSHS, American College of Surgeons
• Ernest Moy, MD, MPH, Veterans Health Administration