HHS plans end-of-year NHIN competition
By Mary Mosquera
Monday, November 09, 2009
The Health & Human Services Department plans by the end of the year to ask for industry proposals that will help move the nationwide health information network into full production.
Selected vendors will need to be able to develop systems, procedures, and technical requirements, with a special emphasis on information networks and interoperability, HHS said in a Nov. 5 Federal Business Opportunities notice.
Other activities may also include assisting the Office of the National Coordinator for health IT (ONC) in drawing up a strategy and governance structure as it moves the NHIN to production. Vendors could also be required to lead a communications campaign to reach out to those interested in learning more about the NHIN.
HHS also said it will award a short-term, sole source contract to carry over support services for the NHIN during the period between an expiring contract and the selection of the new vendors.
ONC is building the foundation for the NHIN to provide a secure, nationwide, health information exchange infrastructure that will connect providers, consumers, and others involved in sharing patient data to improve the quality of healthcare.
A number of federal agencies, including the Veterans Affairs and Defense departments, have tested use of the NHIN to exchange data. The Social Security Administration is the first agency to begin using the NHIN in practice to exchange health information as part of its disability determination process.
Health information exchange is a critical element of transforming healthcare under the stimulus law. The NHIN is expected to be a network of networks based on standards and protocols, including privacy and security features.
“This critical part of the national health IT agenda will enable health information to follow the consumer, be available for clinical decision making, and support appropriate use of healthcare information beyond direct patient care so as to improve public health generally,” HHS said in the notice.
Dr. David Blumenthal, the national health IT coordinator, has said that the advisory Health IT Policy Committee beginning in January will take another look at the current NHIN model and consider whether it should be tweaked to make it easier to access for small physician practices and consumers.
