> Implementation plans by hospital CIOs aren't likely to change much if the U.S. Supreme Court rules against and overturns the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, according to a post by reporter Rachel King published this week in the Wall Street Journal's CIO Report. "The ACA doesn't directly address technology, although some of the Medicare programs in the Act give preference to providers that have installed electronic health records," King wrote. "Most of the Act is about reforms in the healthcare delivery system, such as increasing physician efficiency and improving care and outcomes for patients." Post
> The Association of Regional Centers for Health Information Technology (ARCH-IT), a new national association to represent the 62 Regional Extension Centers throughout the United States, was announced this week. The association's aim, according to the announcement, is to "promote and facilitate the integration of operational efficiency, clinical efficacy and revenue maximization in clinical practices through the adoption and use of health information technology." Announcement
> The HIMSS Electronic Health Record Association commented on the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT's Request for Information regarding the Nationwide Health Information Network: Conditions for Trusted Exchange this week. In the group's letter to National Coordinator for Health IT Farzad Mostashari, it said that ONC should focus on the governance model itself, rather than on proposing conditions for trusted exchange. Letter (.pdf)
And Finally… Remind me to head over to the Rio next time I'm in Vegas. Article