Congress Archives - HIT Leaders and News

Medicaid “Reform” as Policy Abandonment

Jason Free — Wed, 21 May 2025 11:42:12 +0000

The proposal to restructure Medicaid financing through block grants or per capita caps may sound like fiscal modernization to some lawmakers, but on the ground, it is nothing less than a profound destabilization of care for the country’s most vulnerable populations. In their May 13 letter, MGMA and dozens of leading physician associations voiced a unified and urgent objection to these changes, citing the real and immediate harm they would inflict on patients and practices alike. At a time when the United States is facing historic levels of hospital closures, workforce shortages, and public health disparities, these so-called reforms would cut Medicaid off at the knees.

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HIMSS Urges Congress to Reauthorize Cybersecurity Law that Encourages Collaboration and Resilience

Jason Free — Tue, 20 May 2025 11:27:06 +0000

“The intent of the healthcare cybersecurity provision of the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015 (6 USC 1533) was to establish a voluntary, consensus-based, industry-led approach so we can collectively strengthen our security posture and share meaningful threat intelligence within healthcare and, where appropriate, with other critical infrastructure sectors,” said Lee Kim, HIMSS senior principal, cybersecurity and privacy. “This law has had a significant impact not only on healthcare, but across other sectors by advancing collaboration and improving cyber resilience. I am happy to have contributed to the creation of this provision, which continues to strengthen cybersecurity across healthcare and beyond.”

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Congress Extends Telehealth Provisions in Spending Bill, But Long-Term Certainty Remains Elusive

Jason Free — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 11:01:40 +0000

In a significant win for telehealth advocates, Congress has passed a federal government spending bill that includes short-term extensions for critical telehealth provisions through September 30, 2025. The move ensures that millions of Americans, particularly those in underserved communities, will continue to have access to essential healthcare services delivered virtually. However, the temporary nature of these extensions has reignited calls for more permanent solutions to stabilize and expand telehealth access.

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HIMSS: Urge Congress to Extend Medicare Telehealth Flexibilities

Jason Free — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 11:28:24 +0000

Unless Congress acts, telehealth flexibilities that have allowed clinicians to provide millions of Americans access to high-quality virtual care since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic will expire at the end of this year.

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HIMSS Calls for Congress to Adopt Comprehensive Privacy Law, Framework for AI Implementation in Healthcare

Jason Free — Tue, 24 Oct 2023 13:44:01 +0000

HIMSS, a global advocate for digital health transformation, called for the United States Congress to adopt a robust, comprehensive health privacy law that is universally implementable and applicable to all entities that access protected health information regardless of site or platform.

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AMGA Urges Congress to Prioritize Value-Based Care

Jason Free — Fri, 17 Feb 2023 15:17:47 +0000

AMGA recommended Congress support providers' transition to value-based care by implementing a stable Medicare payment system and modernizing telehealth coverage policies. In a letter to congressional leadership, AMGA called on Congress to develop a more sustainable system that enables providers to continue to provide the highest quality care to their patients.

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