Health and Community Services

Economic Stimulus Package Could Impinge on Americans' Health Privacy, Says Group

January 19, 2009 - "HIPAA was never intended for the digital age, because the 1996 HIPAA law never anticipated the emergence of Web-based records."

Health IT Key to $530 Billion Savings Opportunity for Health Care Reform, Says Report

January 16, 2009 - Health care information technology; comparative effectiveness; coordination of care; and consumerism provide the opportunity to achieve a $530 billion savings opportunity based on a $220 billion upfront investment over three years.

Kentucky Implementing Statewide Health Information Exchange

January 16, 2009 - "Health information technology is the first thing on the list and the only thing on the horizon to both significantly reduce cost and to improve the quality of health care for our citizens in Kentucky and across the country."

Montana Secretary of State Opposes Move to Local Authority Over Accessible Voting

January 16, 2009 - "One of my responsibilities as chief election official is to ensure that every voter at every election across the state has the opportunity to vote privately and independently,"

Unemployment Insurance Applicants Overwhelm States' Phones

January 15, 2009 - Automated phone systems in California, New York, Ohio, Kentucky and North Carolina can't handle unemployment insurance applicants.

Louisiana Pilot Expands, Shares Public Health Data by Secure Internet Access

January 14, 2009 - "The LIMS project will modernize our health care system, and enable parish health units to order public health lab tests, transmit results, and analyze data from results electronically."

Web Site to Coordinate New Jersey Volunteers in MLK Day of Service, Ongoing Commitment to Communities

January 14, 2009 - "Unlike past calls to service, President-elect Obama is asking Americans to do more than offer a single day of service to their communities, but to make an ongoing commitment." -- New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine

New Partnership Brings Accessible Wi-Fi to Low-Income Housing

January 14, 2009 - "Everyday, we use the Internet to investigate pressing issues in our lives: education, jobs, immigration, health care and other vital issues."

Video: Colorado CIO Mike Locatis, National 911 Standard, Wrist Phone, Straining Computers

January 14, 2009 - Welcome to GovLog, the weekly video news report from the editors of Government Technology.

Surgeon General Releases New Internet-Based Family Health History Tool

January 13, 2009 - "A strong family health history tool can be an important element for guiding medical decision-making, especially in the area of cancer screening, prevention and early detection." -- Lance Armstrong

Medicare Launches Medicare Personal Health Record Choice Pilot

January 13, 2009 - Offers beneficiaries an opportunity to maintain their own personal health records.

Chapman University to Offer Health Risk and Crisis Communication Programs

January 13, 2009 - Online program designed to prepare communicators for health crises and disaster response

Health Care IT Approaches Insufficient, Says Report

January 12, 2009 - Data was used mainly to comply with regulations or to defend against lawsuits, rather than to improve care.

National eHealth Group Meets Today with Obama Transition Team

January 9, 2009 - Former American Health Information Community brings together public-private sector members to achieve nationwide electronic health information.

HHS: Integrated Information Systems, National Messaging Key to Infection Reduction Strategy

January 8, 2009 - Collaborative interagency plan will help the nation build a safer, more affordable health care system.

Report: Home Health Technology Improves Access to Care

January 7, 2009 - Key to the program's success is VA's computerized patient record system.

Telemedicine Underutilized in Texas, Says Report

January 5, 2009 - "HHSC continues to encourage the use of telemedicine to increase access to care in medically underserved areas of the state."

Emergency Managers Warned of Terror Risk

December 31, 2008 - GIS technology helps Georgia city control mosquitoes.

Crazy Ants Harmful to Texas Governments' Computers

December 31, 2008 - Texas A&M professor says invasive species could conceivably endanger the public.

HHS's Leavitt Announces New Privacy Principles and Tools

December 28, 2008 - Privacy and security measures will be an essential sociological enabler of groundbreaking technology.