NHIN, NwHIN And Healtheway

Roberta Mullin | Government Health IT | September 11, 2012

...Recently events have happened that impact both the network and the exchange. In May the ONC issued a Request for Information (RFI) on conditions of trusted exchange for the NwHIN. Comments received strongly objected to the direction and time frame the ONC was proposing for governance of the NwHIN. After review of the comments we were expecting the ONC to begin creation and release of a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM). Instead last week, ONC Mostashari issued a statement on the future NPRM. “Based on what we heard and our analysis of alternatives, we’ve decided not to continue with the formal rulemaking process at this time, and instead implement an approach that provides a means for defining and implementing nationwide trusted exchange with higher agility, and lower likelihood of regret.”

Since 2007 the ONC has been operating the Nationwide Health Information Network Exchange under a department program. The program is now being transitioned to a public-private partnership to foster continued growth and create a sustainable business model. The goal is to have the transition completed by October and the new name is HealtheWay...