Social Security Taps New Senior Health IT Official

The Social Security Administration named James Winn, executive counselor to the commissioner, as special advisor for health IT. He takes over the position from Jim Borland, who oversaw the agency's pioneering use of the nationwide health information network.

Borland will now become associate commissioner for electronic services and strategic information in the Office of Disability, Adjudication and Review, a new position he started April 19 to help advance modernization of SSA's hearing process to reduce the backlog of disability claims, said William Martinez, deputy to the special advisor for health IT.

Winn became involved in health IT in helping form Data Use and Reciprocal Support Agreements (DURSA), HIE master agreements that smooth business participation in the NHIN. He has since participated in making agency decisions about health IT, Martinez said.