A Health & Human Service Department panel has asked the public to comment on how to set up a governing system for the nationwide health information network (NHIN) so providers can start using its services to exchange patient data.
The request was made by the governance workgroup of the Health IT Policy Committee, which is developing final recommendations on the matter.
The Office of the National Coordinator has said it plans to release a proposed rule in early 2011 on NHIN governance.
The workgroup wants suggestions on existing methods that might be appropriate for NHIN governance, with or without modifications, or whether new ones are necessary, according to an ONC announcement Oct. 26.
The work group wants feedback by Nov. 3 and has listed the core functions and questions to frame the comments.
The basic functions of governance are a uniform set of policies providers must follow as a condition of exchanging health information, validating eligibility for exchange and setting up consequences for not complying with the rules, Lumpkin said in a recent report of the panel to the policy committee.
The Privacy and Security Tiger Team, another policy committee workgroup, has also asked the public for feedback on providers should authenticate their identity as part of health information exchange.
The tiger team wants to know by Oct. 29 what the public believes should be the level of authentication for providers, what requirements are necessary to receive digital credentials, and who should have the authority to issue digital credentials.
Those who want to comment on either of the subject can do so at http://healthit.hhs.gov/blog/faca
