State HIT Days in 2011

Since Jan. 1, four states have held state health IT days. In last month’s blog, I reported on activities in Texas, and as a result of the those meetings with legislators and their staffs on Jan. 26 in Austin, HIMSS members were invited to offer testimony in front of The House Committee on Public Health on Feb. 23.

The fifth Annual Virginia Health IT Day was held in Richmond, Va. on Feb. 1. The education session began at 10 am, and after lunch; HIMSS members took the opportunity to visit the legislators’ offices. Find out more with the Agenda and Slides available on HIMSS VA Website.

On Feb. 2, both the Kentucky House and Senate passed a resolution declaring Feb. 2 as Health IT and Meaningful Use Awareness Day. A group of organizations – the Kentucky chapters of HIMSS, KHIMA, and CHIME – collaborated to hold an advocacy day to raise awareness of the great opportunity to advance meaningful use in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Advocates participated in legislative training and then met with many of the most prominent and leading legislators in the House and Senate asking for their support for the attached resolution. The resolution passed unanimously in both chambers.

In addition to the resolution, the Kentucky Bluegrass HIMSS President and Advocacy Chair were recognized on the Senate floor while advocates participated from the Senate gallery.

Later in the afternoon, a panel of HIEs and RECs discussed the meaningful use landscape in Kentucky with advocates. Advocates also participated in the Kentucky e-Health Network Board meeting later that afternoon.

The advocates for health IT have told me they see these advocacy days as another opportunity to raise awareness and garner continuing legislative and stakeholder support for health IT efforts in Kentucky.

The fourth Maryland State Advocacy Day was held on Feb 17^,in Annapolis. Over 75 people registered to attend the event and 29 legislators attended and over 70 meetings were held in the legislative offices. In addition to the legislative office visits, Governor Martin O’Malley signed a proclamation, which named Feb. 17 Maryland State Health IT day.

Other states that plan to host state advocacy days this coming year include Colorado, New York, Pennsylvania and Michigan.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Luzminda Ross of the North Carolina Chapter who was named the Chapter Advocate of the Year for 2010. Luz was presented the Award at the Public Policy breakfast at HIMSS 11 in Orlando last week by the HIMSS Chair C. Martin Harris, M.D., M.B.A., FHIMSS.

Luz was recognized for successfully attaining Presidential Level, the highest level of advocacy recognition during calendar year 2010. Through her work with the North Carolina Chapter, Luz demonstrated through words and actions her commitment to strengthening the advocacy program at the state and federal level, Luz is an exemplary example of how one person can not only make a difference herself, but how one person can inspire others to jointly work together to do the same.

Congratulations Luz, it truly is my pleasure to work with you as we work together to spread the word about health IT.