Governors will focus on Health Information Technology (IT) at the upcoming National Governors Association (NGA) Annual Meeting, scheduled for July 20-23 in Traverse City, Michigan. They also will discuss the State Children's Health Insurance Program reauthorization, which is a top priority of governors, according to an NGA release.
The discussion will occur during the Health and Human Services committee meeting on Sunday, July 22, at 11:00 a.m. at Grand Traverse Resort & Spa. Governors and panelists will focus on the role of governors in the promotion of health IT and how to best drive policy among the federal government, states and the private sector. Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen, co-chair of the State Alliance for e-Health (Alliance), will join the committee to discuss the Alliance's latest work.
"Across the country, governors are actively engaged in health IT activities, including convening stakeholders to develop regional or statewide electronic health information exchanges that enable health care providers, payers and patients to electronically share health information," said New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine, the committee chair. "This meeting is a perfect opportunity for governors to discuss ways to advance health IT."
"The State Alliance for e-Health has brought together stakeholders to address health IT issues and challenges to enabling appropriate, interoperable, electronic health information exchange," said Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas, vice chair of the committee and co-chair of the Alliance. "This session is a unique opportunity to discuss the importance of electronic health records and state and national trends surrounding this critical issue, and I look forward to sharing some of the Alliance's important work."
