GAO official names first 13 members of HIT Policy Advisory Committee

Government Accountability Office acting Comptroller General Gene Dodaro last week named 13 members to a policy committee on health care information technology established under the federal economic stimulus package, CongressDaily reports.

The HHS secretary and members of Congress will name the other members to complete the 20-member committee. President Obama can appoint additional members to represent other relevant federal agencies.

The committee will make recommendations on developing a policy framework for the implementation and adoption of a national health IT system, including the standards for sharing electronic patient information.

The stimulus package also established a standards committee, but does not specify a deadline for HHS to make appointments to that committee (CongressDaily, 4/3).