Government Healthcare Policy, Business and Technology

At ONC, work continues amid Trump administration transition

Healthcare IT News: At the jam-packed ONC Town Hall at HIMSS17 on Monday, seating was at a premium and the overflow audience queued for the Q&A in long lines. Clearly, interest is strong as the federal agency in charge of health information technology deals with the changes expected from a new administration whose priorities on health policy and government spending are markedly different from those of the previous eight years.

But Jon White, MD, acting national coordinator for health IT had to preface the talk with some caveats. Given that we're in a "unique time of transition" – just four weeks since President Donald Trump's inauguration and only one week since the Senate confirmation of Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price, MD – "I cannot say a lot to you about speculation for the new administration's priorities, and only a limited amount about 21st Century Cures," said White, referring to the landmark healthcare law signed into law by President Obama in December.

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