Seven members have been added to the Health Information Technology Advisory Committee (HITAC), a group tasked with improving the quality and access of health IT by the Government Accountability Office (GAO).
HITAC was established through the 21st Century Cures Act, which was a wide-ranging healthcare bill enacted in 2016 that aimed to improve access and increase healthcare choices, as well as established the committee. HITAC makes recommendations on policies, standards, implementation specifications and certification criteria to the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology to implement health IT infrastructure. The health IT aims to advance the electronic access, exchange, and use of health information.
Fourteen members of the committee are appointed by the Comptroller General responsibility, with 11 members appointed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Majority and Minority leaders of the Senate and the Speaker and Minority Leader of the House of Representatives. Each member serves a three-year term.
The new committee members include:
- Kikelomo Belizaire, MD, MPH, MBA, CMO of Pegasystems
- Shila Blend, PhD, MS, health IT director of North Dakota Health Information Network
- Hannah Galvin, MD, FAAP, FAMIA, CMIO of Cambridge Health Alliance
- Bryant Karras, MD, CMIO and senior epidemiologist with the Washington State Department of Health
- Anna McCollister, patient advocate, entrepreneur and advisor
- Deven McGraw, JD, MPH, lLead for data stewardship and data sharing at Invitae Corporation
- Naresh Sundar Rajan, chief data officer at CyncHealth
“HITAC is composed of individuals committed to improving the electronic access, exchange, and use of health information,” Gene L. Dodaro, comptroller general of the United States and head of the GAO, said in a statement. “Each year, many outstanding candidates express an interest in serving on the committee. Today, I’m pleased to announce this latest round of appointments, who I am confident will make excellent contributions.”
Amy joined TriMed Media as a Senior Writer for HealthExec after covering home care for three years. When not writing about all things healthcare, she fulfills her lifelong dream of becoming a pirate by sailing in regattas and enjoying rum. Fun fact: she sailed 333 miles across Lake Michigan in the Chicago Yacht Club "Race to Mackinac."