ONC Tiger Team Hosts Hearing on Patient Credentialing

Web Hearing Addresses Patient Engagement in Stage 2 MU

To meet Stage 2 meaningful use requirements providers will need to give their patients the ability to electronically view, download, and transmit relevant personal health information from their EHR. Protecting and securing patients health information through electronic access and email is a priority.

On November 29, 2012 the ONC Privacy and Security Tiger Team will host a 4 hour hearing on patient credentialing. Patient credentialing is the process by which a patient’s identity in an electronic environment is verified. The Privacy & Security Tiger Team workgroup was formed in 2010 to focus on a range of privacy and security issues related to the HITECH Act. The  members on the team are from both the HIT Policy and HIT Standards Committees. NOTE: This hearing was originally scheduled on October 29 and re-scheduled due to super storm Sandy.

At this web hearing the team will address two primary questions:

  • What steps should we be taking to make sure that the person who is remotely accessing the record is the actual patient (or that patient’s authorized representative)?
  • How can we reliably issue these “digital credentials” without making it too hard or too expensive for patients?

The ONC is looking for feedback from both providers and patients on these questions.  You can respond two ways:

Responses will be shared with the Health IT Policy and Standards Committees as part of this web hearing. All interested partied can also attend the hearing virtually.

Meeting Date: Thursday, November 29
Time: 12 – 4 pm Eastern.
Attend by logging in as a guest the day of the event.

For more information about this event visit the ONC blog. For the full calendar of all Health IT Policy Committee Meetings click here.