Promoting vaccine equity for all: A Q1 US policy update — with the HIMSS Government Relations team

We're getting on toward the end of the quarter, so we've welcomed back the HIMSS Government Relations team — SVP of Government Relations Tom Leary, Senior Director Jeff Coughlin, and Director for Government Relations and Health Policy David Gray — to share impressions, hopes, and predictions for the new Biden Administration. From the HIMSS Media side, host Jonah Comstock, Healthcare IT News Executive Editor Mike Miliard, and HITN Senior Editor Kat Jercich lead the conversation.This episode was recorded on Thursday March 10th, just before President Biden's prime time address and about a week before Xavier Becerra's confirmation vote.Talking points:Prioritizing equity and access in vaccine distributionHIMSS’s letter to the Biden administrationWhat can we learn from the American Rescue Act?Spending billions to save trillions — modernizing public healthWhat to expect when the info-blocking rules kick inThe role of the government, if any, in vaccine credentialingBroadband and health equityPredictions and expectations about Biden’s healthcare appointees, from HHS to FDAImpacts of the Democratic party’s slim majorityMore about this story:HIMSS's letter to the Biden AdministrationNew HHS Secretary Becerra urged to expand digital health accessONC chief Micky Tripathi talks public health data systems and 'health equity by design'COVID-19 relief package includes health IT expansionCompliance with ONC and CMS rules could offer growth opportunityFDA streamlines pathway to at-home asymptomatic COVID-19 test approvalMedicare for All push resurrected by U.S. House of RepresentativesHospitals and insurers applaud Senate confirmation of a Xavier Becarra as HHS SecretaryBiden Administration invests in expanding COVID-19 testing and treatments in schools and underserved communitiesBiden announces national vaccine finder website, May 1 eligibility for all adultsHouse approves $1.9 trillion rescue plan which now goes before Biden for his signature