The 2022 AHIMA advocacy agenda will leverage our knowledge and expertise of health information and influence the public policy environment for the benefit of patients, communities, clinicians, and other stakeholders. Download our agenda to learn more.
Latest Advocacy News
May 23, 2022
AHIMA has submitted a response to a Request for Information (RFI) from the Department of Health and Human Services' Office for Civil Rights (OCR), Considerations for Implementing the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, as Amended.
May 2, 2022
AHIMA submitted comments to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/National Center for Health Statistics and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on ICD-10-CM/PCS code proposals discussed at the March ICD-10 Coordination and Maintenance Committee meeting.
April 20, 2022
AHIMA submitted comments to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT regarding the US Core For Data Interoperability (USCDI) Draft Version 3. The USCDI establishes a baseline set of standardized data classes and data elements to enhance nationwide, interoperable health information exchange. New data classes for health insurance information and health status are proposed, and 20 new data elements.
March 25, 2022
AHIMA submitted a response to a Request for Information (RFI) from the Office of National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) on electronic prior authorization standards, implementation specifications, and certification criteria.
March 16, 2022
AHIMA has joined 135 healthcare organizations in advocating for $500 million in funding for the Agency for Healthcare and Research and Quality (AHRQ) in the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) federal budget. The funding will support AHRQ's mission of furthering research to improve health care quality, reduce costs, advance patient safety, decrease medical errors, and broaden access to essential services.
March 4, 2022
In a response to the Healthy Future Task Force Modernization Subcommittee request for information (RFI), AHIMA and other healthcare organizations recommended the authorization of funding for long-term and post-acute care providers to adopt interoperable health information technology with a focus on patient care and safety.
February 23, 2022
AHIMA recently provided feedback on the PREVENT Pandemics Act draft legislation, introduced by HELP Committee Chair Patty Murray (D-WA) and Ranking Member Richard Burr (R-NC). AHIMA provided comments on social determinants of health, accurate patient information, and improving the frontline workforce.
January 21, 2022
A policy statement addressing interoperability has been approved by AHIMA's Board of Directors. To make the strides needed to strengthen interoperability within healthcare, public policy must improve standardization of health data to support interoperability.
January 5, 2022
In a letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC), AHIMA and other provider-based organizations ask that security and vulnerability flaws of Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resource (FHIR) based application program interfaces (APIs) be reviewed and that FHIR API policies be reevaluated.
November 12, 2021
In a letter to relevant committee leadership on Capitol Hill, AHIMA and HIMSS sent a letter in support of the most recent bipartisan amendment offer by Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Rob Portman (R-OH), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Mark Warner (D-VA) to the Cyber Incident Reporting Act. The legislation would create a compulsory cyber incident notification program with implications for the healthcare community. AHIMA and HIMSS voiced support for issues including harmonizing federal reporting requirements, focusing on patient safety, and supporting opportunities for cyber workforce development.
October 11, 2021
In a letter to the Sequoia Project, AHIMA provided feedback on the Elements of the Common Agreement in support of the goal of establishing “a floor of universal interoperability across the country for health care.”
October 7, 2021
A policy statement addressing consumer engagement has been approved by AHIMA's Board of Directors. To empower individuals to become better informed and more involved in decisions that affect their health and healthcare, AHIMA believes that public policy must guarantee an individual’s right to access their health information, regardless of where it is captured, stored, or exchanged.
September 20, 2021
AHIMA, the American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA), and the Electronic Health Record Association (EHRA) released a preliminary report that examines key issues related to the operationalization of the definitions of electronic health information (EHI) and designated record set (DRS).
September 13, 2021
AHIMA submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on the Calendar Year (CY) 2022 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) proposed rule.
September 7, 2021
AHIMA submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on the Calendar Year (CY) 2022 Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule.
September 3, 2021
AHIMA submitted comments to the Department of Health and Human Services on the interim final rule on Requirements Related to Surprise Billing.
August 6, 2021
The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed and exacerbated existing health inequities in the US and beyond. This spring we convened a work group to help us think about what key public policy considerations should be addressed by policymakers to address health inequities.
August 2, 2021
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology recently asked the healthcare community what interoperability outcomes should be prioritized that align with ONC's interoperability vision for the nation and the 2020-2025 Federal Health IT Strategic Plan. In this video, AHIMA CEO Wylecia Wiggs Harris, PhD, CAE, details AHIMA’s answer.
July 20, 2021
A policy statement addressing health equity has been approved by AHIMA's Board of Directors. To meet the needs of diverse populations and reduce and eliminate health disparities and inequities, AHIMA believes that public policy must encourage the standardized collection of accurate and complete patient demographic and social determinants of health data.
July 19, 2021
AHIMA provided input to the NCVHS Subcommittee on Standards request for public comment on healthcare standards development, adoption, and implementation. AHIMA's letter stated that harmonizing standards to create a consistent set of standards for code sets, content, and services must evolve together to address clinical and administrative workflows. AHIMA commented that a clear roadmap and timeline are necessary to ensure the successful convergence of clinical and administrative data streams.
July 15, 2021
AHIMA submitted comments on the 21st Century Cures 2.0 draft legislation. AHIMA's letter offers several recommendations pertaining to accurate patient identification, increased health literacy, expanded access to and support for telehealth, payment for breakthrough devices, and biometrics.
July 15, 2021
A policy statement on the subject of healthcare reform has been approved by AHIMA’s Board of Directors. To recognize the value of health information in any health reform efforts seeking to expand insurance coverage, improve quality, and/or reduce costs, AHIMA believes that, regardless of insurance coverage status, public policy must guarantee the right for all to have access to affordable, high-quality health insurance coverage and ensure individuals are able to access, use, and share their health information.
July 14, 2021
A new AHIMA white paper explores the strategies and best practices forward-thinking healthcare organizations use to improve the data governance underlying social determinants of health data initiatives.
June 24, 2021
AHIMA submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System proposed rule.
June 21, 2021
AHIMA submitted comments in response to a request for information (RFI) from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) related to equity in federal policies and programs. AHIMA’s letter offers several recommendations to OMB related to the standardized and consistent collection of relevant health data and urges the agency to ensure “equity by design” across federal programs.
May 3, 2021
AHIMA Submitted Comments to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/National Center for Health Statistics on ICD-10-CM code proposals discussed at the March ICD-10 Coordination and Maintenance Committee meeting.
April 30, 2021
AHIMA submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/National Center for Health Statistics on the possible implementation of ICD-10-CM/PCS codes on April 1.
April 21, 2021
At the recent ICD-10 Coordination and Maintenance (C&M) Committee meeting, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and National Center for Health Statistics discussed the possible adoption of April 1 ICD-10 code updates.
April 15, 2021
AHIMA submitted comments to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT regarding the US Core For Data Interoperability (USCDI) Version 2. The USCDI establishes a baseline set of standardized data classes and data elements to enhance nationwide, interoperable health information exchange. The USCDI Draft version 2 proposes to new data classes and data elements to the USCDI.
April 13, 2021
As the cost of care rises, policymakers have increasingly focused on the need for greater transparency in healthcare prices and health plan coverage.
April 12, 2021
A policy statement on the subject of affordability has been approved by AHIMA’s Board of Directors.
April 7, 2021
AHIMA submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the National Center for Health Statistics on code proposals discussed at the March ICD-10 Coordination and Maintenance Committee meeting.
March 22, 2021
AHIMA submitted comments to the HHS Office for Civil Rights regarding its proposed rule that would modify aspects of the HIPAA Privacy Rule. The proposed rule would, among other things, amend certain provisions of the HIPAA Privacy Rule that could present barriers to coordinated care and case management, or impose regulatory burdens without offsetting such burdens through privacy protections.