The 21st Century Cures Act, commonly referred to as the Cures Act, is entering the final year of its initially-approved nine-year run, but Department of Health and Human Services officials say they are still “hard at work” bringing it to bear. The law is meant to deliver healthcare technology and IT policy at the rapid pace of need by boosting tech innovation, updating clinical trial plans and taking into account citizen feedback.
Steven Posnack, principal deputy assistant secretary for technology policy at HHS, shared with GovCon Wire that his office has been razor-focused in 2024 on executing on the promises of the Cures Act, which is utilizing the $500 million budget agreed upon in late 2016.
Posnack will be the opening keynote speaker at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2024 Healthcare Summit on Dec. 11 — this Wednesday! If you’re in business with HHS, the Department of Veterans Affairs or the Military Health Agency, or want to know how to partner effectively with these powerful organizations, this is the place to be. Register now before it’s too late!
Steven Posnack’s Role & Focus
As principal deputy ASTP, Posnack has the national and international duties of coordinating policies, managing regulations and serving as an ambassador to the private sector. On the latter note, he previewed what he’ll be discussing when he kicks off the Healthcare Summit.
“I’m looking forward to sharing more specifics about ASTP’s work, including key initiatives like the information blocking regulations, the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA), and transparency requirements for AI used in certified health IT,” Posnack said.
TEFCA is an architecture built to facilitate health data-sharing between different health information networks, or HINs, throughout the U.S. It works to do away with impediments that providers, patients, payers and public health entities face when exchanging information.
As for the AI element of Posnack’s remarks, that’s sure to be an exciting component of what he has to say. We talked to Joe Raetano last week, who works for another major health agency, the VA, about how AI is changing the speed and comprehensiveness of healthcare delivery.
Other Attractions at the Healthcare Summit
“These are exciting times in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Office of Information Technology,” enthused Lee Ann Crochunis, deputy director of CMS OIT. Crochunis will be closing out the Healthcare Summit and is “looking forward to sharing our current strategic perspectives – and how you can help!”
Don’t miss Steven Posnack and Lee Ann Crochunis’ direct addresses to the GovCon community at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2024 Healthcare Summit! It’s happening this Wednesday, Dec. 11 at the Falls Church Marriott Fairview Park in Virginia.
