HHS Finalizes Historic Rules to Provide Patients More Control of Their Health Data

Today, HHS finalized two transformative rules that will give patients unprecedented safe, secure access to their health data. Interoperability has been pursued by multiple administrations and numerous laws, and today, these rules finally deliver on giving patients true access to their healthcare data to make informed healthcare decisions and better manage their care. Putting patients in charge of their health records is a key piece of giving patients more control in healthcare, and patient control is at the center of the Trump administration’s work toward a value-based healthcare system. The two rules, issued by the ONC and CMS, implement interoperability and patient access provisions of the bipartisan 21st Century Cures Act (Cures Act) and support President Trump’s MyHealthEData initiative. MyHealthEData is designed to empower patients around a common aim - giving every American access to their medical information so they can make better healthcare decisions. To read the HHS press release, please visit: https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2020/03/09/hhs-finalizes-historic-rules-to-provide-patients-more-control-of-their-health-data.html For more information on the ONC final rule, please visit: https://protect2.fireeye.com/url?k=f38dbe61-afd9974a-f38d8f5e-0cc47a6d17cc-bffa0ac2011a7cad&u=https://healthit.gov/curesrule For more information on the CMS final rule, please visit: https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/interoperability-and-patient-access-fact-sheet To view the CMS final rule, please visit: https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/Interoperability/index To view the ONC final rule, please visit: https://protect2.fireeye.com/url?k=f9e21b2d-a5b63206-f9e22a12-0cc47a6d17cc-f19fbf5cef959860&u=https://healthit.gov/curesrule

Coronavirus – Latest Information

Current Situation

The Utah Department of Health is actively monitoring an outbreak caused by a novel (new) coronavirus (COVID-19) first identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. This outbreak began in early December 2019 and continues to expand in China and other countries. 

NO CASES HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED IN UTAH. Only cases diagnosed in Utah will be counted as Utah cases. Although, the UDOH has investigated, and ruled out, several potential cases. Utah’s disease surveillance system is working as designed, as public health officials and health care providers are coordinating to identify and investigate potential cases.

While the origin of this particular outbreak can be traced back to China, it would be grossly inappropriate, not to mention medically ineffective, to ostracize anyone from our communities or exclude anyone from our places of public gathering based on their race, nationality, or ethnicity.

Many rumors related to COVID-19 circulating on social media are false or contain misinformation. People should be skeptical of rumors they hear on social media that aren’t being reported by reputable health organizations or mainstream media outlets and should not share or repost items unless they are able to confirm that they are true. False and inaccurate social media posts can cause a great deal of harm.

Even though this is a worrisome public health situation, the immediate health risk from COVID-19 to the general public is believed to be low. We can all contribute to a healthy community, and we appreciate your willingness to help protect the public health in Utah.

What’s Happening in Utah

The Utah Department of Health is working with local health departments, healthcare providers, and other public health partners throughout the state to monitor illness associated with this new coronavirus and to prevent further spread.

The Department has activated its Incident Command System in order to ensure effective communication and coordination with all involved agencies.

While there are currently no confirmed cases in Utah, the UDOH will actively track potential cases as they occur in Utah and will reach out to local health departments and clinicians for assistance to determine the scope of this outbreak and provide technical assistance as necessary.

What’s Happening Nationally

Cases of COVID-19 infection in travelers have been detected in the U.S. Person-to-person spread of COVID-19 also has been seen among close contacts of returned travelers from Wuhan, but at this time, this virus is NOT currently spreading in the community in the United States.

Currently, passenger screening is ongoing at airports where most travelers returning from China enter the country. The CDC is working with the Federal Aviation Administration to expand entry health screening for travelers from Wuhan, China.

Public health entry screening is part of a layered approach that, when used with other public health measures already in place to detect ill arriving travelers, can slow and reduce the spread of disease into the United States.

Public health entry screening alone is not a guarantee against the possible importation of this new virus, but is an important public health tool during this period of uncertainty and part of a multilayered response strategy.

Travel into and out of Wuhan, China has been restricted. The number of travelers coming into the U.S. should decline and further reduce the potential for spread of illness.

Utah 2020 Census website is up!

Utah has an estimated 3.21 million people

The amount of federal funding Utah receives for healthcare, education, and transportation is dependent on census participation. In recent years that funding accounted for 28% of the state budget.

The website is up and running, check it out!

https://census2020.utah.gov/

RWJF: Build a healthy community in the 2020's

	Build a healthy community in the 2020s
	We combed through our research and identified the top five things your community can do to thrive in the next decade: Set a shared vision Use big data locally Practice resiliency Foster radical collaboration Lift up marginalized communities Set your community up for success by taking on one or more of these strategies to promote health equity. Read about what we've learned >

Adult Expansion Medicaid Training for Community Partners

Come learn about the new Adult Expansion Medicaid in Utah

Did you know there is a new Medicaid program for adults? More Utah adults have access to Medicaid than ever before! Please join us for a one-hour training for community agencies and partners to learn more about Adult Expansion Medicaid. Come learn about the program and eligibility requirements so you can help inform and educate your community about this free or low-cost health coverage.

Date And Time

Thu, March 19, 2020

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM MDT

Location

Cannon Health Building room 128

288 North 1460 West

Salt Lake City, UT 84116

REGISTER

Registration for the Healthy People 2030 Launch Event on March 31, 2020 is now open!

Registration for the Healthy People 2030 Launch Event on March 31, 2020 is now open!

Registration is available in person or via webcast.   Link to the Healthy People 2030 Launch Eventbrite Registration Site

https://healthypeople2030.eventbrite.com.au

UDOH Job Posting: Bureau of Financial Services

The Utah Department of Health has a recruitment open for the following position:

Financial Manager II

$27.77 - $44.06

This is a full time, career service position with benefits.

                

Requisition #   23181

Closes:   03/15/2020 at 11:59 pm MST

  

In order to be considered for an interview for this position, you will need to apply on-line at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/utah.  If you have not done so already, you will need to create a job seeker account.