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On Monday, August 30, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published guidelines for Medicaid physicians detailing the federal aid they can expect in implementing electronic health records (EHRs) in their practice. HITECH as a part of ARRA guarantees annual incentive payments to providers that meaningfully adopt electronic health records. The standards for adoption have been developed by both the Health IT Standards and Policy Committees to ensure providers receiving incentive payments are using new health technologies to their fullest potential. Providers are eligible for annual incentive payments from CMS, alternating between Medicare and Medicaid, until 2014.

Find out more about "Meaningful Use"

Visit CMS to learn more about the Incentive Program for Medicaid

On Monday, August 23, a federal judge ruled against President Obama's 2009 executive order expanding embryonic stem cell research, citing that the policy violated a ban on federal funds being used for the destruction of embryos. Yesterday, August 31, the Justice Department appealed the ruling, arguing that the ruling was overly broad and the original law that banned federal funds from being used on embryonic stem cell research was not meant to be all-encompassing. On Capitol Hill, Representative Diane DeGette (D-CO) said she would revive legislation that specifically allows for the federal funding of embryonic stem cell research by the end of September 2010.

Read National Institutes of Health director's response to the stem cell injunction

Read the Department of Justice appeal

On September 7, join SPARC Executive Director Heather Joseph and Open Access Week Program Director Jennifer McLennan to explore how researchers, research funders, administrators, technology developers, and others are taking advantage of Open Access to research and how advocates can help take conversations to a new level. Open Access Week, a global event now entering its fourth year, is an opportunity for the academic and research community to learn about the potential benefits of Open Access (OA), to share ideas with colleagues, and to inspire wider participation in establishing Open Access as a new norm in scholarship and research.

Registration is free, but required. RSVP by September 6.

The Obama Administration recently unveiled Healthcare.gov, a new website administered by the Department of Health and Human Services. What once was HealthReform.gov has transformed from being a tool advocating for comprehensive health reform to educating and engaging the public on the Affordable Care Act as signed into law on March 23, 2010, so that the final legislation can be understood by all. The website features state by state information, individual insurance options, prevention tips, and a section focused on explaining the implications of the new law that includes a timeline for implementation and informational videos.

Visit Healthcare.gov