Spring 2015Advocacy Corner
The Southern California HIMSS Advocacy Team visited Capitol Hill on March 12th and 13th. Vish Nath, IT Program Director for Molina Healthcare, and Ian Slade, HIMSS SoCal VP for Advocacy and Public Policy, represented the committee. Richard Hodge, Senior Director for Congressional Affairs, Steve Pavlick, HIMSS National Government Relations, and Julie Brown, HIMSS National Associate Manager for State Government Affairs accompanied the SoCal team.
The delegation met with the following legislative offices:
Staff Member |
Legislator |
Megan Thompson, Legislative Assistant |
Sen. Dianne Feinstein |
Tom Rivera, Legislative Research Assistant |
Sen. Barbara Boxer |
Araceli Gutierrez, Health Policy Fellow |
Rep. Lucille Royball-Allard |
Dao Nguyen, Legislative Assistant |
Rep. Adam Schiff |
Lakecia N. Foster, Tax and Health Counsel |
Rep. Mike Thompson |
Samantha Warren, Senior Legislative Assistant |
Rep. Eric Swalwell |
Devin McBrayer, Health Fellow, Women’s Policy Inc. |
Rep. Lois Capps |
Molly Fishman, Legislative Assistant |
Rep. Jackie Speier |
Bill Kutson, Policy Advisor |
Rep. Devin Nunes |
Jacqueline Eufrausino, Senior Legislative Assistant |
Rep. Tony Cardenas |
Andrew Goodwin, Legislative Assistant |
Rep. Barbara Lee |
Veronica Wong, Deputy Chief of Staff |
Rep. Darrell Issa |
Topics discussed during the visit included:
- Meaningful Use 2015 Reporting Year and H.R. 270 "Flex-IT" Act of 2015
- Health Information Technology and Interoperability
- Cybersecurity
- Telehealth Legislation
- FDA Regulation of Healthcare Software And Devices Legislation
- Sustainable Growth Rate & ICD-10 Updates
- Meaningful Use Stage 3 Recommendations
The purpose of these ongoing visits is to voice the concerns of HIMSS members from a National and State perspective. HIMSS has been a resource for expert opinion regarding Healthcare IT issues since its inception in 1961. Fostering relations with incumbent legislative offices is our valiant attempt to influence legislation that will ultimately affect everyone in the Healthcare Industry.
(L-R) Richard Hodge (HIMSS National) Dao Nguyen (Rep. Schiff legislative assistant),
Vish Nath & Ian Slade (SoCal HIMSS Advocacy Team)