LEXINGTON, Ky., Tuesday, June 11 — State CIOs continue to serve as a vital link in health IT transformation, according to a new survey, “The Health IT Landscape in the States: Through the Lens of the State CIO,” released today by the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) and the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS). The publication is available for download on NASCIO’s website atwww.nascio.org/publications and on the HIMSS website in the HIMSS HIE Toolkit.

It is increasingly imperative that states implement an enterprise-wide architecture for the exchange of health information, especially as state CIOs continue to take on varying roles in areas, such as:

• Medicaid Management Information Systems (MMIS);
• Medicaid eligibility systems;
• Data governance;
• Identity management (IdM);
• State health insurance marketplaces;
• State Level Health Information Exchange (SLHIE); and
• Shared services and collaboration.

NASCIO and HIMSS have collaborated to provide a snapshot of how states are responding to the challenge. The survey provides a better depiction of what role, if any, the state CIO is playing in these various efforts.

“State CIOs are wearing many hats when it comes to state health IT projects,” said Doug Robinson, NASCIO executive director. “The focus remains to find ways to collaborate and coordinate IT initiatives from a global or enterprise view.”

This survey, the first in-depth industry study of this nature, includes the findings, detailed analysis, and call to action for states and state CIOs to successfully navigate IT implementation.

“Improving health and healthcare demands a collaborative effort, including the efforts of CIOs at the state level,” says Carla Smith, MA, CNM, FHIMSS, HIMSS Executive Vice President. “This research introduces valuable findings on the current contributions of, and future opportunities for, these state CIOs who are healthcare leaders in their respective locations.”

Visit www.nascio.org to download this new survey.

Visit the HIMSS website to download the paper and learn more about state health IT initiatives. Contact Pam Matthews, RN, MBA, CPHIMS, LFHIMSS, HIMSS senior director, Informatics, at [email protected] for more information on HIEs; contact Tom Keefe, MA, FHIMSS, HIMSS senior director, State Government Affairs, Technology Solutions, at [email protected] for more information on state government initiatives at HIMSS.

About HIMSS
HIMSS is a cause-based, not-for-profit organization focused on better health through information technology (IT). HIMSS leads global efforts to optimize health engagements and care outcomes using information technology. Visit www.himss.org.

HIMSS is a part of HIMSS WorldWide, a cause-based, global enterprise producing health IT thought leadership, education, events, market research and media services around the world. Founded in 1961, HIMSS WorldWide encompasses more than 52,000 individuals, of which more than two-thirds work in healthcare provider, governmental and not-for-profit organizations across the globe, plus over 600 corporations and 250 not-for-profit partner organizations, that share this cause. HIMSS WorldWide, headquartered in Chicago, serves the global health IT community with additional offices in the United States, Europe, and Asia.

LEXINGTON, Ky., Monday, May 13 — The National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) developed a new State Mobile Apps Catalog, a collection of over 160 state and territory native mobile apps that users can browse and download for smart phones and tablets. The apps are searchable by state/territory, by category and through an overall browse function.

“This tool offers a convenient way to see what other states are producing in terms of mobile apps, and allowing states to generate ideas for their own state or territory,” said Brenda Decker, NASCIO president and Nebraska CIO. “Some states lead the way in mobile app development and can pose as models for those growing their mobile app capabilities.”

The catalog includes a vast range of topics including; public safety, health and wellness, public assistance, employee assistance, state portal, traffic/road conditions, parks and recreation, plus much more. Visit www.nascio.org/apps to browse through the topics or upload your states native apps.

WASHINGTON, D.C., Tuesday, April 30 — The National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) has awarded Will Pelgrin, CEO and president of the Center for Internet Security and founder and chair of the Multi-state Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC), with the association’s 2013 NASCIO Technology Champion (NTC) award. Pelgrin received recognition for his outstanding contributions promoting government performance excellence through sound information technology solutions, policies and practice during the NASCIO Midyear Conference in Washington, D.C.

Elayne Starkey, Delaware chief security officer said, “Will Pelgrin is an outstanding selection for the NASCIO Technology Champion Award. His advice, wise counsel, and willingness to assist has been invaluable to the Delaware Security Program as we partner together to protect critical assets.”

“Will Pelgrin is our nation’s cybersecurity pioneer whose vision and energy has created the vital bridge that now strongly connects chief information security officers and other security practitioners working in the public sector,” said Jim Richards, West Virginia chief information security officer. “Will is known for his incredibly strong commitment to the continuous enhancement of the nation’s security posture, and he has created invaluable and powerful linkages, within the framework of the MS-ISAC, among public sector organizations, and with the federal Cyber Security partners.”

NASCIO presents the NTC award each spring to acknowledge an individual who has demonstrated a clear understanding of the fundamental role that information technology can play in efficient and effective government operations. Nominees may be an elected or appointed official representing federal, state or local government, an academician, author, journalist, or an individual from the non-profit or private sector.

LEXINGTON, Ky., Wednesday, March 27 — The National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) created a new scholarship program, the Thomas M. Jarrett CISO Conference Scholarship Program, to honor Thomas Jarrett, former Chief Information Officer of the State of Delaware, NASCIO President (2005-2006) and 2006 recipient of the prestigious Meritorious Service Award.

This elite scholarship will award three chief information security officers (CISOs) the opportunity to attend a premier NASCIO conference. State chief information officers may nominate CISOs for the scholarship starting April 1 at www.nascio.org. The application will include examples of the CISO’s leadership in cybersecurity and why the CISO would benefit from attending the conference. Learn more at https://www.nascio.org/awards/tjcs/.

“Tom had a passion for cybersecurity not only in his state, but for the association as well,” said Doug Robinson, NASCIO’s executive director. “To recognize his contributions and advocacy in advancing the states’ cybersecurity agenda, NASCIO’s leadership dedicated a scholarship in his memory.”

Read Robinson’s blog on remembering Tom Jarrett at http://community.nascio.org/NASCIO/Blogs/BlogViewer/?BlogKey=2ebc37ce-de96-46fa-b7ea-953052c82b55.

LEXINGTON, Ky., Thursday, January 24 — the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) is joining the effort to promote privacy awareness along with a multitude of other international organizations, companies, education institutions, government entities and municipalities across the globe, by becoming a Champion and supporting January 28 as Data Privacy Day. Coordinated and led by the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA), Data Privacy Day is held each year on January 28 and is an international awareness effort to empower people to better protect their privacy.

Data Privacy Day promotes messages about the importance of data protection and controlling one’s digital footprint. As a Data Privacy Day Champion, NASCIO recognizes and supports the ideal that individuals, organizations, business and government all share the responsibility to be aware of privacy challenges and encourages everyone to bring information privacy into their daily thoughts, conversations and actions.

“While providing state agencies with enterprise technology services, state CIOs are acutely aware of the personally identifiable information entrusted to their protection,” stated NASCIO Executive Director Doug Robinson. “Because keeping citizen data secure is a top priority, it’s imperative for state CIOs, to implement the necessary security protocols and measures that support privacy policies.”

Data Privacy Day began in the United States and Canada in January 2008, as an extension of the Data Protection Day celebration in Europe. The Day commemorates the 1981 signing of Convention 108, the first legally binding international treaty dealing with privacy and data protection. More information is available at: http://www.staysafeonline.org/data-privacy-day/landing/

About Data Privacy Day
Led by the National Cyber Security Alliance, Data Privacy Day began in the United States and Canada in January 2008 as an extension of the Data Protection Day celebration in Europe. The Day commemorates the 1981 signing of Convention 108 – the first legally binding international treaty dealing with privacy and data protection. Data Privacy Day is a celebration for everyone and an effort to empower people to protect their privacy, control their digital footprint and escalate the protection of data privacy as everyone’s priority. Intel is a Platinum sponsor of Data Privacy Day. Gold sponsors include AT&T, Microsoft and Google.