Advocacy in Action
AHIMA's policy and government affairs team plays a vital role to ensure the interests and needs of health information professionals are represented in Washington, DC. The team influences federal healthcare legislation, comments on federal regulations and other public policy initiatives, guides AHIMA members, and leads the industry forward by developing policy statements to advance AHIMA’s initiatives.
It’s important we work together to advocate for the profession. Here are some ways you can help:
- Take action by contacting your federal legislators concerning key legislative initiatives impacting the health information profession or the collection and use of health information.
- Participate in the development of AHIMA’s comment letters on public policy issues.
- Serve on AHIMA’s Advocacy and Policy Council.
- Serve as a state advocacy leader.
- Participate in the advocacy process by exercising your right to vote.
These critical skills inform patient engagement efforts, determine the allocation of vital resources, and ensure the vitality of health systems including the communities they serve.
AHIMA Policy Statements
Integrating Clinical and Administrative Health Data
AHIMA supports the use of policy and other tools to realize the benefits of greater integration of clinical and administrative data, including improved patient experience, decreased administrative costs, reduced provider burden, and improved quality of care and outcomes.
Patient Identification
AHIMA supports the accurate identification of patients to enhance patient safety, while also improving interoperability and the appropriate use of workforce resources. Health information (HI) professionals have extensive knowledge and expertise to inform and advance public policy that seeks to improve the accuracy of matching patients to their health information.
Health Information held by HIPAA non-covered entities
AHIMA supports the use of policy to address existing privacy, confidentiality, and security gaps in the protection of health information held by Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) non-covered entities. Federal privacy and security baseline standards should be developed for the protection of health information held by data holders1 outside of the scope of HIPAA.