Accreditation firm URAC is seeking public comment on standards and measures for a new accreditation program being developed for accountable care organizations.

From breaches to the long list of issues discussed by the federal HIT Policy Committee, a lot happened in the health IT arena this week. Here's what you need to know.

The Office of the National Coordinator of Health IT requested an increase of $16.7 million above its fiscal year 2012 enacted level. The $77.9 million requested for fiscal year 2014 includes $20.6 million in budget authority, $56.3 million in public health service evaluation funds and $ million in certified EHR technology fees to support program activities.

WASHINGTON, April 11, 2013 -- The Health Coalition on Liability and Access today endorsed legislation introduced in the House of Representatives that will curb medical lawsuit abuse and help ensure continued patient access to care.The Standard of Care Protection Act (H.R. 1473), a bipartisan bill introduced by Congressman Phil Gingrey (R-GA) and Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX), is the first piece of legislation in the House of Representatives in the 113th Congress to address our nation's broken liability system.  It ensures that no provisions of federal health care law may be inappropriately used to create new threats for medical liability litigation in the United States.

President Obama’s budget for the Department of Health & Human Services for fiscal year 2014 focuses on improving patient safety, building understanding and treatment of mental health problems, advancing scientific knowledge, examining new models for care and payment and contributing to a reduction of the nation’s debt.

CAMDEN, N.J., April 10, 2013 -- In a highly innovative move, unprecedented in New Jersey, a health insurer and a hospital system -- AmeriHealth New Jersey and Cooper University Health Care -- announce today that Cooper will acquire a 20 percent interest in AmeriHealth New Jersey. This venture intends to transform health care in the state by increasing quality and lowering costs through a more highly coordinated care model.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has new funding available to support Navigators in federally facilitated and state partnership marketplaces. Navigators are individuals and entities that will provide unbiased information to consumers about health insurance, the new Health Insurance Marketplace, qualified health plans and public programs, including Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

Following some congressional pressure, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is releasing a proposed rule (CMS-1454-P) to extend the Dec. 31, 2013 deadline of the safe harbor provision, which allows the donation of EHRs and other services to qualified entities, to Dec. 31, 2016.