Ontarios decade-long EHR initiative is in the middle of an ongoing scandal that has resulted in the resignation this week of the provinces health minister and the subsequent release of a special report from the Office of the Auditor General of Ontario blasting the initiatives spending practices.

The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Analytics unit has published a white paper, The State of U.S. Hospitals Relative to Achieving Meaningful Use Measurements, offering an overview of market gaps in relation to American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) compliance.

Digital pathology developer Aperio Technologies has begun offering its technology based on a monthly fee, calculated on the basis of throughput.

The Georgia Tech Research Institute in Atlanta has begun developing testing protocols for radiofrequency identification (RFID) technology in the healthcare setting.

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and the staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation have released a preliminary analysis of the Senate healthcare reform legislation, Chairmans Mark for the Americas Healthy Future Act of 2009, estimating the bill would reduce federal budget deficits by $81 billion over the 20102019 period.

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) released its Consumer Preferences Draft Requirements Document for health IT, co-drafted by the Department of Health and Human Services, for public feedback this week.

The Certification Commission for Health IT (CCHIT) has opened applications for a new certification program.

Starting in November, Americas Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) and the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) will sponsor regional and statewide initiatives to assess how best to offer Ohio physicians access to multiple health insurers through a common Web portal.