Minnesota e-Health Updates

Minnesota News

The 2025 MN HIMSS and Minnesota e-Health Initiative Virtual Series Returns This Fall

Register: MN HIMSS and Minnesota e-Health Initiative Virtual Conference Series

Join us to hear from national and local leaders on how to advance and apply new ways of thinking about using e-health to upgrade and reboot care. Whether it’s making bold investments and implementing cutting-edge technologies designed to put people first, using innovative tools to drive whole-person care, or bridging gaps between clinical excellence, there is a session for everyone. Discover how to make a world where people take care of people, empowered by technology that enhances, not replaces, the human touch.

Conference sessions are from noon to 1:30 p.m. CT. Registration is free and participants may attend any or all sessions.

Session 1 – Health Care Gets an Upgrade: Investments and Technology That Put People First 
Date: Thursday, Oct. 23 
Presenters: Karyn Baum, MD, MSEd, MHA, MHealth-Fairview and Will Conaway, MA, Ascent Business Partners

Session 2 - Applying New Ways of Thinking and Tools to Achieve Better Whole-person Care 
Date: Thursday, Oct 30 
Presenter: Paul Batalden, MD, Professor Emeritus at Geisel Medical School at Dartmouth

Session 3 - The Pulse of the People: Data and Future of Population Health 
Date: Thursday, Nov 6 
Presenters: Arlene Biermann, MD, MS, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and Judy Murphy, DN (hon), RN, FACMI, LFHIMSS, FAAN, IBM Global Healthcare

Session 4 - Rebooting Care: People Taking Care of People Enabled by Technology 
Date: Wednesday, Nov 19 
Presenters: John D. Halamka, MD, Mayo Clinic

Visit the MN HIMSS and Minnesota e-Health Initiative Virtual Series webpage for updates and presenter information.

Minnesota e-Health Initiative Advisory Committee Open Positions

The Minnesota e-Health Initiative Advisory Committee is currently accepting applications for five seats on the Minnesota e-Health Advisory Committee:

• Clinical Guideline Development
• Small/Critical Access Hospital
• Designated Alternate – Local Public Health
• Rotating Professionals – Additional Health Settings (two seats available)

The advisory committee is looking to fill these seats as soon as possible. Seats will remain open until filled. Cover letters and resumes are optional, but encouraged to help inform appointment recommendations to the Commissioner of Health. Application materials do not need to include personal addresses and phone numbers.

Applications can be submitted on the advisory committee's webpage at Board/Commission Details by selecting the Apply button next to the open position listed. More information about the e-Health Initiative and advisory committee can be found at Minnesota e-Health Initiative. Questions can be directed to mn.ehealth@state.mn.us.

Did You Know?

Save the Date: Center for Learning Health System Sciences Conference and MN EHRC Workshop

Join us for workshops on Monday, Sept. 22 and Tuesday, Sept. 23 designed to bring together members of the Minnesota EHR Consortium and partners to advance our shared mission to improve health by informing policy and practice through data-driven collaboration. This interactive workshop will focus on strengthening collaborations and exploring innovative uses for our common data model. Participants will engage in focused discussions, planning and hands-on activities to share the Consortium’s partnerships are direction for the coming year.

Registration for the Advances in Learning Health System Sciences Conference is now open!

Early bird registration is available until July 31.

Minnesota News

Coordinated Response Opportunity

The Minnesota e-Health Initiative will soon be responding to the Health Technology Ecosystem Request for Information (RFI). We encourage Minnesota stakeholders to share their comments and perspectives with the Initiative for inclusion in this response.

The Initiative is collecting and compiling written feedback into a coordinated response. Comments are due by Friday, June 6 at 5:00 p.m.

On Tuesday, June 3, from 11:00 am – 1:00 p.m., a conference call will be held on to provide an overview of the RFI, answer questions about the coordinated response process and collect any initial comments. Call information and additional details can be found on the Minnesota e-Health Coordinated Responses webpage. Questions can be directed to Kari Guida at kari.guida@state.mn.us.

MN e-Health Advisory Committee Meeting Scheduled

The Minnesota e-Health Advisory Committee is scheduled to meet on Thursday, June 12, from 10:00 a.m. – 12: 00 p.m.

Please follow the Minnesota e-Health Initiative Meetings and Events webpage for additional information. Meetings are open to the public. If you plan on attending in-person, please RSVP with your full name at mn.ehealth@state.mn.us by 5:00 p.m. on June 11.

About the Advisory Committee:

The 25-member advisory committee is responsible for developing recommendations and advising the Commissioner of Health on policies and processes to advance the use of health information technology, data use, data exchange and related technologies. The Minnesota e-Health Initiative is a public-private collaborative that was authorized by the Minnesota Legislature in 2004. The scope of the Initiative includes providers, public health, consumers, and policy/research and the intersections of these domains across the state. Information on committee membership and its previous work is available at Minnesota e-Health Initiative Advisory Committee.

Did You Know?

The 2025 MN HIMSS and MN e-Health Initiative Conference series dates have been set. Mark your calendars for Oct. 23, 30, Nov 6 and 13. Each 90-minute session will take place from noon-1:30 p.m. and is free to attend. Each session will highlight relevant e-health topics and feature presentations by national or local experts with insights from Minnesota thought leaders or facilitated discussions. Stay tuned for more details to come!

Follow the HIMSS MN Chapter and Minnesota e-Health Initiative Virtual Series event page to view presentations from the previous conference series.

Minnesota News

Coordinated Response Opportunity

The Minnesota e-Health Initiative will soon be responding to the Health Technology Ecosystem Request for Information (RFI). We encourage Minnesota stakeholders to share their comments and perspectives with the Initiative for inclusion in this response.

The Initiative is collecting and compiling written feedback into a coordinated response. Comments are due by Friday, June 6 at 5:00 p.m.

On Tuesday, June 3, from 11:00 am – 1:00 p.m., a conference call will be held on to provide an overview of the RFI, answer questions about the coordinated response process and collect any initial comments. Call information and additional details can be found on the Minnesota e-Health Coordinated Responses webpage. Questions can be directed to Kari Guida at kari.guida@state.mn.us.

Minnesota News

e-Health Conference Series Returns this Fall!

The 2025 MN HIMSS and MN e-Health Initiative Virtual Conference Series dates have been set. Mark your calendars for Oct. 23, 30, Nov 6 and 13. Each 90-minute session will take place from noon-1:30 p.m. and is free to attend. Sessions will highlight relevant e-health topics and feature presentations by national or local experts with insights from Minnesota thought leaders or facilitated discussions. Stay tuned for more details to come!

Follow the event page for updates and to view presentations from the previous conference series.

Upcoming MN e-Health Advisory Committee Meeting

The Minnesota e-Health Advisory Committee is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, May 21, from 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.

This is an in-person planning meeting with a virtual option and will be held at Minnesota Department of Health, Orville. L. Freeman Building. Meetings are open to the public. If you are interested in attending in person, please RSVP with your full name at mn.ehealth@state.mn.us by 5:00 p.m. on May 20.

Please follow the Minnesota e-Health Initiative Meetings and Events webpage for additional meeting information.

About the Advisory Committee:

The 25-member advisory committee is responsible for developing recommendations and advising the Commissioner of Health on policies and processes to advance the use of health information technology, data use, data exchange and related technologies. Information on committee membership and its previous work is available on the Minnesota e-Health Initiative Advisory Committee webpage.

Register Today for the Minnesota Rural Health Conference

Register today for the 25th annual Minnesota Rural Health Conference, June 9-10 in Duluth. Join hundreds of Minnesotans from across the state to build your rural health networks and share ideas, best practices, and solutions.

The Minnesota Rural Health Conference is centered around key plenary sessions — noteworthy keynote addresses, stimulating panel discussion sessions and an intriguing policy forum — as well as breakout sessions arranged around specific tracks.

The conference will be held at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC).

National News

Updated 2025 SAFER Guides

The 2025 Safety Assurance Factors for electronic health record (EHR) Resilience (SAFER) guides have been updated and streamlined to focus on the highest risk, most commonly occurring issues that can be addressed through technology or practice changes to build system resilience. The SAFER Guides are designed to help healthcare organizations conduct proactive self-assessments to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of their EHR implementations. They consist of eight guides organized into three groups and enable healthcare organizations to address EHR safety in a variety of areas. The guides identify recommended practices to maximize the safety and use of EHRs. SAFER Guides | HealthIT.gov

Minnesota News

Happening this Wednesday!

A Minnesota e-Health Advisory Committee meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 29, from 12 – 2:00 p.m. Please follow the Minnesota e-Health Initiative Meetings and Events webpage for updates and the virtual meeting link. Meetings are open to the public.

The objectives for this meeting include:

• Review and discuss the advisory committee charge
• Learn about Statewide Provider Directory Feasibility Study
• Understand key national and federal initiatives

The 25-member advisory committee is responsible for developing recommendations and advising the Commissioner of Health on policies and processes to advance the use of health information technology, data use, data exchange and related technologies. The Minnesota e-Health Initiative is a public-private collaborative that was authorized by the Minnesota Legislature in 2004. The scope of the Initiative includes providers, public health, consumers, and policy/research and the intersections of these domains across the state. Information on committee membership and its previous work is available at Minnesota e-Health Initiative Advisory Committee.

National News

Updated Standards Draft for United States Core Data for Interoperability

The Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy/Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ASTP) issued an updated Standards Bulletin 2025-1 (SB25-1). This update describes the development of the Draft United States Core Data for Interoperability Version 6 (Draft USCDI v6). The USCDI is a standardized set of health data classes and constituent data elements for nationwide, interoperable health information exchange. USCDI updates help drive interoperability by keeping pace with clinical, technology, and policy changes.

A fact sheet is available: Cures Act Final Rule - United States Core for Interoperability

Did You Know?

Submit proposals to present at Learning Days

Be a part of Health Care Homes Learning Days event and submit a proposal to present. Submissions are due by Feb. 3. Link to submission form.

Learning Days brings together more than 200 health care providers, public health professionals and community partners to exchange information, advance health equity and build relationships. It is scheduled for May 14 at the Heritage Center in Brooklyn Center. Additional details about this event are available on the Health Care Homes Learning Collaborative Learning Days Event webpage.

Please contact Catherine Johnson, catherine.johnson@state.mn.us, 651-201-3745 with questions.

Minnesota News

Minnesota e-Health Initiative Advisory Committee Meeting

A Minnesota e-Health Advisory Committee meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 29, from 12 – 2:00 p.m. Please follow the Minnesota e-Health Initiative Meetings and Events webpage for updates and the virtual meeting link. Meetings are open to the public.

The 25-member advisory committee is responsible for developing recommendations and advising the Commissioner of Health on policies and processes to advance the use of health information technology, data use, data exchange and related technologies. The Minnesota e-Health Initiative is a public-private collaborative that was authorized by the Minnesota Legislature in 2004. The scope of the Initiative includes providers, public health, consumers, and policy/research and the intersections of these domains across the state. Information on committee membership and its previous work is available at Minnesota e-Health Initiative Advisory Committee.

Final Days to Submit to Present at Learning Days

Be a part of Health Care Homes Learning Days event and submit a proposal to present. Submissions are due by Feb. 3. Link to submission form.

Learning Days brings together more than 200 health care providers, public health professionals and community partners to exchange information, advance health equity and build relationships. It is scheduled for May 14 at the Heritage Center in Brooklyn Center. Additional details about this event are available on the Health Care Homes Learning Collaborative Learning Days Event webpage.

Please contact Catherine Johnson, catherine.johnson@state.mn.us, 651-201-3745 with questions.

National News

HIPAA Security Rule Notice of Proposed Rule Making

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) are soliciting comments on a proposal to modify the Security Standards for the Protection of Electronic Protected Health Information under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). The proposal seeks to strengthen healthcare cybersecurity and address concerns over the number of breaches reported to OCR. Additionally, the proposed modifications aim to address significant changes in technology, breach trends, enforcement, best practices and methodologies for protecting ePHI and take into account court decisions that affect Security Rule enforcement. Comments due by March 7. View full request on the Federal Register.

A fact sheet is available: HIPAA Security Rule Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to Strengthen Cybersecurity for Electronic Protected Health Information | HHS.gov

Did You Know?

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that Minnesota has been selected to participate in new Transforming Maternal Health (TMaH) Model. TMaH is designed to focus exclusively on improving maternal health care for people enrolled in Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The model will support participating state Medicaid agencies in the development of a whole-person approach to pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care that addresses the physical, mental health, and social needs experienced during pregnancy. Initiatives will focus on three main pillars: Access to care, infrastructure, and workforce capacity; quality improvement and safety; and Whole-person care delivery.

A fact sheet is available: Transforming Maternal Health (TMaH): Model Overview Factsheet (PDF)