HHS outlines health IT innovation projects

HHS is looking for five to 10 technology innovators to work in the first round of a program seeking to bring some private-sector entrepreneurial spirit to bear on national healthcare challenges.

Private-sector participants—so-called external innovation fellows—in HHS' Innovation Fellows Program will be paired with HHS employees who have already applied for the program to address four projects, three of which have health information technology components.

The three tech-related projects will aim to:

• Develop new clinical quality measures based on data drawn from electronic health-record system that will help measure the impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
• Design and develop the information technology infrastructure to determine eligibility for the Children's Health Insurance Program under the Affordable Care Act
• Create an electronic identification and tracking system for the national organ-transplant system.

"Through this new approach, HHS is drawing on talent, experiences, and skills from startups and businesses across the country to help lead the way to better health, better care and lower costs for Americans," HHS Deputy Secretary Bill Corr said in a news release. "We are seeking people who have a passion for solving pressing issues in healthcare though game-changing solutions."

Applications for external fellows will be accepted through July 20. Successful applicants will be notified in August and should expect to start work in September. Projects will last six to12 months, according to HHS.