The American Health Information Community (AHIC) convened their final meeting on November 12th, 2008.  The work of AHIC 1.0 will be transitioned to the successor AHIC 2.0.  Since the initial meeting of AHIC 1.0, NPAF has provided information on the work of this Health Information Community.

National Patient Advocate Foundation is pleased to provide the Final Summary Documents addressing the History, Vision, Broad Charge, Key Issues, Recommendations/accomplishments, HIT Heirarchy of Adoption, Future Work, Final AHIC 1.0 Recommendations presented at this final meeting.

AHIC Final Meeting Information

NPAF congratulates President-Elect Barack Obama (D-IL) for his historic victory in the 2008 Presidential election and looks forward to working with his team and the new Congress to create lasting solutions that will allow universal access to progressive, modern and effective healthcare.

The election of Senator Barack Obama to become the 44th President of the United States and the widely anticipated shift toward a more Democratic Congress will bring major changes to domestic and foreign policy. 

The National Patient Advocate Foundation commends the Social Security Administration's (SSA) new "Compassionate Allowances Process" for disability determinations, which will accelerate the processing of disability claims. 

Cancer patients who are already battling for their lives, are now being faced with the dilemma of paying for their expensive medications.  Experts say that one in eight people with advanced cancer turned down recommended care because of the cost (Thomson Reuters).  Not only as the prices of medication and treatment rise, insurance companies are requiring the patients to be responsible for more of the cost.  Many plans now require patients to pay for 20% of their health care. This can be a profound burden on patients who are required to take drugs such as Erbitux, which costs $10,000 a month.

According to a report done in September by the Center for Studying Health System Change, nearly 20% of Americans have problems paying their medical bills.  In turn, some patients who resort to charities to aid cancer patients are also straining to meet the demands of the patients.  This forces these patients who struggle with the costs to decide to pay for medication or forgo the treatment to care for their family.

READ MORE