WASHINGTON – The Office of the National Coordinator of Health Information Technology has released information online to help organizations participate in the Nationwide Health Information Network.

The materials include technical, data content and use case specifications, as well as testing materials and trust agreements developed during the NHIN trial implementations.

The recently passed stimulus package includes more than $30 billion in net Medicare and Medicaid bonuses to help advance healthcare IT adoption, as well as measures to tighten healthcare IT 
security.

Under the new law, healthcare providers and businesses that operate now as business associates under HIPAA will be required to operate as covered entities.