The scheduled meetings for the HIT Policy Committee and the HIT Standards Committee are August 14th and August 20th, consecutively. While we’re all waiting with bated breath for their updated recommendations, let’s figure out what the difference is between the two committees.
According to the official HIT for HHS site (healthit.hhs.gov):
The Policy Committee “will make recommendations to the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (HIT) on a policy framework for the development and adoption of a nationwide health information infrastructure, including standards for the exchange of patient medical information.”
The Standards Committee “is charged with making recommendations to the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (HIT) on standards, implementation specifications, and certification criteria for the electronic exchange and use of health information.”
The meaning is in their names (how clever): Policy equals recommendations for government policies and Standards equals recommendations on certification.