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42 U.S. Code § 300jj-11. Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
(a) Establishment
There is established within the Department of Health and Human Services an Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (referred to in this section as the “Office”). The Office shall be headed by a National Coordinator who shall be appointed by the Secretary and shall report directly to the Secretary.
(b) PurposeThe National Coordinator shall perform the duties under subsection (c) in a manner consistent with the development of a nationwide health information technology infrastructure that allows for the electronic use and exchange of information and that—
(1)
ensures that each patient’s health information is secure and protected, in accordance with applicable law;
(2)
improves health care quality, reduces medical errors, reduces health disparities, and advances the delivery of patient-centered medical care;
(3)
reduces health care costs resulting from inefficiency, medical errors, inappropriate care, duplicative care, and incomplete information;
(4)
provides appropriate information to help guide medical decisions at the time and place of care;
(5)
ensures the inclusion of meaningful public input in such development of such infrastructure;
(6)
improves the coordination of care and information among hospitals, laboratories, physician offices, and other entities through an effective infrastructure for the secure and authorized exchange of health care information;
(7)
improves public health activities and facilitates the early identification and rapid response to public health threats and emergencies, including bioterror events and infectious disease outbreaks;
(8)
facilitates health and clinical research and health care quality;
(9)
promotes early detection, prevention, and management of chronic diseases;
(10)
promotes a more effective marketplace, greater competition, greater systems analysis, increased consumer choice, and improved outcomes in health care services; and
(11)
improves efforts to reduce health disparities.
(c) Duties of the National Coordinator
(1) StandardsThe National Coordinator shall—
(A)
review and determine whether to endorse each standard, implementation specification, and certification criterion for the electronic exchange and use of health information that is recommended by the HIT Advisory Committee under section 300jj–12 of this title for purposes of adoption under section 300jj–14 of this title;
(B)
make such determinations under subparagraph (A), and report to the Secretary such determinations, not later than 45 days after the date the recommendation is received by the Coordinator; and
(C)
review Federal health information technology investments to ensure that Federal health information technology programs are meeting the objectives of the strategic plan published under paragraph (3).