Monthly Update

April 2019 in Review

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In This Issue…

  1. IIS One-Sheets Are Now Available! 
  2. Comments Requested on TEFCA Draft 2, Comment Period Extended on NPRMs
  3. Clinical Decision Support Reports in AART
  4. Functional Guide Volume 2: CDC Endorsed Data Elements
  5. MACAW In-Person Meeting
  6. Reserve Your Hotel Room for the AIRA National Meeting Today!
  7. Recent Information Requests Added to the AIRA Repository
  8. Steering Committee Updates: April Recap

Check Out the AIRA Events Calendar for Upcoming…


IIS One-Sheets Are Now Available! 

AIRA has developed a series of one-sheet resources to communicate the role and value of immunization information systems (IIS) for use by the IIS community. The resources include fact sheets and infographics that provide information on the key features of IIS, how an IIS makes the community stronger, and more.

Titles of the resources are:

  • 4 Ways AIRA Supports the IIS Community
  • EHR and IIS (Infographic)
  • How IIS Support a Patient's Journey (Infographic)
  • Value of IIS (Infographic)
  • Why a National IIS Doesn't Exist
  • AIRA 101
  • IIS 101

Who should use these resources?

  • IIS managers and staff
  • Immunization program managers
  • Health department leadership and employees, including other IIS and immunization program staff
  • Industry partners (IIS vendors, EHR vendors, etc.)
  • Non-profit partners (AIM, ASTHO, PHII, coalitions, etc.)
  • IIS users and stakeholders (healthcare providers, health departments, pharmacies, schools, coalitions, etc.)

Can I add my logo to these resources?
The short answer is, yes. Stay tuned for further information and instructions. But no need to wait to use the resources – they’re ready to go as is!

Will more one-sheets be released?
We currently have more one-sheets in the pipeline. If there’s a burning topic that isn’t covered by these resources, let us know! You can email suggested topics to [email protected].

The seven one-sheets, as well as an explanatory document, can be found here.


 Comments Requested on TEFCA Draft 2, Comment Period Extended on NPRMs

As many across the IIS community know, the second draft of TEFCA (Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement) was released on April 19 from the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC). Per ONC, the TEF and the Common Agreement will be distinct components that aim to create technical and legal requirements for sharing electronic health information (EHI) at a nationwide scale. The TEFCA draft can be found here, while a User’s Guide for Understanding TEFCA can be found here. Comments on TEFCA will be due to ONC on June 17, so AIRA will be collecting comments from the community through May 17 – these comments will then be consolidated. Please submit all comments to Kim Rutland.

Here is the full schedule for gathering TEFCA Draft 2 comments:

  • April 19 – TEFCA Draft 2 released for comment by ONC
  • April 22 – Comments requested from AIRA community  
  • May 17– Initial AIRA member comments due (please send to Kim Rutland)
  • May 23, 3pm ET – Town Hall to review submitted comments (register here)
  • Week of May 28 – Compiled DRAFT comments shared with IIS community
  • June 3 – Edits on DRAFT comments due back to AIRA
  • June 7 – Final comments shared with IIS Community
  • June 17 – Comments submitted to ONC by deadline

There are also two Notices of Proposed Rule Making (NPRMs) currently out for comment from ONC and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The deadline for submitting responses to the two NPRMs currently open for comment (ONC’s NPRM on interoperability and information blocking and CMS’s NPRM on patient access and interoperability) has been extended from May 3 to June 3. As a result, AIRA will wait to finalize comments until we’re closer to the deadline to leave room for late-breaking comments and input.

Please contact Mary Beth Kurilo with questions, and thank you for your continued contributions to our community’s comments on these important documents!


Clinical Decision Support Reports in AART

Clinical Decision Support (CDS) reports are now available for AART users. These reports will help demonstrate how consistently each IIS, and our community as a whole, are implementing ACIP recommendations. Log in to AART to view initial results.  Want to drill down and see results by individual CDSi test case? Use the new Interactive CDS Results Explorer link.  This link can be found under the “Background” section on your CDS Assessment Reports.

More details on the approved CDS Assessment measures can be found here

Contact AIRA technical staff at [email protected] for questions or help interpreting your results.

Also, don’t forget to register for a 30-minute AART clinic at the 2019 AIRA National Meeting. Click here to register.


 Functional Guide Volume 2: CDC Endorsed Data Elements 

AIRA is excited to announce the next volume in the Functional Guide Series. The Functional Guide Volume 2: CDC Endorsed Data Elements is now published on the AIRA website. This document focuses on clarifying definitions and attributes of a select set of CDC-endorsed data elements.

A workgroup of subject matter experts (SMEs) convened to review the IIS Functional Standards v4.0 and CDC Endorsed Data Elements and identify those data elements most in need of clarification. This subset of data elements (35) is presented in the guide with expanded information to clarify definitions, describe areas of challenge experienced by IIS and EHRs, and document expectations for data submitters and receivers. The goal of this guide is to bridge gaps in documentation and address some of the interoperability challenges facing the IIS community today.


MACAW In-Person Meeting

AIRA and the members of MACAW (Measurement for Assessment and Certification Advisory Workgroup) met in person April 23–25 in Memphis, Tennessee. The goals of this meeting were many and included:

  • Reviewing and addressing Functional Standard Operational Guidance Statements that do not currently have verified data sources for measurement
  • Determining a methodology for adding measures and tests to the Measurement and Improvement Assessment stage
  • Gathering input to potentially support Validation for base or vendor products
  • Brainstorming strategies for technical assistance gaps
  • Determining ways to recognize IIS that have been validated at the 2019 AIRA National Meeting
  • Reviewing details to clarify participation and testing within the Measurement and Improvement Initiative 

Through multiple sessions of large- and small-group discussions and using existing resources such as the Functional Standards v4.0, the group was able to develop consensus on these goals, including next steps for each topic. Thanks to all the workgroup members who invested valuable time to make this Measurement and Improvement effort even more successful.

From left to right (front row): Aaron Bieringer (MN), Mary Beth Kurilo (AIRA), Amy Metroka (NYC), Wendy Nye (MI), Tracy Little (AIRA), From left to right (middle row): Kristi Siahaya (AIRA), Shannon Coleman (STC), Jane Lammers (NV), LaTreace Harris (CDC), From left to right (top left row): Eric Schuh (DXC), Nathan Bunker (AIRA), From left to right (back row): Josh Hull (MI), Eric Larson (AIRA), Roger Aikin (AZ), Kevin Snow (Envision), Jim Pearsol (AIRA Contractor). Not present for photo: Ulrica Andujar (AIRA Contractor).


Reserve Your Hotel Room for the AIRA National Meeting Today!

The AIRA 2019 National Meeting will be held at the JW Marriott Indianapolis, and rooms are going fast! This year, AIRA’s entire room block is available at the $125 government rate August 11–19. If you are planning on attending the National Meeting, we encourage you to reserve your hotel room as soon as possible. 


Recent Information Requests Added to the AIRA Repository

Recent Information Requests regarding hold procedures and patient access have been added to the AIRA repository and can be found by using the “Information Requests” filter. Information Requests are viewable only by individual members and individuals affiliated with member and partner organizations. Just log in to view these valuable resources! If you have any questions, please email membership coordinator Amanda Branham.


Steering Committee Updates: April Recap

Assessment Steering Committee

  • The ASC meets quarterly, and the next meeting is scheduled for June 4, 2019.

Education Steering Committee

  • The Education Steering Committee (ESC) met on April 17, and PHII provided information on its upcoming work.
  • The committee was updated on 2019 National Meeting planning, AIRA’s new one-sheets, and the next ESC webinar slated for July.
  • The ESC is continuing to collect Education Survey responses and is fine-tuning the 2019 Education Plan.
  • The committee hosted a webinar on April 10 to introduce the CDC Provider IIS Participation Community of Practice. You can view the webinar recording here.
Standards & Interoperability Steering Committee
  • The Standards & Interoperability Steering Committee (SISC) met on April 10 and reviewed AIRA’s comment-collection schedule for the ONC and CMS proposed rules.
    • AIRA hosted a Town Hall to review comments and discuss the rules. If you were unable to attend the call, you can access the recording and slides here.
  • The SISC received an update on the HIMSS-AIRA Collaborative as well as the AIRA website committee features available to committee members.
  • The committee is also moving forward with publishing a document regarding preferred/contraindicated vaccines.
  • During the May SISC meeting, the committee will go over vaccine ordering and discuss pain points. Members are encouraged to invite program staff, vendors, and developers to join the May SISC meeting to gather insights.
  • The SISC Technical Workgroup did not meet in the month of April.
MIROW Steering Committee
  • The Modeling of Immunization Registry Operations Workgroup (MIROW) Steering Committee (SC) met on April 18 and discussed the development of the Business Continuity Guide and the status of the MIROW subgroup projects.
  • 2018–19 Business Continuity Guide: In April, the first round of feedback was gathered from the Business Continuity Workgroup. A call with the workgroup was scheduled for April 30.
  • Repackaging Workgroup: The repackaged Patient Status guide is in the design phase of the project.
  • Common Vocabulary Workgroup: The MIROW SC is reviewing the Common Vocabulary package, which includes two versions of terminology reports and language for the AIRA website.
  • Promotional Workgroup: Abstracts for the AMIA Symposium and the International Institute of Business Analysis Conference have been submitted. The presentation on business continuity was accepted for the AIRA National Meeting.

NOTE: Steering Committee minutes will capture only action items and decisions made moving forward. Recordings of the meetings can be sent directly upon request by emailing [email protected].