On Monday, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) released the Federal Health Information Technology Strategic Plan 2011-2015. The plan was developed in coordination with other public agencies and private and public sector input, and illustrates the strategy for improving quality, efficiency, patient-centeredness, and safety in the private and public health care sectors.

The plan was last updated in 2008 and will continue to be revised as technology changes. It  encompasses the federal government's health information technology (HIT) priorities under the Accordable Care Act, which include protecting patients' privacy, empowering consumers with access to their health information, aiding eligible providers in becoming meaningful users of HIT, and supporting enhanced learning and innovation.

APTA submitted comments on the plan's development earlier this year.