People

Committee studies public health, research

The federal advisory group on health information technology considers adding public health and research data needs to its requirements for electronic health records.

Modernization

Building work starts on SBInet

The construction of 17 permanent towers for the SBInet system at the border of Arizona and Mexico started May 4.

People

Health care reform tied to IT

Health care reform won't be complete without adopting health IT, the national coordinator for health IT says.

People

White House seeks cuts to defense contractor workforce

The Obama administration wants to save $900 million by reducing defense contractor employees and get $2 billion by collecting delinquent taxes from federal contractors.

Cybersecurity

Panel says it will approve millions more for swine flu

The chairman of the House Appropriations Committee said the group will approve spending more than $2 billion to deal with swine flu.

Modernization

Stimulus money site pressed for time

The Recovery.gov Web site for tracking economic stimulus law funds is racing to meet an October deadline, official says.

Modernization

HHS uses widgets and live blogging

A new report by the Health and Human Services Department highlights its uses of widgets and other tools to improve transparency and service.

People

Obama scores high marks on transparency, watchdog group says

The Obama administration has fulfilled three out of the five 100-day transparency goals watchdog groups recommended last fall.

People

Economic stimulus IT forum draws more than 2,500 participants

Vendors and IT experts submitted and ranked ideas for using information technology to better track spending under the economic stimulus law.

People

Flu funding could go to states

Some of the $1.5 billion that the Obama administration has requested to fight the H1N1 virus – the cause of the swine flu outbreak — could go to state public health disease tracking and monitoring programs.

Digital Government

Swine flu response elevates health IT

The outbreak of swine flu that has dominated public health concerns for the past several weeks could be a blessing for the Obama administration's health information technology plans.

Modernization

GAO auditors echo concerns about Grants.gov

Grants.gov is being overwhelmed by applications for economic stimulus funding and applicants are confused about what to do, a new GAO report states.

People

SBInet spending plan not complete, GAO says

The Homeland Security Department has met only three of the 12 conditions set by Congress for its Secure Border Initiative spending plan, according to the GAO.

People

Official: Some flu money would go to states

The president's request for $1.5 billion to deal with the swine flu outbreak includes money to help states respond to the disease, an HHS official said.

People

GAO: OMB needs better oversight tools

The Office of Management and Budget needs to better track troubled IT projects after it puts them on a watch list, a new report says.

People

Health IT group wants incentives for EHRs

A health IT organization wants the Obama administration to take an incremental approach in implementing the economic stimulus law concerning electronic health records.

People

New swine flu money could go for monitoring

The administration's request for $1.5 billion to deal with swine flu could fund disease monitoring and tracking.

Cybersecurity

Swine flu hearings set; OPM issues guidance

Senate and House panels have scheduled hearings on the disease outbreak, and the Office of Personnel Management has issued advice to federal employees.

Cybersecurity

Auditors: Coast Guard, FEMA weak on controls

The Coast Guard and FEMA still struggle with IT control problems, auditors say.

Modernization

Recovery board begins online dialogue with IT vendors

The panel overseeing the economic stimulus law debuted a new Web site today to invite ideas from IT vendors, experts and consumers.