The budget, called “Putting America’s Health First,” would save taxpayers a net estimated $665 billion over 10 years, according to the proposal.
Here are five things to know about how the proposed budget would affect ONC.
1. The proposal would cut ONC funding from $60 million in 2017 to $38 million by 2018. Last year ONC’s funding remained static, having also received $60 million in 2016.
2. Under the proposed budget, ONC would cut 26 staff members for a total of 164 full-time equivalents. In 2017, ONC had 190 staff members, up from 176 in 2016.
3. HHS stated the trimmed budget reflects “ONC’s successful progress in increasing provider adoption rates, improving usability and advancing interoperability in order to ensure the seamless and secure flow of health information.”
4. The proposed ONC budget for 2018 would focus on two priorities: interoperability and EHRs. These priorities encompass mandates from the 21st Century Cures Act, such as enforcing information-blocking provisions.
5. In a document titled “Justification of Estimates for Appropriations Committee,” HHS detailed how this proposed ONC funding would be allocated in 2018. ONC leadership suggested closing a few programs, including the Office of Care Transformation, Office of the Chief Privacy Officer and Office of Clinical Quality and Safety.
Click here to view the proposed budget.
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