ONC Would Close During a Federal Government Shutdown, HHS Announces

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology would close Oct. 1 if the government shuts down over an impasse in Congress over how to fund federal activities in fiscal year 2014.

According to a document released late Sept. 27 by the Department of Health and Human Services, the ONC would not be able to perform its core functions because doing so requires funding appropriated by Congress.

“ONC will be unable to continue the Standards and Interoperability Framework activities as well as related standards and testing activities; policy activities such as privacy, security, and clinical quality measure development; ...