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While the WHAT has been far less than weekly in the run up to the NASCIO Midyear Conference, we're back this week with some updates. For those that missed the conference, you can find details, the full agenda, and the presentations on our website. On to the news... Key Takeaway: NASCIO D.C. Fly-In

Along with attending the Midyear, NASCIO state members came to Washington DC on Wednesday, May 7, in an effort to build greater collaboration between state and federal officials in implementing efficient public sector IT services. Meetings ranged from a discussion of the future of the E-rate broadband for schools and libraries program, to the cybersecurity framework and incentives for adoption, to FirstNet, to the modernization of medicaid IT systems. You can find the press release here with additional details.  The one-page advocacy briefs on E-rate, FirstNet, and Cybersecurity, are available on the D.C. Fly-In webpage.

Other Buzz: NASCIO Promotes Extension of A-87 Health and Human Services Integration Exception

On Tuesday, May 13, NASCIO sent a letter to senior leadership at the Department of Health and Human Services urging them to support an extension of the current exception to the Office of Management and Budget’s Circular A-87 Cost Allocation for integration of health and human services platforms.  An extension is needed to provide the certainty necessary for states to plan and implement these significant IT integration projects.

The exception was created so states could leverage the enhanced medicaid funding under the Affordable Care Act to integrate human service agencies’ activities, ultimately creating a more efficient and effective pathway for the care of citizens.  NASCIO’s letter is available here.

DATA Act Becomes Law

On Friday, May 9, the Digital Accountability and Transparency Act (DATA Act, S 994), was signed into law by President Obama, becoming Public Law 113-101. As I previously outlined on this blog, the bill is intended to create more transparency in federal spending by developing “machine-readable and open” data standards for money spent by agencies or grant recipients.  

While the stated goal is to streamline much of the reporting required of grant recipients (including state and local governments), much will depend on the results of an Office of Management and Budget (OMB) pilot program and the eventual implementation of new rules down the road. With OMB having a year to set up a two-year pilot project, followed by a review and recommendations to Congress, there are still significant steps before we can determine the ultimate impact on states. NASCIO hopes to collaborate with key agencies throughout the implementation process.

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