Our Work
JPHIT implements its mission by identifying shared challenges and opportunities, building national consensus, and promoting cohesive action to address national issues.
Building Consensus
We engage a broad spectrum of public health informatics interests to identify priorities and advance shared goals. JPHIT meetings are the primary method used to convene members, promote situational awareness about the state of public health informatics, and coordinate actions to advance the task force’s contributions to public health informatics. Our meetings feature:
Direct information exchange among members and working sessions to determine courses of action for priority issues
Presentations from guest speakers on current affairs and other relevant topics
Periodic updates and bi-directional exchange with federal partners on national initiatives
Promoting Cohesive Action
We speak with one voice and act together to influence federal policies and standards that promote secure, standardized, and interoperable exchange of electronic health information across the U.S. public health and healthcare system. Our work informs, educates and drives action to advance public health informatics.
Featured Work
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In March of 2025, JPHIT members recognized an increased need to coordinate messaging about the value of public health informatics across organizations. This led to the development of a shared communications toolkit that combines success stories, impact statements and other types of supporting evidence that showcase the ways in which investments to modernize public health informatics are impacting communities. This resource is aimed at multiplying the reach of each individual organization’s efforts.
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JPHIT frequently monitors and provides input on public health data-related initiatives put forward by federal agencies. Some examples are included below.
Feedback to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on the Request for Information (RFI: Health Technology Ecosystem (June 16, 2025): JPHIT urged CMS and the Assistant Secretary of Technology Policy/Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ASTP/ONC) to prioritize two essential imperatives: including the voice of public health in the visioning of a future health technology ecosystem and investing in the infrastructure that enables public health to keep pace with technological and policy evolution of healthcare.
Feedback to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on FY 2025 Inpatient Prospective Payment (IPPS) Proposed Rule (June 10, 2025): JPHIT provided feedback on the continued engagement of public health leadership at the local, state, and federal level in planning and rollout of new metrics and requirements. JPHIT also noted that public health will need time and funding to implement the system changes needed to support new models of reporting.
Feedback to the Assistant Secretary of Technology Policy/Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ASTP/ONC) on United States Core Data for Interoperability Version 6 (USCDIv6)(May 12, 2025): JPHIT provided feedback on existing and new data elements, including changes to identifiers, immunization data, laboratory timestamps, and pregnancy-related data to enhance public health surveillance and interoperability. The task force highlighted the technical challenges of tracking timestamps and storing unique device identifiers, advocating for phased certification requirements and detailed guidance on device tracking.
Feedback to the Assistant Secretary of Technology Policy/Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ASTP/ONC) on Health Data, Technology, and Interoperability: Patient Engagement, Information Sharing, and Public Health Interoperability (HTI-2) (October 4, 2024): JPHIT submitted feedback that addressed the need for funding for public health system improvements, capacity and resources , flexible approach to certification criteria, and a realistic timeline for implementation. JPHIT underscored the importance of aligning public health IT modernization efforts with existing Medicaid Information Technology Architecture (MITA) principles and ensuring outcomes-based certification criteria.
Feedback to the Assistant Secretary of Technology Policy/Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ASTP/ONC) on United States Core Data for Interoperability Plus (USCDI+) (April 2024): JPHIT provided feedback that addressed the need to harmonize data elements across different health data systems, establish specific standards and value sets, and clarify the roles and expectations of USCDI and USCDI+ in improving data quality and interoperability. JPHIT highlighted the necessity for clear definitions, guidelines, and inclusion of high-priority data elements and occupation-related data for targeted interventions during public health emergencies.
Feedback to the Assistant Secretary of Technology Policy/Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ASTP/ONC) on the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA) Educational Guidance Document (February 12, 2024): JPHIT submitted feedback that focused on several themes including policy and legal considerations, guidance on data privacy and funding sustainability. JPHIT emphasized the necessity for clearer implementation strategies and the role of infrastructure in the adoption of TEFCA. JPHIT also suggested leveraging the Public Health Data Modernization Implementation Center Program to support PHAs in their TEFCA journey.
Feedback to the Assistant Secretary of Technology Policy/Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ASTP/ONC) on the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA) Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) (February 2024): JPHIT submitted feedback primarily addressing the need for clarity and detail within TEFCA guidance documents and emphasizing the importance of seamlessly integrating public health use cases and ensuring precise technical specifications for data exchange. JPHIT also suggested providing more granular, step-by-step instructions to facilitate the implementation of TEFCA protocols.
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In the fall of 2023, CDC’s Office of Public Health Data and Surveillance (OPHDST) engaged JPHIT to provide feedback to inform updates to the agency’s national public health data strategy. JPHIT members engaged in facilitated listening sessions and provided input to represent the interests of state, tribal, local and territorial (STLT) public health agencies in addressing gaps in public health data.