Public Policy & Advocacy

At HIMSS, we lead efforts to educate, conduct research, and offer strategic public policy recommendations intended to drive the digital transformation of healthcare to realize the full health potential of every human everywhere.

Public Policy
HIMSS Public Policy Center

HIMSS is at the forefront of advocating for bold policies in health information and technology that maximize the well-being of individuals globally. Imagine a world where everyone has access to a dynamic, lifelong digital health record. Through collaboration with industry leaders, innovators, and policymakers, we are creating this reality by driving transformative solutions, educating decision-makers, and delivering impactful policy recommendations. Together, we are shaping the future of health.

  • Empowering Government Health Agencies for a Healthier Future

    Governments play a key role in delivering the right care, at the right time, and in the right place. HIMSS amplifies this mission by equipping lawmakers and government health agencies with the tools and insights needed to build a modern, effective health ecosystem. We envision a world where seamless, secure, and interoperable data exchange drives health and wellness on a global scale—together, we’re making it happen.

  • Resources

    Health IT solutions are transforming biomedical research, advancing care delivery, enabling disease prevention and early detection, and opening new doors to economic growth. HIMSS champions this progress, accelerating innovation and inspiring bold government action to shape the future of healthcare for all.

    Explore actionable insights and expert guidance on health information and technology policy—your key to driving change in the industry.

Focusing on what matters most

Our priorities drive the development and analysis of public policies across all areas of healthcare. We equip policymakers and stakeholders with clear, compelling positions that shape the conversation and influence meaningful change.

  • Artificial Intelligence

    Artificial intelligence (AI) drives numerous applications that can improve patient care, improve early detection of disease and enhance point of care and administrative efficiency. AI tools are critical resources to driving innovation and digital transformation.

    Policies should promote and accelerate the responsible governance and deployment of AI demonstrated to benefit stakeholders in the health and human services sector and ensure that AI is continually monitored and revalidated following deployment in the field. We advocate for regulatory frameworks that ensure AI is trusted, safe, and at worst does not perpetuate harmful biases in healthcare.

    Key areas of focus include:

    • Regulatory frameworks should consider the risk and intended purpose of artificial intelligence and establish requirements accordingly.
    • Ensure that artificial intelligence at worst does not perpetuate harmful biases in healthcare.
    • Appropriately test and monitor artificial intelligence tools once deployed to ensure models are not drifting outside of intended parameters in a way where they could cause patient harm.

  • Connected Health

    We advocate for policies that promote the adoption and coverage of evidence-based, information-driven connected health solutions. Clinical expertise should guide the evaluation of connected health tools and services to ensure the safe and effective delivery of care.


    Key areas of focus include:

    • Eliminating outdated and restrictive barriers to telehealth.
    • Ensuring safe, equitable, and reliable access to healthcare for all individuals, regardless of demographic or socioeconomic factors.
    • Addressing the root causes of health disparities and working toward health equity for underserved populations.
    • Creating technology-agnostic, adaptable policies to support the evolving landscape of connected health.

  • Cybersecurity and Data Privacy: Securing the Future of Healthcare

    To protect healthcare in the digital age, we must adopt a unified, global approach to health cybersecurity and data privacy. HIMSS supports the development of industry-led, consensus-based frameworks that establish global standards for privacy and security. These frameworks must be scalable, adaptable, and applicable to all healthcare settings—from large hospitals to small clinics.


    We advocate for:

    • A collaborative information-sharing pipeline between governments and the private sector to stay ahead of cyber threats.
    • Investment in cybersecurity education and certification to address the healthcare workforce skills gap.
    • Strengthened protections for healthcare institutions from cyberattacks, including those from state-sponsored actors.
    • Health privacy laws that evolve with the digital landscape, ensuring secure and ethical sharing of health data.

  • Interoperability

    True transformation in healthcare relies on prioritizing bidirectional access to health information. By empowering patients and providers with timely, accurate data, we can improve care quality and outcomes.


    HIMSS supports:

    • Expanding the United States Core Data for Interoperability (USCDI) to include critical data streams such as social determinants of health (SDOH), patient-generated health data, wearables, genomics, clinical quality measures, and healthcare costs.
    • Empowering patients with secure access to actionable health information, fostering informed decision-making and reducing barriers like information blocking.
    • Enabling developers to create open APIs that facilitate seamless data access.

It’s time to make a difference

Every HIMSS member can get involved, make their voice heard and create change in policy through the Legislative Action Center.