Submissions were due on September 3,
a mere week after the challenge was announced.
The ONC indicated the timeframe is designed to encourage owners of
existing apps to submit their work for the challenge. The top 3 finishers will be invited to a
White House event on September 16 where the winner will either present their
application in person or via video demonstration.
The ONC explained that with 20% of
adults and 13% of adolescents suffering from mental disorders, and 9% of
Americans 12 and older with substance abuse or dependence, Health IT holds
“significant potential” to empower patients to play a greater role in their
care. Notwithstanding, fewer than 1/2 of
adults and 1/3 of children with mental disorders, and only 11% of individuals
with substance abuse disorders, receive treatment.
The conference will highlight how
technology can be used to improve treatment for behavioral health
disorders. The contest hopes to identify
and highlight existing technologies to do so.
Hopefully, this is not the last of
such challenges. Information regarding
the rules of submission can currently be found at http://challenge.gov/onc/623-behavorial-health-patient-empowerment-challenge. Developers would be wise to review the rules
and determine if their applications could meet the requirements and designs
should a new challenge be announced.
For more information, please contact
Thomas N. Hutchinson, Krieg DeVault LLP, 12800 N. Meridian Street, Ste. 300,
Carmel, IN 46032-5406, phone: 317-238-6254.