WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 6, 2012) — Gene L. Dodaro, Comptroller General of the United States and head of the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), today announced the appointment of Christopher Boone, Director of Outpatient Quality and Health IT for the American Heart Association, to fill a vacancy on the Health Information Technology (HIT) Policy Committee. Mr. Boone will fill one of three committee positions held by advocates for patients or consumers.

“The voice of patients and consumers is critical to the formation of a responsive policy for health information technology,” Dodaro said. “I am pleased that we had so many well-qualified individuals respond to our request for nominations.”

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 established the HIT Policy Committee and gave the Comptroller General responsibility for appointing 13 of its 20 members. The HIT Policy Committee makes recommendations to the National Coordinator for Health IT on the development and adoption of a nationwide health information infrastructure, including standards for the exchange of patient medical information.

A brief biography of Mr. Boone is provided below:

Christopher Boone is Director, Outpatient Quality and Health IT for the American Heart Association, based in Dallas, Texas. Mr. Boone is responsible for planning and implementing outpatient quality and health IT initiatives, including oversight of The Guideline Advantage, an outpatient quality improvement program and clinical registry program formed as a national tri-agency partnership with the American Cancer Society and the American Diabetes Association. Mr. Boone previously worked at a number of health care institutions and consulting firms, including Cook Children’s Healthcare System, Texas Health Resources, UT Southwestern Medical Center, and Deloitte Consulting. Mr. Boone serves as co-chair of the National Council on Heart Technology, a special committee for the e-Health Initiative that was formed to examine the use of health IT in caring for patients with heart disease.

For more information, contact Mary Giffin of GAO’s Health Care Team at (202) 512-7114 or Chuck Young in GAO’s Office of Public Affairs at (202) 512-4800.

#####

The Government Accountability Office, known as the investigative arm of Congress, is an independent, nonpartisan agency that exists to support Congress in meeting its constitutional responsibilities. GAO also works to improve the performance of the federal government and ensure its accountability to the American people. The agency examines the use of public funds; evaluates federal programs and policies; and provides analyses, recommendations, and other assistance to help Congress make informed oversight, policy, and funding decisions. GAO provides Congress with timely information that is objective, fact-based, nonideological, fair, and balanced. GAO’s commitment to good government is reflected in its core values of accountability, integrity, and reliability.