Blumenthal: States Must Design Health Data Exchange Blueprint

On Monday, National Coordinator for Health IT David Blumenthal said state governments will provide the foundation for establishing a nationwide health information exchange infrastructure, Government Health IT reports.

Blumenthal spoke during the Medicaid Management Information Systems Conference in Chicago.

He said he hopes “in the very near future” to announce an initiative designed to help states create health data exchanges. Funding for the project would come from the $300 million set aside for such projects in the federal economic stimulus package’s health IT provisions.

Cross-Border Challenges

Blumenthal noted that states will need to determine how medical providers can exchange patient health data across state lines.

Although such coordination can boost patient care, privacy restrictions often pose challenges for cross-border data sharing, Blumenthal said.

Patient-Centered Care Coordination

Blumenthal suggested that officials use a patient-centered model when developing health data exchange policy.

He said, “If you think about where the patient is in this complex of rules, regulations and technological opportunities, you will find a path toward meaningful collaboration in effective use of health IT” (McCloskey, Government Health IT, 8/18).

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