Electronic Health Information Exchange in the US: - New State Alliance for e-Health Report offers guidance

Source: US National Governors’ Association

As the national dialogue on health care reform continues, health information technology (IT) and health information exchange (HIE) have emerged as critical means to ensuring a health care system that is affordable, effective, safe and transparent. A new report from the State Alliance for e-Health, Preparing to Implement HITECH: A State Guide for Electronic Health Information Exchange, aims to help states lead the way in using health IT and HIE and guide them as they begin instituting the federal Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act.

The State Alliance for e-Health, a consensus-based, executive-level body composed of governors, state legislators, attorney generals and state commissioners, was created by the NGA Center for Best Practices in 2006 to address the unique role states can play in facilitating adoption of health IT and HIE. The HITECH Act, enacted as part of the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, expands the role of states in fostering health information exchange and adoption of electronic health records over the next five years.

“Governors understand that swift and thoughtful action is needed at the state level to plan and implement a national system of health information exchange, “said Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen, co-chair of the State Alliance. “Widespread adoption and use of electronic health records provide a critical foundation for improving health outcomes and cost-effectiveness.”

The report recommends actions states should begin undertaking now to successfully implement the HITECH Act, including:

• Preparing or updating the state plan for HIE adoption;
• Engaging stakeholders;
• Establishing a state leadership office to manage the different phases of HIE implementation;
• Preparing state agencies to participate; implementing privacy strategies and reforms;
• Determining the HIE business model;
• Creating a communications strategy; and
• Establishing opportunities for health IT training and education.

“States already have taken the lead in modernizing the health care system by advancing the use of health IT, electronic health records, e-prescribing and electronic exchange of health information,” said Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas, NGA Chair and co-chair of the State Alliance. “We now have an opportunity to accelerate adoption of health IT across the states and create a truly comprehensive health care system that is effective, affordable and accountable.”

The report and state initiatives to implement health IT and electronic HIE will provide a central focus for the State Alliance for e-Health’s semi-annual conference, to be held August 7 in Burlington Vermont.

The State Alliance – supported by funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – provides a nationwide forum through which governors, state policymakers and other stakeholders can work together to identify effective HIT policies and best practices and explore solutions to challenges related to the exchange of health information.

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