Health information exchange can play an important role, especially in value-based care because clinical data shared with and through the HIE means that the most current and complete data are available. may be applied when clinical decisions are made.
HIEs have grown during the pandemic, and state health departments are working to grow further by consolidating resources, applying for federal certification, and strategizing to attract providers.
New Jersey Healthcare Data Exchange Certification
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has certified the New Jersey Health Information Network’s Medicaid Enterprise System, the New Jersey Innovation Institute announced yesterday.
According to the announcement, NJHIN is a state-designated organization that promotes interoperable health information technology and is the only network supporting the electronic exchange of protected health information in New Jersey.
HIE serves 2.2 million Medicaid beneficiaries and boasts 14 million patient records in its Overall Patient Index. Currently, the organization has registered more than 36,000 providers, including all New Jersey hospitals, long-term care, assisted living and Federally Qualified Medical Centers, according to the statement.
“This is a huge achievement for our teams and helps further validate the importance of our work,” said Jennifer D’Angelo, senior vice president and general manager of NJII Healthcare Division. in the state of New Jersey and in the United States”.
“It’s an important milestone on our journey to achieving our mission of revolutionizing healthcare and creating a healthier, more connected community.”
New Jersey, after a two-year process, joined 11 other states in achieving MES certification.
Creating a progressive healthcare data delivery model in Ohio
Earlier this month, the Health Collaborative partnered with the Ohio Health Information Partnership, also known as CliniSync, to establish a statewide HIE and streamline the exchange of patient data across Ohio’s 88 counties.
According to an announcement, THC, which connects 70 hospitals and more than 18,000 healthcare providers across 14 counties, will migrate its HIE customers to CliniSync by the end of 2023.
THC will focus on transforming public health to expand and diversify the healthcare workforce, coordinate regional disaster preparedness and response, and undertake other efforts. .
Amy Andres, chairman of the board of directors of Clinisync, said: “The growth of national interoperability is driving HIEs to adapt and create new opportunities to deliver value and improve work. patient care”.
“Having a statewide service of information exchange will not only facilitate broad access to clinical data in a safe, efficient, and cost-effective manner, but will also support innovative models to improve health outcomes for all Ohioans.”
Debbie Hayes, THC’s board chair, added: “This partnership will allow us to provide a cost-effective service that supports Ohio’s healthcare ecosystem to improve coordination. integrate care, reduce inefficiencies, address gaps in care, and enhance the patient experience.”
Oklahoma rolls back mental health information reporting requirements
After Oklahoma approved the creation of a statewide health information exchange mechanism in 2022, the Oklahoma Department of Health Care and the new Office of the State Coordinator for Health Information Exchange proposed regulations in September and received more than 300 comments, according to a recent report on 2 Oklahoma News.
According to the report, mental health providers want to be excluded from mandatory reporting – starting July 1 – because they believe it violates their customers’ privacy.
OHCA is requiring providers to upload and share consent patient records in a statewide online database.
A former HIE in the state ceased operations in 2017. Mental and behavioral health clients will now have to opt-in to the program.
The updated rules will allow OHCA to grant some exemptions for financial hardship, size and technological capabilities.
Kevin Corbett, Oklahoma Secretary of Health, said patients will make decisions about where their data is shared and confirm that psychotherapy notes, diagnoses, and other behavioral health information are relevant. may be marked as sensitive and sent only to the statewide health exchange in writing. agreed, according to a separate report on News9.com.
“If the patient says no,” Corbett said, “no data is transmitted.”
OHCA has submitted the rules to state legislators.
Andrea Fox is the senior editor of Healthcare IT News.
Email: [email protected]
Healthcare IT News is a publication of HIMSS Media.
Dr. Shelly Nash will provide more details during the HIMSS23 session “Creating Technology to Empower Patients and the Home Dialysis Experience.” Scheduled for Wednesday, April 19, 2:30pm-3:30pm CT at South Building, 4th Floor, room S406 A.
