HIE Set to Expand

Electronic Health Information Exchanges that allow the secure sharing of patient health information between providers is set to grow considerably in coming years because of new service and payment models that are being adopted said panelists at a recent Brookings Institution presentation.

Policy Megachange and Health Information Exchanges featured panelists Janet Marchibroda, Chair of the Health Information Technology Initiative of The Health Project at the Bipartisan Policy Center; John Piescik of the Strategy and Engagement Center Center for Transforming Health at The MITRE Corporation; P. Jon White, Director Health IT and Acting Director, Center for Primary Care, Prevention and Clinical Partnerships Agency for Healthcare Research Quality (AHRQ); and Claudia Williams, Director of the State Health Information Exchange Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Panelists agreed that HIEs would expand. “[O]ur goal is to get information moving to
support patient care in a secure way," said Claudia Williams of ONC. "Our goal is not necessarily to support a particular model or particular approach, but to see the percentage of transitions that are supported by the information that's needed, of lab results going to doctors electronically and of patients able to get their own information. We need to see these measures really take
off.”

"We've got a business case on the horizon with payment reform and delivery system
reform and for the first time talking with a whole host of folks that maybe weren't there 2 years ago," agreed Janet Marchiboda. "...whether it's providers, physician practices, hospitals, labs or vendors, I see an appetite for coming to agreement around a set of policies and standards. We'd have to talk about how far down you go, but principles and policies for getting to exchange even
on a voluntary basis that could be something that could inform what the federal government adopts over the long-term."

The Brookings Institution released a paper called Health Information Exchanges and Megachange in conjuction with the presentation.

Additional information about the presentation, including an audio webcast of the presentation may be accessed here.

Source: CQ HealthBeat (subscription required)