A new multi-state consortium is being formed to tackle issues facing health information exchanges, organizers announced today.
The Mid States Consortium of Health Information Organizations so far has 16 member groups, including the Kansas Health Information Network (KHIN).
KHIN is one of the two networks that comprise the statewide health information exchange in Kansas. The other, LACIE is not part of the consortium.
Laura McCrary, executive director of the Kansas Health Information Network (KHIN).
Laura McCrary, KHIN chief executive, said the consortium was formed with the aim of addressing the most difficult data exchange issues confronting the organizations, including the development of policies governing secondary data use and interstate connections among the various state exchanges.
“All members signed a charter indicating their willingness to collaborate on issues that are challenging health information exchange across the nation,” McCrary said. “These are the most difficult issues for HIOs (Health Information Organizations) to resolve as they require a high degree of trust.”
Jeff Messer, director of outreach and development for the Colorado Regional Health Information Organization, said the consortium also could give member organizations more negotiating power with vendors.
“The Mid States Consortium of HIOs will provide a venue through which HIOs can negotiate together with vendors and payers for products or services and advocate at the regional and national level for HIO-related issues,” he said.
Members plan to teleconference monthly and hold face-to-face meetings once a year.
Mike Dittemore, LACIE chief executive, said his network was not invited to join the group but would be interested.
“I would certainly be interested in any opportunity that would help improve the exchange of health information. The LACIE Board would need to make the decision. They are very collaborative,” he said.
The consortium is accepting new members and those interested may contact Messer at (720) 285-3271.
The group’s founding members are:
- Colorado Regional Health Information Organization
- Community Health Information Collaborative (Minnesota)
- Coordinated Care Oklahoma
- Health Information Network Of Arizona
- HealthShare, Montana, Inc.
- Idaho Health Data Exchange
- Iowa Health Information Network
- Kansas Health Information Network
- Missouri Health Connection
- MyHealth Access Network, Inc. (Oklahoma)
- Nebraska Health Information Initiative
- North Dakota Health Information Network
- Quality Health Network (Colorado)
- South Dakota Health Link at DOH
- Southeast Texas Health System
- SMRTNET (Oklahoma)
Coverage of electronic health records in Kansas
Overview
→ Kansas breaks ground on statewide digital health network (5/28/12)
→ The pros and cons of health information exchange: An interview with Dr. Joe Davison (5/28/12)
More coverage
→ KanHIT Advisory Council to craft ‘secondary data use’ policy (2/18/14)
→ Kansas HIE networks connected ‘live’ for first time (12/23/13)
→ Network execs confident they will meet looming deadline (12/16/13)
→ Patient health exchange networks agree to connect (11/12/13)
→ The Kansas insurance marketplace that might have been (10/21/13)
→ Security and privacy of patient data subject of regulatory hearing (9/30/13)
→ Deadline looming for state’s patient record exchange (8/26/13)
→ KDHE begins day-to-day duties of HIE regulation (7/19/13)
→ Network execs squabble over issue of exchange connectivity (5/23/13)
→ KU Hospital, Shawnee Mission going live on statewide health record exchange (5/9/13)
→ Governor signs HIE bill transferring regulatory authority from KHIE to KDHE (4/18/13)
→ This is why health IT systems aren’t keeping up (3/19/13)
→ Senate panel hears bill to move HIE regulatory authority to KDHE (3/13/13)
→ Bill introduced to transfer regulatory authority from KHIE to KDHE (2/12/13)
→ Legislators request ‘lengthy discussion’ on HIE developments (1/16/13)
→ KHIE board members get cold feet on legal changes (12/13/12)
→ KHIE defers details of transition to KDHE (10/10/12)
→ KHIE board turns over regulatory duties to state (9/12/12)
→ HIE board delays decision on turning authority, costs over to state (8/8/12)
→ Regulators of health information exchange to consider ceding authority to state (8/6/12)
→ The cost of independent regulation of health information exchange (8/6/12)
→ KHIE board presented with proposal to dissolve the organization by August (7/11/12)
→ Far fewer than projected patients opting out of health information exchange (6/14/12)
→ Public awareness campaign begins for health information network (5/23/12)
→ Networks granted temporary licenses to exchange patient data (4/11/12)
→ KHIE committee changes course on funding scheme (3/26/12)
→ Rural Kansas doc featured as national technology leader (8/17/11)
→ State Medicaid officials announce new schedule for digital health records exchange (7/25/11)
→ Kansas health care providers get first look at exchange implementation (2/4/11)
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