Governor Strickland Announces Health Information Initiative

 

This week Governor Strickland announced an $8 million initiative to advance the implementation of health information technology. According to the Governor’s Office, the non-profit Ohio Health Information Partnership will lead the initiative and is charged with implementing and overseeing a statewide health information exchange that will improve access to data and patient information by authorized health care providers, while also ensuring patient privacy.

 

The other focus of the initiative is to encourage and support broad adoption of health IT through the implementation of the following:

Public-Private Partnership: To allow the state to leverage skills and resources from a variety of entities that could collectively develop solutions to lower costs and improve health outcomes.

Statewide Health Information Exchange: To provide access to the necessary data that will give an authorized healthcare provider a holistic view of a given person’s health status and history.

Health IT Adoption Programs: Several initiatives are being explored to encourage and support the adoption of health IT tools.  Potential programs that are being considered include:

o   The development of a purchasing collaborative to help drive down the initial costs for small providers buying electronic medical records.

o   The establishment of standards for individuals and corporations providing support services in the IT arena to assure that providers are receiving assistance from qualified service providers.

o   The formation of a center of excellence that will act as a trusted source of IT information and advice to the healthcare provider community.

o   Provider Loan Program:  The state will additionally try to leverage American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) funds to establish a loan program for health care providers who are purchasing electronic medical record tools and services.

 

A public forum has been scheduled on Friday, September 25th at 10:00 am in the Riffe Studio One Theatre, 77 S. High Street, Columbus 43215 to allow interested parties to discuss the state’s health IT vision and to solicit feedback.

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