Health Information Exchange in Washington State

Community Oversight Organization Request for Proposal (RFP)

OneHealthPort and the Health Care Authority are seeking qualified Not-For-Profit organizations interested in overseeing selected aspects of the work of the lead organization. The nature of the opportunity and the qualifications required are described in the RFP found here. Any interested and qualified not-for-profit is welcome to submit a response. Due date for responding to the RFP is 4/12/10. Please note this is not an RFP for Health Information Technology vendors to provide services to the Washington State HIE. This RFP is limited to qualified not-for-profit organizations and focused entirely on oversight of the lead organization's work in selected areas.

LATEST PROJECT UPDATE

OLYMPIA – The Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) today announces receipt of a stimulus grant from the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC). The $11.3 million award comes from the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH) provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). It engages states, or state designated entities, in a State Health Information Exchange Cooperative Agreement Program to develop and advance sharing of secure health information throughout the state health care system.

The HCA will use these funds to support planning and implementation of a common, shared health information technology infrastructure in Washington State. Secure health information exchange (HIE) will help providers improve clinical care and services. Click here to view the full press release on the HCA website.

The NEXT STEPS report provides an overiew of the current state-wide HIE project status:

• The findings from the HIE requirements processes
• Our recommendations for the shared infrastructure components of state-wide HIE and governance
• Current status on the HITECH HIE grant
• Next steps for moving forward

Shared Services Recommendation, web meeting slides.

Governance Proposal, web meeting slides.

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Project Background

Moving Ahead with Health Information Exchange

The health industry in the Evergreen State has been working for years to improve patient outcomes and reduce costs. One of the main barriers to progress has been the inability to easily share health information between and among health organizations. Because patient information is fragmented across hundreds of enterprises, it is difficult for any one enterprise to significantly improve their performance without engaging their trading partners.

Technology and business solutions need to be created that allow organizations to appropriately share data externally, while also enhancing use of information internally. Clearly, there is a need for comprehensive Health Information Exchange (HIE).

Aligning Players in Washington State

While some communities and organizations in Washington state have organized effective HIE solutions on a local or organization-wide basis, a statewide cross-enterprise solution that makes long-term business sense has not been achieved.

Now, with engagement and support from the public sector, a concerted private sector-led effort is taking shape to advance Health Information Exchange in Washington state.

Federal & State Support - Private Sector Engagement

During 2009, the U.S. Congress and the Washington State Legislature enacted laws in support of robust Health Information Exchange. In Olympia, a new law was enacted to accelerate the secure exchange of "high value" health data - including lab results, medications, immunizations, diagnostic images, and others. The law directs the Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) to designate a private sector organization to lead implementation of HIE. The Federal program - named the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act - is briefly described in the sidebar.

The Role of OneHealthPort

In response to both the Federal grant opportunity and State law, HCA designated OneHealthPort to serve as the lead HIE organization for Washington. In this role, OneHealthPort is responsible for:

• Leading initial development of HIE in a manner that will comply with the new State law (SB 5501 is now part of the Revised Code of Washington, Chapter 41.05);
• Satisfying the grant objectives of the Federal Health HITECH Act; and
• Attracting private and public sector stakeholders to invest and participate in HIE.

Register for Notices on HIE meetings and draft documents

Links to References, Updates and Meeting Materials