RHIOs and Meaningful use

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Introduction and Background Congress announced large incentives for the “Meaningful Use” of EHR technology in 2009. Meaningful Use of Electronics Health Records (EHRs) as defined by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is that the providers need to show that they are using certified EHR technology in ways that can be measured significantly in quality and quantity.(1) Electronic capturing and sharing of data is one of the key criterion of stage 1 of meaningful use. Hence, safe and secure electronic Health Information Exchange (HIE) is the focus of attention. RHIO is defined as, “A health information organization that brings together health care stakeholders within a defined geographic area and governs health information exchange among them for the purpose of improving health and care in that community.”(2) Regional Health Information Organizations (RHIOs) that are already up and running throughout the country act as building blocks of network of networks called Nationwide Health Information Network (NHIN) for information exchange. Regional Health Information Organizations as a key to Meaningful use In spite of being touted as a vehicle for transforming health care delivery, RHIOs have been facing sustainability challenges for the past few years. In December 2009, the government released the criteria that physicians and other healthcare professionals have to meet in order to qualify for extra payments from Medicare and Medicaid. (3) In order to qualify for stage 1 of meaningful use Healthcare providers have to collect and share critical data elements in electronic form with other providers and patients, and report the quality measures to the government. RHIOs that are already functioning as data sharing entities can be extremely valuable in achieving this goal. John Schrenker, CIO of Lakeside Healthcare system (part of Rochester RHIO http://www.grrhio.org/ ) addressed how any RHIO can help achieve meaningful use of EHRs. (4). Some of the salient features discussed include: 1. One of the requirements of meaningful use is that the healthcare organization or provider should generate and transmit permissible prescriptions electronically. According to author, it can be achieved by providing access to ePrescribing through a RHIO based application. 2. Another requirement of meaningful use is that Eligible Provider (EP) should maintain active medication list electronically. This can also be done by linking ePrescribing with insurance companies and RHIOs can provide medication histories. 3. EP should maintain active medication allergy list, which can be done either as clinical data or through medication history via RHIO In the rapidly changing healthcare system landscape, RHIOs can be insturmental in helping healthcare providers achieve meaningful use of EHR.

References (1) Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. CMS EHR Meaningful Use overview. 2011; Available at: https://www.cms.gov/EHRIncentivePrograms/30_Meaningful_Use.asp. Accessed 5/20, 2011. (2) The National Alliance for Health Information Technology. Defining Key Health Information Technology Terms. 2008 April 28:1-40. (3) Blumenthal D. Launching HITECH. N Engl J Med 2010 02/04;362(5):382-385. (4) Schrenker J. Your Local RHIO/HIE Could Be a Meaningful Partner. HealthsystemCIO com 2010 May 18.

Submitted by Seema Mohindra