Health Information Exchange Initiative - Wisconsin
In 2007, 27 states received Medicaid Transformation Grants under Section 6081 of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005. The grants were rewarded to states that proposed innovative methods which in the end of the two years are designed to produce better health outcomes at lower cost.
The Center for Health Transformation is highlighting states that have received these Medicaid Transformation Grants, and will be following their progress for the next two years. In order for key decisionmakers and industry leaders from around the country to learn from others’ successes, it is our intention to provide this resource in order to showcase innovative practices from across the nation. In the future, this site will be interactive, allowing program directors to submit updates and comments regarding their program.
Click here for the complete grant application >>
ABSTRACT:
Background:Under the leadership of Governor Jim Doyle and Secretary Helene Nelson of the Department of Health and Family Services (DHFS), Wisconsin’s public and private sector leaders are actively engaged in developing a statewide plan for health exchange that will enable providers across Wisconsin to exchange important patient health information. By Executive Order, the Governor created and eHealth Care Quality and Patient Safety Board which is overseeing five work groups to identify the key elements for a 5-year road map for adoption of health information technology (HIT) and health information exchange (HIE).
Goals:
The overall goal of the MTG component is to create a regional health information exchange framework, infrastructure and system to enable multiple hospitals, clinics, and health care institutions to rapidly an securely access medical history information about patients enrolled in the Medicaid and General Assistance Medical Programs (GAMP) in Milwaukee County. Access to patients’ medical histories across health care providers will help to reduce redundant tests and procedures, improve health care outcomes, and reduce health care costs.
Total Projected Budget:
2007: $1,852,329 2008: $1,191,033
Proposed Objectives and Outcomes for Improving the Efficiency and Effectiveness of the Wisconsin Medicaid Program:
The following aligns Wisconsin’s work with President Bush’s Executive Order of August 21, 2006. This order calls for advancement of HIT/HER systems that promote interoperable HIT products so data can be easily accessible and shared. The Order also promotes adoption of technologies and models leading to transparency in health quality for all American consumers. This grant component establishes a health information exchange that will help ensure health care is delivered safely, efficiently, and cost effectively to the Wisconsin Medicaid population. The Health Information Exchange Initiative MTG component includes the following:
- The Wisconsin Medicaid Program will partner and contract with the Wisconsin Health Information Exchange (WHIE) to create a regional health information exchange framework, infrastructure and system in Milwaukee County. WHIE is an established Regional Health Information Organization (RHIO) in southeast Wisconsin. This HIE project will improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the Wisconsin Medicaid Program by providing an exchange of patient health information that will benefit patients, health care providers, and residents of Wisconsin, and help improve health care outcomes and reduce health care costs.
- The WHIE will establish implement a governance model for operating and sustaining the HIE in Milwaukee and southeastern Wisconsin.
- The WHIE will conduct marketing/communication initiatives and educate/train stakeholder groups who will use the HIE on operational policies, procedures, and processed, especially those related to privacy, confidentiality, and data sharing.
- The WHIE will create a technical architecture fully capable of collecting and aggregating data from multiple sources, including multiple payers and other sources of clinical data, such as pharmacies. This architecture will enable secure, confidential exchange of information between authorized users when serving the Medicaid population in Milwaukee.
- The HIE developed will initially aggregate patient data from over 11 data sharing partners in Milwaukee. The type of data available in the regional exchange system for this phase of the development will be composite of patient registration information and claims information for Medicaid recipients. Once collected, the data will be stored in a central repository from which providers can securely access patient-specific data at the point of care.
- Emergency Department (ED) providers will direct Medicaid patients to care management systems and primary care medical homes. Care management has proven successful in decreasing ED use and improving cost savings
- All data will be accessible by the public health surveillance system enabling public health authorities to proactively identify, monitor, and manage public health emergencies.
- The HIE architecture and system developed by the WHIE can be replicated or leveraged in other regions of the State.
