The Alabama Health Information Exchange Advisory Commission held its first meeting on Jan. 19 to discuss the state’s vision for health information exchange and to begin laying the foundation for the system. The Commission is specifically tasked with the creation of Alabama’s HIE Strategic Plan which will create a roadmap of how the exchange will be constructed, implemented and ultimately utilized.
“This system will be for all patients in Alabama. It is not for Medicaid specifically, or Blue Cross specifically, but for all patients, hospitals and doctors,” said Kim Davis-Allen, Director of the Alabama Medicaid Agency’s Transformation Initiatives Division. “It is a system to take care of our records, including me and you, and it is critical that we have stakeholder involvement in this process.”
Appointed by Gov. Bob Riley, the advisory commission consists of 23 members from leading health care organizations and agencies across the state. These members, along with others, will work through six different workgroups. The workgroups will examine a specific area of interest or concern in the forming of Alabama’s HIE network, then make suggestions to the Commission to be used in the formalization of the Strategic Plan.
“Gov. Riley wants to ensure that everyone is at the table as such an important issue is discussed,” said Margaret McKenzie of the Governor’s Policy Office. “This is especially important given the short timetable for this project.”
Some of the most pressing deadlines include having a first draft of the state’s Strategic HIE plan by April 1, 2010; submitting a final plan to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) by May 3, and, within 60 days of ONC approval, submission
of the Operational Plan. To help Alabama providers achieve “meaningful use,” the Commission is also responsible for the completion of the State Medicaid HIT Plan (SMHP) which is required by CMS. The SMHP is due July 1st and will give the state administrative dollars to begin the work for implementing the meaningful use incentive payment program.
“While we have a lot of work to do in a very short period of time,” said Medicaid Commissioner Carol Steckel. “We have an opportunity to create a legacy for our children and their children by improving access to information for both the healthcare provider and the patients. The ultimate result of the work of this Commission is improved health care.”
The workgroups will begin meeting Feb. 2 and 3 at Medicaid’s central office in downtown Montgomery. To learn more about the Commission and how to become involved, click here.