ONC Fact Sheet: Get the Facts on State Health Information Exchange Program
Published on ONC site on 12/3/2010
Improving the nation’s health care through health information technology (health IT) is a major initiative for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the Office for Civil Rights (OCR), and other HHS agencies are working together to assist health care providers with the adoption and meaningful use of electronic health records.
The ONC-funded State Health Information Exchange (HIE) Cooperative Agreement Program promotes innovative approaches to the secure exchange of health information within and across states and ensures that health care providers and hospitals meet national standards and meaningful use requirements. Demonstrating the secure sharing of information among providers is an essential part of using electronic health records in a meaningful way to qualify for the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs.
About the State HIE Cooperative Agreement Program
In March 2010, ONC granted 56 awards totaling $548 million to help states (including territories) develop and advance resources to facilitate the exchange of health information among health care providers and hospitals within their jurisdictions to ultimately encourage and support information exchange across states. The awards were made to states or organizations designated by states to participate in the program.
The program aims to ensure that every eligible health care provider has at least one option for health information exchange that meets the requirements of the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs, defined by CMS in a final rule released on July 13, 2010. To this end, awardees will use their funding to:
- Create and implement up-to-date privacy and security requirements for HIE
- Coordinate with Medicaid and state public health programs to establish an integrated approach
- Monitor and track meaningful use HIE capabilities in their state
- Set strategy to meet gaps in HIE capabilities
- Ensure consistency with national standards
| HIE is fundamental to realizing the full potential of meaningful use of electronic health records and health information technology that can lead to improved coordination, quality, and efficiency of health care. |
For More Information About:
- The State Health Information Exchange Cooperative Agreement Program, visit healthit.hhs.gov/programs/stateHIE
- The Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs, visit www.cms.gov/EHRIncentivePrograms
- Health IT, visit healthit.hhs.gov
Download Get the facts about the State Health Information Exchange Program [PDF - 490 KB]
