PRESS RELEASE

December 14, 2006

Health Policy Institute of Ohio
614-224-4950

Ohio lags behind neighboring states in development of health information technology and exchange; policy recommendations proposed to address this situation

Columbus, OH- Ohio lags behind neighboring states—including Kentucky and West Virginia—in the coordination and development of health information technology and exchange efforts, according to a new report from the Health Policy Institute of Ohio. To address this issue, the Institute and other groups are presenting a series of policy recommendations to aid in the state’s adoption of these efforts.

Health information technology (HIT) and health information exchange (HIE) are a nation wide effort to promote the use of technology to improve medical care, reduce costs, and provide a more patient-centric focus to better health. According to reports, the adoption of effective HIT and HIE systems in the United States could help prevent up to 98,000 hospital patient deaths from avoidable medical errors each year while also saving hundreds of billions of dollars by eliminating unneeded and redundant medical tests and reducing administrative waste. To accomplish this, HIT and HIE would use technology systems to unite health providers, payers, and patients to ensure that everyone gets the right care at the right time. An example of an HIT and HIE initiative would be the creation of electronic health records, meaning patients would have access to their medical records no matter which physicians or hospital they go to.

To achieve these goals, though, several hurdles must be overcome, including the adoption of health information technology by health care providers, the sharing of information among different system technologies, and ensuring that privacy and security protections exist for consumers. While other states like West Virginia and Kentucky have already taken steps to overcome these hurdles, Ohio has yet to do so.

In response to this need, over the last year the Health Policy Institute of Ohio brought together health care consumers, providers, health plans, employers, government, and others to create a series of HIT and HIE policy recommendations for Ohio’s governor and state legislature. Among the organizations participating in the development of these policy recommendations were the Ohio Hospital Association, the Center for Healthy Communities, the Ohio Osteopathic Association, the Ohio State Medical Association, the Ohio Academy of Family Physicians, HealthLink RHIO, and eHealth Ohio.

The recommendations include:

• Creating a state level organization to coordinate HIT and HIE activities in Ohio;
• Establishing a pool of funds to subsidize the adoption of HIT by providers;
• Creating medical payment rates that reasonably support use of electronic medical records;
• Sponsoring development of standards in Ohio to facilitate exchange and interoperability;
• Creating the ability for citizens to maintain their own web-based, secure health record;
• Ensuring that appropriate privacy and security protections exist in all aspects of HIT and HIE.

The report emphasizes the importance that HIT and HIE will have for both health care consumers and providers. For the complete list of policy recommendations, please see A Strategic Roadmap and Policy Options for the Effective Adoption of Health Information Technology and Exchange in Ohio.

“Health care costs across the board—whether paid for by private businesses, the state, or individuals—have risen by double-digit percentages in recent years,” says William Hayes, President of the Health Policy Institute of Ohio. “Research shows that a significant portion of this increase is due to inefficiencies in current health care information systems, with different doctors and hospitals often unable to easily share information on patients’ medical conditions. These inefficiencies lead to delays in diagnoses and potential mistreatment of a patient’s condition. By improving health information technology and exchange in Ohio, we will not only be saving money, but also saving lives.”

The Health Policy Institute of Ohio is an independent, nonpartisan organization that forecasts health trends, analyzes key health issues, and communicates current research to Ohio policymakers, legislators, and others. For more information on the Institute or on these HIT and HIE policy recommendations, call Jason Sanford at (614) 224-4950, ext. 302, or go to http://www.healthpolicyohio.org.

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