OHIP Receives Funding for Statewide Health Information Exchange (HIE) and Regional Extension Center (REC) Projects

The Ohio Health Information Partnership (OHIP), the state designated entity for health information exchange development, is pleased to announce more than $50 million in funding to help make electronic health records more widely available in Ohio. OHIP was awarded $43.3 million as part of the HITECH provisions in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. The state’s 2010-11 biennial budget also allocates $8 million, in non-GRF funds, to the Ohio Department of Insurance to support efforts in health information technology (HIT). The AMCNO submitted a letter of strong support for the funding of the OHIP project.

More than one-third of the federal funds, $14.8 million, will go toward development of a statewide health information exchange to allow for the sharing of electronic health records between authorized healthcare facilities and health care providers. In addition, $28.5 million of these funds are designated to help with the creation of regional extension centers (REC), which will support hospitals and health care providers in their adoption of electronic health records.

HealthBridge, a not-for-profit health information organization serving Greater Cincinnati and surrounding areas, has also been awarded a $9.7 million Regional Extension Center grant from the federal government to serve a tri-state region, including portions of southern Ohio, northern Kentucky and southern Indiana.

In September 2009, Governor Strickland designated the OHIP as the non-profit entity that will lead the implementation and support of health IT throughout Ohio. OHIP subsequently applied for two HITECH grants – one to create a statewide HIE and the other for regional extension center development. OHIP will focus on working with healthcare providers to lower the cost of acquiring and implementing electronic health records. Additionally, OHIP will assist providers in identifying qualified vendors to ensure electronic health records are properly integrated into the health care provider’s individual environment.

The initial OHIP board includes representation from BioOhio, state medical associations, the state hospital association and state government. The partnership is expanding its board to include representation from health care payers, the business community, behavioral health providers, community health centers and consumers. Dr. Lawrence Kent, AMCNO board member, has been appointed to the OHIP Health Information Exchange Committee. Other OHIP committees are being formed and the AMCNO will continue to keep our members apprised on the work of OHIP as this initiative moves forward. For more information is available at http://www.ohiponline.org.