Recently, the Oregon Health Authority’s (OHA) HIT Task Force released “Oregon’s Business Plan Framework for HIT and HIE Exchange” (2014-2017). OHA set up the Task Force to develop the business plan framework to chart a direction for the state to develop over the next several years.
The Task Force report describes ways to help providers face very real technology burdens. HIT/HIE must include behavioral health, dental, and long term care, help must be available for providers to navigate the EHR vendor arena effectively, address the important issue of sustainability, and develop more workforce training as needed.
The Business Plan Framework is looking to 2016 and beyond to develop a new public/private partnership structure to implement and operate statewide HIT/HIE efforts. The business plan would like to see partnerships develop that would help find a path to sustainable financing.
One model under consideration would be a proportional funding model where some or all of the costs are split between stakeholders, including health plans, CCOs, community and organizational HIEs, health systems, and the State.
Another idea is to develop a subscription-based financing model where those who participate in statewide services pay a subscription fee. Those participating directly in statewide services would be community and organizational HIEs, health systems, hospitals, health plans, Health Information Services Providers (HISP), providers not connected through a community or organizational HIE, plus other entities.
Go to www.oregon.gov/oha/OHPR/HITOC/pages/index.aspx to view the report.