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State Alliance Meetings

State Alliance for e-Health statement on electronic prescribing (Adopted May 12, 2008)

Upcoming meeting:
August 6, 2008
Ritz-Carlton | Washington, DC
8:30am - 3:00pm
Webcast Link

Past Meetings

Overview

The NGA Center for Best Practices has announced the creation of the State Alliance for e-Health, an initiative designed to improve the nation's health care system through the formation of a collaborative body that enables states to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the health information technology (HIT) initiatives they develop.

The State Alliance provides a nationwide forum through which stakeholders can work together to identify inter- and intrastate-based health information technology policies and best practices and explore solutions to programmatic and legal issues related to the exchange of health information.

As co-chairs of the State Alliance, Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen and Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas will guide the efforts of governors, elected state officials and others with expert guidance to help them develop real-world solutions and model practices for improving the quality and efficiency of health care.

Resources

• Briefings: HISPC and State Alliance Briefing for Governors' Health Policy Advisors
• A Vision of Health Care from and Framework for the State Alliance for e-Health

The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices was awarded a contract from the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) to establish and manage the State Alliance for e-Health, a consensus-based, executive-level body of state elected (and appointed) officials to collectively address state-level health information technology (health IT) issues and challenges to interoperable electronic health information exchange.

The State Alliance for e-Health will:

• From a state-specific perspective, address barriers to health information exchange and adoption of health IT, while preserving privacy, security, and consumer protections.
• Build consensus in seeking the harmonization of the variations in state policies, regulations, and laws, where appropriate, and develop standards and/or guidance for modifying such policies, regulations, or laws.
• Allow for dialog among states that will fuel creativity and partnerships among states and with the private sector in the health IT arena.
• Allow for the appropriate input of experts and others working on health IT endeavors to inform state policymaking.

The State Alliance for e-Health will be composed of elected and appointed officials including governors, state legislators, attorneys general, and insurance commissioners. In the initial year, the State Alliance will meet quarterly (beginning in January 2007) to address state-level health IT issues including barriers to interoperability, privacy and security issues, and state law and regulatory barriers to health IT related to the practice of medicine.

The State Alliance will be supported by a non-voting advisory committee and, for the first year, three taskforces. The advisory committee will provide technical expertise and support to the State Alliance on key issues related to health IT. In addition, each taskforce will be composed of key stakeholders at the state-level who can provide expertise and experience in addressing state-level health IT issues and present recommendations to the State Alliance. The taskforces include the Health Information Protection Taskforce, the Health Care Practice Taskforce, and the Health Information Communication and Data Exchange Taskforce.

On January 26, 2007, the State Alliance adopted the following charges for the taskforces:

Health Information Protection Taskforce
Taskforce Members | Past Meetings
Support the State Alliance for e-Health (State Alliance) on issues regarding the protection of consumer health information that ensures appropriate interoperable, electronic health information exchange (HIE) within states and across states. Develop and advance actionable policy statements, resolutions, and recommendations for referral to the State Alliance to inform their decision-making process in addressing state-level issues related to preserving the privacy of consumer health information while ensuring appropriate and secure electronic exchange of consumer health data within states and across states.

Health Care Practice Taskforce
Taskforce Members | Past Meetings
Support the State Alliance on issues regarding the regulatory, legal, and professional standards that have an impact on the practice of medicine and create barriers to interoperable, electronic HIE. Develop and advance actionable policy statements, resolutions, and recommendations for referral to the State Alliance to inform their decision-making process in addressing state-level issues related to best practices and the harmonization of regulatory, legal, technical, and professional standards that have an impact on the practice of medicine in interoperable, electronic HIE.

Health Information Communication and Data Exchange Taskforce
Taskforce Members | Past Meetings
Support the State Alliance on issues regarding the appropriate roles for publicly funded health programs in interoperable, electronic health information exchange (HIE). Develop and advance actionable policy statements, resolutions, and recommendations for referral to the State Alliance to inform their decision-making process in addressing ways in which states can enhance Medicaid, State Children’s Health Insurance Programs (SCHIP), employee health benefits, and public health through cooperative HIE activities with the private sector.

• State Alliance for e-Health Unveils Task Force Membership (3/15/2007)
• State Alliance for e-Health Holds Inaugural Meeting (1/26/2007)
  
• State Alliance for e-Health Names Lead Governors (11/06/2006)
  
• NGA Center Announces State Alliance For e-Health (10/19/2006)

Recommendations:

• Health Information Protection Task Force Report | Appendix B.2

• Health Care Practice Task Force Report (August 15, 2007)
  Health Care Practice Task Force Report (October 3, 2007)

• Health Information Communication and Data Exchange Taskforce Report