The State Alliance for e-Health (State Alliance) was created by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices in January 2007 as 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 NGA 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.

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.

The State Alliance is co-chaired by NGA Chair Governor Jim Douglas of Vermont and Governor Phil Bredesen of Tennessee, who guide the efforts of governors, state legislators, attorneys general, insurance commissioners, and others with expert guidance to help them develop real-world solutions and model practices for improving the quality and efficiency of health care.

Recent News and Reports:

• Policy Strategies for Advancing Interstate Health Information Exchange | Appendix
  Variations among states' laws, and differences between states' laws and federal law, are one of the most significant obstacles to interstate health information exchange (HIE). A new report prepared for the State Alliance for e-Health looks at the potential advantages and disadvantages of alternative policy strategies to reduce this "variations barrier" and advance interstate HIE.
  
  
• License Portability Summit
  The State Alliance for e-Health License Portability Summit was inspired by several State Alliance recommendations related to state health care licensure requirements. One recommendation challenges state medical boards to work together to streamline the licensure process to ensure license recognition by other states. On February 5-6th, 2009, a group representing 22 State Medical Boards met in Nashville, TN, for a Summit to establish a consensus-based approach that provides a platform for the greatest number of states to participate in a license portability process. This document captures the group's findings and recommendations.
  
  
• ONC Grant Programs Announced
  The State Health Information Exchange Cooperative Agreement Program announced on August 20, 2009 will support states establish HIE in their jurisdiction. Such efforts at the state level will establish and implement appropriate governance, policies and network services to rapidly build capacity for connectivity between and among health care providers. In addition, the Health Information Technology Extension Program will give grants for the establishment of Health Information Technology Regional Extension Centers that will offer technical assistance, guidance and information on best practices to support and accelerate health care providers' efforts to become meaningful users of Electronic Health Records (EHRs).
  
  
• Preparing to Implement HITECH: A State Guide for Electronic Health Information Exchange
  The HITECH Act, enacted as part of the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, expands the role of states in fostering health information exchange and adoption of electronic health records over the next five years. This report recommends actions states should begin undertaking now to successfully implement the HITECH Act.
  
  
• Public Governance of Health Information Exchange Report | Appendices
  With e-health initiatives across the country in various stages of development, state governments now have an opportunity to determine the best regulatory and governance framework to support and advance health information technology (HIT)and health information exchange (HIE), according to a new report prepared for the State Alliance for e-Health by the University of Massachusetts Medical School. The report details three conceptual models of public governance that could lead to the practice of sustainable HIE and delves into specific rationale and description, legal structure and financing and accountability considerations for each model.