HIMSS: HIE aims to transform data into dollars, action

NEW ORLEANS—HealthShare Montana was formed with a simple, yet challenging, goal—to create a sustainable Health Information Exchange (HIE), using analytics to drive long-term financial independence, explained Brad Putnam, executive director during a March 6 session at the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) annual conference.

HSM launched in 2005, and in 2009, was designated the state HIE. The configuration of HSM is a connectivity platform designed to share data that have been stored in the HIE. One of the current tasks is feeding the integrated data repository.

When HSM first began, it faced a common HIE conundrum. No one wanted join the HIE because it did not have data; however, it did not have data because no one had joined. So it looked for data where it could.

“We’re building relationships with pharma, GIS and others to put their data in the system,” said Putnam. The HIE has not developed clear plans for these data, but understands that they can be used.  

The company also has built a partnership with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana and has contracted to provide the IT infrastructure for its patient-centered medical home.

HSM contends with the same question every HIE does: What’s the ROI? Achieving that elusive goal hinges on determining what products and services are valuable to providers in a changing environment.

Putnam and colleagues have divided HIE customers’ needs into three components: clinical data, such as meaningful use reports, performance dashboards, patient population snapshots and predictive models; financial data; and clinical research.

HSM has identified six value propositions to meets providers’ needs, said Putnam.

1. Provider subscription fees for access to the HIE
2. Provider subscription fees for access to its EHR-lite
3. Payer and provider set-up and subscription fees for the development of a patient-centered medical home and accountable care organization
4. Employer, payer, provider and consumer subscription fees for the patient portal
5. Provider, payer and researcher subscription fees for access to clinical research services
6. Provider and payer fees associated with third-party applications, such as automated state and federal reporting

Finally, Putnam closed with three keys to success HSM. The HIE aims to cultivate its brand identity in three areas: as the market leader in access to an accurate EHR, as providers of range of cost effective identified and de-identified clinical analytical services and as the premiere technology provider for patient-centered medical homes and accountable care organizations.