CurrentCare, Rhode Island’s health information exchange, is the first to exchange behavioral health data electronically. The Providence Center and Gateway Healthcare were the first organizations to submit behavioral health and substance abuse treatment information, known as 42 CFR Part 2 data, into CurrentCare.

The Office of the National Coordinator of Health IT announced two new cooperative agreements designed to further support of growth of health information exchange (HIE) and interoperability. DirectTrust.org received a one-year contract for $280,000 and the New York eHealth Collaborative received a one-year contract valued at $200,000.

Rhode Island Quality Institute (RIQI) has been recognized by the federal government as a national leader for its efforts to enhance the safety and quality of healthcare by embracing the use of health IT.

Ohio and Michigan are hoping to show that health information exchanges (HIEs) know no boundaries.Michigan Health Connect and Ohio’s CliniSync announced March 27 that the two HIEs now can securely exchange patient information through the Direct Project, an Office of the National Coordinator initiative that encourages industry collaboration to develop standards for safe and secure protected health information transmission.

The federal government awarded an average of $15 million to 17 Beacon communities back in 2010. As the three-year grants come to an end, CI+T finds out how several Beacon grantees used the funds and their achievements with information exchange, patient engagement and care coordination. 

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued a request for information (RFI) as it considers policy moves to further accelerate interoperability and health information exchange beyond initiatives previously launched under the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT.

There were numerous educational sessions focused on health information exchange (HIE) during the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society’s 2013 annual convention. While most speakers offered tips for success, not everyone is moving along the path toward sustainability.

When it comes to health information exchange (HIE), each community should phase in its model driven by its own needs and market characteristics, Kim Pemble of the Wisconsin Health Information Exchange, said during a March 13 National eHealth Collaborate webinar that tackled all things related to HIE sustainability.