OIG: HRSA-funded health center networks struggle with data sharing MU objectives

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) funded health center controlled networks (HCCNs) are struggling to establish the capability to achieve Meaningful Use (MU) objectives related to sharing data, according to an Office of the Inspector General (OIG) report.

Since 2007, HRSA has awarded $176.9 million in grants to HCCNs to support the acquisition, implementation and meaningful use of EHR systems. While some progress was made in capturing data, the ability to share data posed problems in part because this capability requires health centers to incur additional EHR-related costs, according to OIG.

“Establishing capabilities for objectives related to sharing data is a challenge that is not unique to health centers. Recent research indicates that there are substantial barriers to the widespread sharing of health information across all practice settings,” according to the OIG.

In other findings, 76 percent of HCCNs reported facing financial sustainability challenges, but the OIG noted that the grantee progress reports contained limited information related to financial sustainability of EHR systems at the health centers.

The OIG put forth three recommendations, which the HRSA agreed upon. These are that HRSA:

(1) Use data to understand progress towards MU objectives and to provide guidance and technical assistance to health centers

(2) Ensure that HCCN grantees provide information on the financial sustainability of EHR systems at health centers

(3) Examine the feasibility of collecting information directly from health centers regarding the financial sustainability of their EHR systems

Read the full report here.