eHI Expands Connecting Communities Membership and Launches State Legislative and Grassroots Advocacy Center
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Karla Hurter |
November 8, 2005 |
eHI Expands Connecting Communities Membership and Launches State Legislative and Grassroots Advocacy Tools
Expanding array of services provides vital resources to health information exchanges nationwide
November 7, 2005 Washington, D.C.— If you live in Wisconsin but want to know the latest legislative action related to health information technology (HIT) or health information exchange in your state, or across the country, there's a new source to track state legislation, spur grassroots advocacy and connect with more than 200 communities just like yours.
The eHealth Initiative, the independent, non-profit organization which brings together multiple stakeholders to improve the quality, safety and efficiency of healthcare through the use of information and information technology (IT), has expanded upon its growing set of resources and tools designed to support states, regions and communities across the nation who are engaged in health information exchange. New tools available today include the State Legislation Tracking Center and the Community Advocacy Action Center, a resource which supports stakeholders in reaching out to policy-makers to effect change.
"The number of states, regions and communities engaged in health information exchange is growing rapidly, with more than 2,000 stakeholders involved in nearly 200 communities already connected with eHI," said Janet Marchibroda, chief executive officer of the eHealth Initiative and its Foundation. "These new tools respond to what communities tell us they want and need. The State Legislation Tracking tool will help those involved in health information exchange initiatives keep on top of bills pending in their states. The Community Advocacy Action Center provides the latest updates on legislative activity at the federal level, and a simple way for users to make their views known to their representatives in Washington."
The State Legislation Tracking Center lists state-by-state information on bills that have been proposed, are pending or have passed related to using HIT and health information exchange to improve healthcare. The service was created for the eHealth Initiative to support the growing number of stakeholders interested in using health information exchange to improve healthcare in states, regions and communities nationwide by Davis Wright Tremaine, LLP, a legal firm and member of eHI. It is updated bi-weekly to keep eHI's “Connecting Communities” members and others regularly apprised of legislative action as it happens.
"Right now, much of the activity is focused on creating structures to get organized, financing and addressing privacy and security," said Gerry Hinkley, JD, of Davis Wright and Tremaine, LLP. "This is not surprising at all. These legislative proposals mirror the issues that state leaders are grappling with today, as they build efforts to improve healthcare through health IT and health information exchange."
The Community Advocacy Action Center is another web-based tool that eHI is offering to Connecting Communities members to encourage and streamline grassroots advocacy for federal legislation that supports the improvement of healthcare through HIT and health information exchange. After entering their zip codes, users can immediately identify their congressional representatives and personalize a sample letter that outlines pertinent legislative points. After the letter is completed, the Community Advocacy Action Center immediately sends the letter to the user's representatives on Capitol Hill.
"eHI also provides links to our analyses of pending legislation, position statements and outside resources to further inform stakeholders about the issues," Marchibroda said. "The idea is to move consideration of legislative measures pertinent to the advancement of health IT beyond discussion and to the floor for debate and passage. It takes grassroots action to make that happen." cross-walk of current federal legislation.
Introduction of these tools, which are available by visiting eHI's web site at www.ehealthinitiative.org, follows fast on the heels of the launch of eHI's Connecting Communities members-only website. eHI's work "connecting communities" began in 2003, with funding through a cooperative agreement with the Health Resources and Services Administration. Since 2003, eHI and its Foundation with funding support from a wide and diverse set of public and private sector sources, have launched a series of activities aimed at improving the quality, safety and efficiency of healthcare through health information exchange. Some of the activities include:
- A working group focused just on the needs of communities engaged in health information exchange. Launched in 2004, this group meets monthly, engaging nearly 100 stakeholders involved in these activities to share key insights and develop tools that will support their work as its moves forward.
- An annual "Connecting Communities Learning Forum" which since its inception last year, has brought more than 1,000 community stakeholders together to learn from national experts and each other, and to develop strategies for effectively advancing health information exchange. eHI recently launched a series of regional forums, designed to provide a smaller and more regionally focused setting to stimulate learning and sharing of insights.
- Provision of seed funding to a set of communities engaged in health information exchange currently through a cooperative agreement with HRSA/OAT. The 2004 award program provided funding to a set of nine communities who were pioneers in these efforts. Over the next sixty days, eHI’s Foundation will issue the next round of awards which will focus specifically on accelerating the development of sustainable models for health information exchange.
- Development of a growing set of tools and resources designed to help stakeholders navigate the organizational, financial, legal and clinical aspects of health information exchange.
- An annual survey of state, regional and community-based health information exchange initiatives, the most recent released in August 2005; eHealth Initiative Foundation’s Emerging Trends and Issues in Health Information Exchange: Second Annual Survey of State, Regional and Community-based Health Information Exchange Initiatives and Organizations.
- Support of public and private sector leaders within ten states across the country who are engaging multiple stakeholders to develop a shared vision, strategy and roadmap for improving health and healthcare through HIT and health information exchange.
Since 2003, eHI has seen a surge in interest in health information exchange more than 2,000 stakeholders from nearly 200 communities joining eHI’s rapidly growing coalition designed to accelerate the mobilization of information electronically to support health and healthcare. Stakeholders interested in joining this growing "community of communities" to network with their peers and access valuable resources and tools, can sign up by going to http://www.ehealthinitiative.org/coalition/ or CLICK HERE.
About eHI
The eHealth Initiative and its Foundation are independent, non-profit affiliated organizations whose missions are the same: to drive improvement in the quality, safety and efficiency of healthcare through information and information technology. Both bring together multiple stakeholders, including clinicians, consumer and patient groups, employers and healthcare purchasers, health plans, healthcare IT suppliers, hospitals, laboratories, pharmaceutical manufacturers, pharmacies, public health, and federal and state policy-makers to develop and then implement common principles and policies for improving America’s health and healthcare through HIT and health information exchange. For more information, go to http://www.ehealthinitiative.org.
