DECEMBER 2024
Holidays, Health Data, and Happenings
As the end of the year approaches, we’d like to thank you for being a valued partner in advancing healthcare connectivity. Please keep scrolling for dates that our Customer Support will be closed during the holidays.
In this newsletter: Explore the transformative potential of Health Data Utilities (HDUs), contribute to the draft HDU Framework Supplement, watch the final Virtual Payer Panel of the year, catch up on Ryan McLelland at the eHealth Exchange Annual Meeting, and share your ideas for this newsletter. We wish you a happy and healthy season ahead!
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Spotlight
We’re Grateful for You
With the holiday season surrounding us with warmth and reflection, we want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude. At UHIN, we deeply care about our customers, our community, and our colleagues. We’re honored to partner with you in advancing healthcare connectivity. From all of us at UHIN, we wish you a season filled with joy, peace, and togetherness.
UHIN’s Customer Support will be closed on the following days:
- Tuesday, December 24th
- Wednesday, December 25th
- Wednesday, January 1st
From the UHIN Blog
What is a Health Data Utility
Health Data Utilities (HDUs) are the next phase for Health Information Exchanges (HIEs), with the goal of utilizing data for purposes beyond basic patient lookup, such as quality improvement, population health, and research. In this post, Navina Forsythe (Chief Data & Privacy Officer) details how HDUs can combine clinical data with other sources like claims and social determinants of health to create comprehensive datasets and foster whole-person care. She also explains the necessary conditions for establishing a HDU, including shared vision, political will, stakeholder participation, legal frameworks, data privacy and security, and funding.
HIT News
Call for Public Comment: HDU Framework Supplement Version 1
Civitas Networks for Health invites public comment on the draft HDU Framework Supplement Version 1, which outlines critical updates to the existing Health Data Utility Framework. This supplement highlights actionable strategies for advancing health data governance, interoperability, and equity across states and regions. The comment deadline is January 31, 2025.
Events
eHealth Exchange 2024 Annual Meeting
Ryan McLelland, UHIN’s CIO, participated on the “The “007” of the CMS-0057 Prior Authorization Rule Requiring FHIR” panel at the eHealth Exchange Annual Meeting in Nashville on December 10th.
Trainings and Webinars
Final Virtual Payer Panel of 2024
We hosted our final payer panel of the year with Korey Marsh and Lisa Varley of DMBA who shared important information about new medical plans rolling out on January 1st and answered questions about prior authorization, coding, and more. Thank you to Korey, Lisa, and everyone who participated!
Wrapping Up
Share Your Ideas, Shape Our Newsletters
As we plan for 2025, we want to make sure our newsletter offers the information and insights that matter most to you.
What topics would you like us to cover? Which specific healthcare trends or technical resources would you like to read about?