UHIN has played a pivotal role in a recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) project aiming to track the burden, distribution, and impact of Post-COVID conditions (PCC) in Utah. This initiative, detailed in a study published in BMC Public Health, leverages electronic health records (EHRs) and data from The CHIE (Clinical Health Information Exchange) to identify and analyze cases of PCC, commonly known as long COVID. Researchers aim to understand the prevalence, demographic distribution, and healthcare utilization patterns associated with PCC.
The study provides insights into the long-term effects of COVID-19 and highlights the importance of continuous surveillance to address the ongoing health challenges posed by the pandemic.
UHIN, as the only HIE in Utah, was an important contributor to this research. Since 1993, we have been committed to reducing healthcare costs and improving the quality of care through secure electronic data interchange. Our extensive network connects healthcare insurers, physicians, hospitals, laboratories, local health departments, and state agencies, enabling seamless data sharing across the state’s healthcare ecosystem.
In this project, UHIN provided a limited dataset including PCC cases and patient trajectories over time. By providing a limited dataset, UHIN was able to support the project, as allowed under HIPAA, while maintaining patient privacy and data integrity.
Collaborative Approach
A collaborative approach fostered partnerships among various healthcare entities, facilitating the aggregation of diverse data sets. Partners in this work are BeyondHIE, Indiana University, Boise State University, the Bronx Regional Health Information Organization (Bronx RHIO) and Comagine Health (our affiliate partner). This inclusivity enabled a more comprehensive understanding of PCC, as data from different sources provided a holistic view of patient experiences and outcomes. UHIN’s commitment to interoperability and data standardization was key to harmonizing information from multiple providers, ensuring consistency and reliability in the study’s findings.
In Conclusion
The success of this project underscores UHIN’s vital role in national health initiatives. By serving as a central hub for health information exchange, UHIN not only supports clinical care but also empowers research efforts that address pressing health concerns. Our infrastructure and expertise in data management are assets in the ongoing battle against COVID-19 and its long-term effects.
Our involvement in this PCC surveillance project adheres to our mission to enhance healthcare through innovation, collaboration, and inclusiveness. By providing the tools and frameworks necessary for comprehensive data analysis, we are proud to continue to contribute significantly to public health research and the improvement of patient care.
There is a national trend of Health Information Exchanges (HIEs) evolving into Health Data Utilities (HDUs). What is a Health Data Utility? The Consortium for State and Regional Interoperability defines a HDU as “a locally governed, public-private resource providing a source of truth for robust clinical and non-clinical data” to benefit state and other members of the healthcare ecosystem by providing data.
Much of the conceptualization of HDUs was done by Civitas Networks for Health, The Maryland Health Care Commission & CRISP, and the Consortium for State and Regional Interoperability. The HDU is the next phase for HIEs, recognizing that the data in an HIE is a valuable resource that can be utilized beyond just single patient lookup. It can be utilized for quality improvement, population health, research, and combined with other datasets for advanced analysis.
Data is the Lifeblood of an Organization
There is a saying that data is the lifeblood of an organization. Data is critical to identify areas and populations of need, understand and describe current status, evaluate interventions, improve efficiency, inform decisions, discover and adapt to changing conditions, and drive innovation. The COVID pandemic highlighted both the need for data and to identify gaps in data accessibility. The federal government has been working for the past two decades to improve the collection and availability of data to improve health care through initiatives such as the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH), the formation of the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC), the 21st Century Cures Act and its Information Blocking provisions, and the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA) for national health information exchange. HDUs provide the infrastructure for data accessibility.
What HDUs Can Do
Data is critical to identify areas and populations of need, understand and describe current status, evaluate interventions, improve efficiency, inform decisions, discover and adapt to changing conditions, and drive innovation. The COVID pandemic highlighted both the need for data and to identify gaps in data accessibility. The federal government has been working for the past two decades to improve the collection and availability of data to improve health care through initiatives such as the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH), the formation of the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC), the 21st Century Cures Act and its Information Blocking provisions, and the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA) for national health information exchange. HDUs provide the infrastructure for data accessibility.
Necessary Conditions
Necessary conditions for a HDU are considered to be a shared vision, political will/state policy, broad stakeholder participation, multi stakeholder governance, a legal framework, mature use cases, data privacy and security, and secured funding. The American Language Exchange Council has developed model language for a Statewide Health Data Utility Act. They believe that a “state health data utility can help achieve better patient outcomes, and improve overall health and wellbeing of the people of the state. It can also reduce the cost of healthcare services by creating a more seamless, transparent, and modernized approach to sharing health information. The health data utility will comply with all federal and state privacy laws and allow for an opt-out for patients who choose not to share their data.”
In Conclusion
UHIN established the Utah Clinical Health Information Exchange in 2007 to bring together a patient-centric, longitudinal record amongst disparate healthcare systems and organizations. We strive to make data accessible for better costs and better care. Evolving into an HDU, while also balancing patient privacy needs, is the next step.
CIVITAS 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.
It’s been a busy and rewarding month! We connected with our CHIE customers, sharing valuable insights and updates on the new portal experience. We proudly took part in recognizing the Utah Model of Care as a member of the One Utah Health Collaborative’s Stakeholder Community Board. On top of that, we posted the top five takeaways from our virtual payer panel, attended the Texas Association of Health Plans conference, and shared that Brian Chin will assume the role of Chief Product Officer at Comagine Health, in addition to his position as CEO of UHIN.
The new CHIE portal is live, offering a more modern user interface to access your patients’ longitudinal health records. We’ve created several methods to set you up for success.
CHIE portal users can watch engaging videos that walk you through the new portal features and powerful new tools, and how to log-in through MYUHIN.
Additionally, users can dive deeper into our comprehensive user guide which breaks down every feature step-by-step.
Prioritizing a System that is “Affordable, High-Quality and Built on Trust”
The One Utah Health Collaborative announced the adoption of the Utah Model of Care at the Capitol in late October. The model, developed through statewide collaboration, represents a significant step toward creating a healthcare system that is affordable, high-quality, and trusted for all Utahns. UHIN is proud to be part of the Stakeholder Community Board working with the One Utah Health Collaborative on the Utah Model of Care!
Top Questions and Answers from the Virtual Payer Panel
Dive into five of the top questions and insights shared during the webinar with Lori Weber (Noridian Healthcare Solutions) and Melissa Shoemaker (Select Health), offering clarity on telehealth billing, claims processing, EDI recertification preparation and other essential topics.
We attended the Texas Covered Health Care Conference + Expo Event in Austin, TX from November 4-6.
UHIN will be closed for the Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday, November 28th and Friday, November 29th. We’re thankful for our customers, colleagues, community and partners!
Please note: UHIN Customer Support Holiday Schedule
The UHIN Customer Support call center will be closed on Thursday, November 28th and Friday, November 29th. All regular support issues will be addressed on Monday, December 2nd.
Our on-call team will actively monitor the system to ensure connectivity remains stable. If you have an issue, please contact us through the standard support channels by emailing customersupport@uhin.org. These will be addressed in accordance with our off-hours support policies.
Trainings and Webinars
Watch the CHIE Portal Overview Video
The new platform offers a more modern user interface to access your patients’ longitudinal health records. Learn more about the updated experience in our demo video, including the new dashboard, cards, patient summary, customer support, and future enhancements.
Brian Chin tapped as Comagine Health’s Chief Product Officer
Comagine Health recently announced that Brian Chin will take on the role of their Chief Product Officer, while continuing to serve as CEO of UHIN. In his expanded role, Mr. Chin will lead the development and execution of Comagine Health’s product and technology roadmap, driving their commitment to providing high-quality solutions that meet the changing needs of the clients and the communities they support.
Health Information Exchanges (HIEs) have worked on interoperability for over a decade. Interoperability is crucial for improving patient care, reducing medical errors, and reducing avoidable procedures and unnecessary rework. The Information Blocking Rule (IBR), a part of the 21st Century Cures Act, aims to prevent healthcare providers and other entities from hindering interoperability or the exchange of electronic health information (EHI). This rule prohibits actions that intentionally restrict or interfere with the access, exchange, or use of electronic health information, promoting a more interconnected healthcare ecosystem. By fostering interoperability, IBR empowers patients and healthcare providers to access and share health information efficiently, leading to better-coordinated care and improved health outcomes.
This blog post will discuss the two main views of the IBR. First, to be compliant with the Information Blocking Rule, healthcare providers and other entities must ensure they are not intentionally restricting or interfering with the access, exchange, or use of electronic health information. This includes implementing systems and processes that enable the seamless flow of patient data while adhering to appropriate security and privacy measures. Second, the Information Blocking Rule offers several benefits, including improved patient care through better access to their health information, reduced medical errors due to more complete and accurate data, and enhanced coordination among healthcare providers. This ultimately leads to better health outcomes for patients and a more efficient healthcare system.
Understanding Information Blocking Compliance
Specific actions by providers, health systems, payers, and hospitals may be considered information blocking. This includes refusing to provide access to electronic health information, imposing unreasonable fees, or using technology that restricts data sharing. By understanding the rule’s requirements and exceptions, entities can ensure they are complying with its provisions, and fostering a more interoperable healthcare ecosystem that benefits patients and providers alike.
The Impact of New Disincentives on Healthcare Providers
Disincentive regulations for healthcare providers went into effect on July 31, 2024. The new disincentive regulations for healthcare providers emphasize the importance of compliance with information blocking rules. These regulations, established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), impose penalties on providers who: “engage in practices that the health care providers knew were unreasonable and were likely to interfere with, prevent, or materially discourage the access, exchange, or use of EHI, except as required by law or covered by a regulatory exception.”
Penalties for Non-Compliance
The penalties for non-compliance with IBR can be significant and vary depending on the severity of the violation. Here’s a breakdown:
Civil Monetary Penalties (CMP): The Office of Civil Rights (OCR) can impose civil monetary penalties of up to $1 million per violation.
Corrective Action Plan: OCR can require the non-compliant entity to develop and implement a corrective action plan to address the violation.
Public Disclosure: OCR can publicly disclose the name of the non-compliant entity and the nature of the violation.
Other Enforcement Actions: In addition to the above, OCR can also take other enforcement actions, such as issuing a Notice of Proposed Determination (NOPD) or a Notice of Enforcement Action (NOEA).
It’s important to note that the Information Blocking Rule also includes a “safe harbor” exception that protects entities from penalties if they can demonstrate that they are acting in good faith and have taken reasonable steps to comply with the rule. However, even with the safe harbor provision, it’s pivotal for entities to understand the rule’s requirements and to take steps to ensure compliance.
Source: Official Website of the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy/Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT, HealthIT.gov
Benefits of HIEs to Support IBR Compliance
HIEs can facilitate compliance with the Information Blocking Rule. HIEs act as secure platforms for the exchange of electronic health information between different healthcare providers, enabling seamless data sharing and reducing the likelihood of information blocking. By providing a standardized infrastructure for data exchange, HIEs eliminate the need for providers to develop their own complex systems, which can help to reduce the risk of intentional or unintentional information blocking. Furthermore, HIEs promote interoperability by supporting data exchange in a standard and secure manner, making it easier for providers to access and share patient information. In this way, HIEs contribute significantly to a more interconnected healthcare ecosystem that assists with IBR compliance and benefits both patients and providers.
Conclusion
As healthcare continues to share data and information more frequently, the importance of adhering to information blocking regulations cannot be overstated. The penalties for non-compliance are significant, and the need for seamless access to patient data is critical. HIEs play an important role in helping healthcare providers and caregivers support the secure sharing and accessing of EHI.
UHIN operates and maintains the Clinical Health Information Exchange (The CHIE) that allows caregivers to improve access to data collected from outside of their system. The CHIE is the only HIE in Utah.
For many of us, Memorial Day marks the unofficial start to summer. Hard to believe we’re heading into June! In this month’s newsletter, we look at the importance of resilient, redundant and interoperable systems, the events and webinars coming up, and we attempt to foretell everything that will happen for the rest of the year.
The first half of this year was packed with exciting news and rocked by tech incidents. While we can’t predict the future, we can plan a better path ahead.
Look into your crystal ball 🔮 What are your predictions (big or small) for things to come in healthcare this year? And, what are your goals that you hope to accomplish? We want to hear from you!
Healthcare IT Today Podcast: Will the Change Healthcare Ransomware Attack Wake Up Healthcare?
John Lynn and Colin Hung look at where the industry stands just two months following the ransomware attack. For healthcare professionals, this could be a watershed moment for information security, revenue cycle management (RCM) and back-up planning for potential, future incidents.
Our most recent blog post (authored by Brian Chin, UHIN’s CEO) addresses the importance of redundant and resilient healthcare systems, and how they support seamless interoperability in times of crisis. There are, of course, great benefits and challenges when it comes to maintaining interoperability during disaster recovery (see them below👇).
September 13: Utah Medical Association (UMA) annual House of Delegates in Midvale, UT
October 15-17: Civitas Annual Conference in Detroit, MI
More to come: Stay tuned!
Trainings and Webinars
Upcoming Online Trainings & Webinars
We’ll host training sessions on the new CHIE platform, specifically for portal users. Stay tuned for more details on our virtual Payer Panels where you can ask questions and get answers from health plan representatives.
This month we announced our affiliation with Comagine Health and added new CHIE data sources from CommonSpirit Health. We look forward to growing with our new strategic partners, customers, and you! Keep reading for what else happened in April and what’s coming up next month.
P.S. Follow our LinkedIn page for more frequent news, posts and insights
Spotlight
UHIN and Comagine Health Announce Our Affiliation
“Aligning our health care knowledge and expertise through affiliation is a profound opportunity to advance our parallel missions, while delivering greater success to our customers and partners. We have collaborated successfully for more than a decade. As affiliates, UHIN and Comagine Health can serve as a unified force for change in health care for the foreseeable future.”
- Brian Chin, UHIN’s Chief Executive Officer
Keep scrolling for more information on our affiliation.
HIT News
The Full Release on our Affiliation
We have announced our official affiliation with Comagine Health, a national nonprofit healthcare consulting firm. We have a long history of working together over the last decade on federal and state initiatives to advance electronic health record (EHR) adoption, cost transparency reporting, capacity and functionality of all-payer claims databases (APCDs) and interoperability and surveillance activities. Combining our technology solutions and Comagine Health’s analytic services will enable more actionable health insights and more sustainable, transformational improvements for communities.
The CHIE adds CommonSpirit Health as a Data Source
The CHIE continues to add important data sources, providing healthcare professionals with vital medical information when it is needed most. Recently, we’ve onboarded CommonSpirit Health as a data source.
We’re attending the WEDI Spring Conference from May 13 – 16 (virtually). We look forward to learning more from experts, like Aneesh Chopra, about solutions to improve information exchange, enhance care quality, and reduce cost and burden.
In addition to online product trainings for our customers, we’re preparing virtual payer panels for later this year. These will be similar to the payer panels you may have attended in previous years at the HIT Conference.
Wrapping Up
Report: Significant Differences in Administrative Costs
We’re reading the recent CAQH report on the wide differences in administrative transaction costs for generalists, specialists and behavioral health providers. “The medical industry spends an astonishing $83 billion annually on staff time to conduct routine administrative transactions between providers and health plans during and after a patient-provider encounter. Providers shoulder 97 percent of these costs.”
The CHIE continues to add important data sources, providing healthcare professionals with vital medical information when it is needed most. Recently, we’ have’ve onboarded CommonSpirit Health as a data source.
These include:
Holy Cross Hospital – Davis (formerly known as Davis Hospital and Medical Center) in Layton
Holy Cross Hospital – Jordan Valley (formerly known as Jordan Valley Medical Center) in West Jordan
Holy Cross Hospital – Jordan Valley West (formerly known as Jordan Valley Medical Center-West Valley Campus) in West Valley City
Holy Cross Hospital – Mountain Point (formerly known as Mountain Point Medical Center) in Lehi
Holy Cross Hospital – Salt Lake (formerly known as Salt Lake Regional Medical Center) in Salt Lake City
And their clinics
CommonSpirit Health is a nonprofit, Catholic health system dedicated to advancing health for all people.
“Our life is March weather, savage and serene in one hour” (Ralph Waldo Emerson)
Such was life in the healthcare information technology sector this month. We collectively faced daunting cyber circumstances and peered into an optimistic future filled with the possibilities of A.I., resilient and redundant networks, and healthcare interoperability for all.
Spotlight
Our Response to the Change Cyber Incident
UHIN is dedicated to maintaining interoperability for all payers, providers and partners. When an event as large as the Change Healthcare cyber incident impacts our community, we know we need to serve as a bridge to stable ground. Read more about the actions we’re taking to support our community at this time.
We’re actively supporting Providers by expediting enrollment with Payers to get claims flowing again. Providers can leverage our solutions to create and send professional and institutional claims, submit via SFTP, file tool or online hand-entry, check claims status, manage denials and rejections, and search, view, and download payment information.
We can connect with health plans, so they may receive claims from providers through a direct connection to our clearinghouse. Empower your provider network by elevating your collaboration efforts, securely sharing information and data, and providing better affordable care for your members.
The alarming rise in cyber threats – namely ransomware – highlight the urgent need for enhanced cyber resiliency and robust security measures in healthcare. Read our recent blog post with five ways to reduce your risk and secure personal health information (PHI) from cyberattacks.
HIMSS shared their recap of the 2024 Global Health Conference & Exhibition (March 11-15 in Orlando). Cybersecurity, A.I.,and health equity and access to care delivery were big themes this year. What were you most excited to learn at HIMSS this year?
We’re preparing a series of online trainings for CHIE users this year. Explore our new platform and share feedback with our HIT experts. Stay tuned for updates on upcoming trainings.
Wrapping Up
Thriving in Complexity from the Comagine Health Blog
Comagine Health President and CEO Marc Bennett addresses how the organization has been managing competing tensions while building partnerships to serve as a prime contractor for the 13th Statement of Work in the Midwest CMS QIN-QIO Region 6.
Thanks for spending this extra day going around the sun with us. In February, we dove into the 2023 CAQH Index Report and prepared for the CHIE’s migration to a new platform.
One more thing: For our providers experiencing disruptions in their claims management due to the Change cyberattack, we’re here to help. Please contact us to fast track your enrollment with payers at customersuccess@uhin.org.
Spotlight
Black History Month and American Heart Month
In February we recognized Black History Month and American Heart Month. Here are just a couple ways to support and celebrate these causes throughout the entire year:
For health care professionals and clinicians, use the resources in the Center for Disease Control (CDC) heart toolkit to support their patients, especially women, by listening to their heart.
In Utah? Dive into Utah’s rich black history at the Utah Black History Museum! Find the mobile exhibit across Utah this year or consider donating.
HIT News
The CHIE is Moving to a New Platform!
The new platform empowers CHIE users to better understand patient populations, provide greater care, reduce waste while improving quality, and pinpoint at-risk patients to intervene before their next encounter.
After consulting with our community’s advisory committee, we will be migrating five years of data with the exception of opt out consents, immunizations, allergies, and colonoscopies for which a longer history will be migrated.
Technical implementation is currently underway and we anticipate user migrations will start in Q2 of 2024. We will keep all CHIE users informed of our progress via email.
We published two blog posts sharing our thoughts on the most recent CAQH Index released earlier this month. How did electronic transaction adoption and healthcare administration change in 2023 for both providers and payers? Keep reading to find out.
Our CEO, Brian Chin, recently attended ViVe 2024. Artificial Intelligence was a hot topic this year, as you may have expected. Check out a few photos from the conference here.
Are you going to HIMSS 2024? Let us know what you’re most excited to see while in Orlando next month at communications@uhin.org.
Trainings and Webinars
CHIE platform trainings
We have online trainings coming up for the new CHIE platform. Please sign up for CHIE updates and our Events notifications to add these to your calendar so you don’t miss a thing!
Wrapping Up
Share your story, plus looking ahead to March
Do you have something your peers in healthcare and tech just have to know about? An innovative interoperability solution or point of view? Please email us at communications@uhin.org and we’ll include links to our favorite community content each month.
Next month we’ll attend HIMSS 2024 and help to raise awareness of the risks and symptoms of diabetes on American Diabetes Alert Day (March 26).
Join our monthly newsletter and don’t miss anything!
More than one in four elderly people (ages 65 and older) suffer from a fall every year. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) statistics demonstrate that just one fall is a preamble to a far scarier story:
Falling just one time can double the chances of that elderly person falling again, which could lead to death
20% of falls result in serious injury
Less than 50% of those who suffer from a fall will tell their doctor
“Falls among adults 65 and older caused over 36,000 deaths in 2020, making it the leading cause of injury and death for that group.”(CDC, Older Adults Fall Prevention)
Many falls are preventable and, as mentioned above, approximately half go unreported. Providers can stay informed with predictive information about their elderly patients to anticipate falls and take action to keep our senior population healthy.
How to Stay Informed: Falls Risk Indicator
One source of information for providers to help fill this reporting gap is Emergency Medical Services (EMS) data on non-transport falls. To help address this issue, UHIN partnered with Utah’s National Emergency Medical Services Information System (NEMSIS).
UHIN ingests EMS non-transport fall information from NEMSIS and uses it in conjunction with patient age and past encounter diagnoses that have been reported to the CHIE to provide a yes/no risk assessment of a patient’s risk of falling in the short term. Utilizing the CHIE’s Falls Risk Indicator, providers receive timely information about potential falls within their patient population, empowering them to contact patients with the right support to keep them healthy and independent.
In addition to the Falls Risk Indicator, notification alerts include data pertaining to the patient’s condition and can include LACE scores to help caregivers prioritize care. LACE scores are industry indicators that assign a score on a scale of 1-19 assessing the patient’s risk of readmission. The score is a combination of the L:length of stay in a hospital (in number of days), A: acuity of admission, C: comorbidities, and E: emergency department visits in the last 6 months.
What is a Patient Event Notification?
Notifications about patients which physicians can receive as a file at their preferred frequency (real time, daily, weekly, monthly) by logging into MYUHIN or integrated into their EHR.
CHIE Alerts with Falls Risk Indicator and LACE Score
CHIE Alerts are automated electronic notifications informing providers about an event their patients have recently experienced. Admission, Discharge and Transfer (ADT) Alerts fill in the missing pieces necessary to manage patient care. The Falls Risk Indicator and LACE Score may be included in CHIE Alerts.
Providers opt-in to receive notifications because they’re an important component of continuity of care. Providers can identify the patients who require critical intervention and schedule follow-up appointments after hospitalizations. Notifications help prevent readmissions, improve care coordination and patient experiences. An additional benefit includes revenue integrity; by allowing providers to bill the appropriate level code, which may be of a higher value in instances of transition of care patients.
For Granger Clinic, CHIE Alerts helped their Transition of Care Management (TCM) team increase the number of patients identified as needing TCM from about one per week to an estimated 750 per month. Additionally, CHIE Alerts helped the Granger TCM team decrease readmission rates by 61%.
Payers that receive alerts can route patients into case management, which helps to reduce high emergency room department utilizations through increased visibility into member care activities and utilization trends.
Alerts can be tailored by type, such as inpatient, outpatient or emergency, and frequency based on needs and desires. Community providers and payers can receive notifications by subscribing to the CHIE Alerts service and providing UHIN with a panel of patients representative of the population for which they are providing care.
Click below to sign up to receive CHIE Alerts that include a Falls Risk Indicator and LACE Score.
