eHealth in Public Health
On July 28, 2010, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released their final rule for the Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program as a complement to the final rule on standards and certification released by the Office of National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC).
As part of the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act of 2009, or the "HITECH Act," these final rules provide authority to establish programs to improve health care quality, safety, and efficiency of patient care through the promotion and meaningful use of health information technology (HIT), including qualified electronic health records (EHRs) and private and secure electronic health information exchange.
Under the EHR Incentive Program, eligible providers and hospitals receive incentive payments for Stage 1 (in years 2011 and 2012) when they have shown that they are able to implement certified EHR technology and/or have demonstrated “meaningful use.”
EHR technology adopted by eligible providers and hospitals will need to include the required standards, implementation specifications and certification criteria established by the ONC to achieve meaningful use in Stage 1.
ONC Resources
Public Health Reporting Measures
An eligible provider or an eligible hospital requesting incentive payments will be considered a meaningful EHR user if it meets three requirements: 1) uses certified EHR technology in a meaningful manner, e.g., computerized physician order entry (CPOE), 2) participates in electronic exchange of health information to improve the quality of care, 3) submits information on clinical quality measures to CMS (or to the state if a Medicaid program).
For a list and map of Local health Departments who can accept the Stage 1 Meaningful Use objectives, click on the links below:
Public Health Information Related to Other Meaningful Use Objectives:
The following Meaningful Use Measures, while not requiring the reporting of messages to Public Health, involve information that is used by Public Health programs.
Public Health Updates:
The California Department of Public Health is taking steps to align public health programs to meet federal requirements for Meaningful Use. We are assessing programs to be able to receive electronic laboratory and syndromic surveillance data from eligible providers and hospitals. We are also researching solutions to improve immunization information exchange between providers and immunization registries within the state. In addition, CDPH continues to identify public health programs that are impacted by Meaningful Use and to explore implications to improve public health efficiencies and outcomes.
CDPH Programs Supporting Objectives and Measures
California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Programs that are working to support the objectives and measures for meaningful use requirements:
CDPH believes in providing safe and secure health information exchange. New modifications to the HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules in the HITECH Act seek to improve patient privacy and security protections by extending the Office for Civil Rights enforcement to business associates and covered entities, strengthening individuals' rights to request and receive their medical information in electronic form, and setting new limits on the use and sale of individuals’ information.
Privacy and Security Resources
CDPH is working together with other state departments, agencies, local health departments, and organizations to establish safe and secure exchange of health information.
Committees and Organizations
Office of Health Information Integrity (CalOHII)
Cal eConnect
Regional Extension Centers (RECs)
California State Rural Health Association
California Telehealth Network (CTN)
Cal eRx
Western Regional HIT Consortium
CA Health Workforce Alliance
Beacon Grant: UC San Diego
California eHealth Collaborative
The California Department of Public Health has been awarded the National Public Health Improvement Initiative (previously called the Strengthening Public Health Infrastructure for Improved Health Outcomes Grant) by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.