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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.

Meaningful Use of Health Information Technology (HIT)

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.”

ONC Standards and Certification

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

  • The Office of National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
  • Centers for Medicare and Medicaid- EHR Incentive Program
  • Final Rule on Meaningful Use (PDF) 
  • Final Rule on Standards & Certification (PDF)
  • Meaningful Use Objectives and Measures

    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). 

  • Stage 1 - Core Objectives - Electronic Laboratory Reporting
  • Stage 1 - Core Objectives - Immunization Reporting
  • Stage 1 - Core Objectives - Syndromic Surveillance
  • For a list and map of Local health Departments who can accept the Stage 1 Meaningful Use objectives, click on the links below:

  • Electronic Laboratory Reporting: List of LHDs (PDF, New Window) 
  • Map 
  • Immunization Reporting: List of LHDs (PDF, New Window) 
  • Map
  • Syndromic Surveillance: List of LHDs (PDF, New Window) 
  • Map
  • 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.

  • Stage 1 - Core Objectives - Preliminary Cause of Death
  • 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:

  • Immunization Branch
  • Center for Infectious Diseases
  • Office of AIDS
  • Cancer Surveillance and Research Branch
  • Genetic Disease Screening Program
  • State Laboratory Director
  • Communicable Disease Control
  • Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Branch
  • Tobacco Control Program 
  • Privacy and Security

    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

  • Notice of Proposed Rulemaking - Public Comment Period Now Open
  • Office for Civil Rights - HHS Gov
  • Summary of Selected Federal Laws and Regulations Addressing Confidentiality, Privacy and Security (PDF – 158 KB) February 2010
  • Health IT and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy and Security Rules
  • Federal Laws and Regulations
  • California eHealth Initiative

    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

  • California Health and Human Services Agency - California eHealth Initiative
  • Department of Health Care Services
  • Medi-Cal EHR Incentive Program - Description
  • Medi-Cal EHR Incentive Program and the Office of Health Information Technology (OHIT)
  • Medi-Cal EHR Provider Incentive Portal (ePIP)
  • Office of Health Information Integrity (CalOHII)
  • Cal eConnect
  • Regional Extension Centers (RECs)
  • HITECH-LA, CalHIPSO, and CalOptima
  • 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
  • National Public Health Organizations Supporting eHealth

  • Public Health Data Consortium
  • Association of State and Territorial Health Officers (ASTHO)
  • Grants and Funding

    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. 

  • National Public Health Improvement Initiative

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    Last modified on: 1/24/2012 8:37 AM