MeHI Connected Communities Overview

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MeHI is the designated state agency for: Coordinating health care

innovation, technology and competitiveness

Accelerating the adoption of health information technologies

Promoting health IT to improve the safety, quality and efficiency of health care in Massachusetts

Advancing the dissemination of electronic health records systems in all health care provider settings

MeHI is a division of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, a public economic development agency

MeHI Overview

• Tech Hub Collaborative• Big Data Consortium• Advanced Manufacturing

Collaborative• Innovation Index

• Mass Broadband 123• MassVetsAdvisor

• Interoperable EHR Adoption• Connected Communities• Meaningful Use Support• eHealth Cluster

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eHealth Services & Support

• Medicaid MU• Services Delivery• REC

Connected Communities

• Community Grants• eHealth Fellowship• Patient Engagement• Vendor Engagement

eHealth eQuality

• eQIP• Adoption Toolkit• BH Consent WG

MeHI Initiatives 2015 - 2016

• eHealth InnovationOpportunity Fund

• Grantee Forum• HIT Index• Outreach & Ops

eHealthCluster

Development

• Market Access• Big Data in HC• Cluster Convening

Innovation • Insight • Collaboration • Accountability

CORE VALUES

Summary Stats for Massachusetts

*From 2014 MeHI Provider and Consumer Health IT Research Study

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EHR Adoption

EHR Adoption Affiliated Independent Overall Progress

Primary Care 100% 95% 96%

Specialists 91% 83% 86%

Behavioral Health 100% 50% 55%

Long-Term & Post-Acute Care 82% 35% 55%

Home Health* 50% 77% 74%

Dental 100% 59% 60%

*Limited Sample Size Survey completed in 2014.

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Identified Areas of Unmet Need- Need for Connected Communities

While 79% of providers use EHRs in MA, communities are not connected, nor integrated in a manner that promotes the health of the population;

While there is 100% adoption of EHRs among affiliated BH organizations, only 50% of independent organizations have adopted an EHR;

There is 82% adoption of EHRs among affiliated Post-Acute Care organizations and a 35% adoption among independent SNFs organizations;

Interoperability is critical for improved care coordination and to support alternative payment models.

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Connected Care

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MeHI Connected Communities

Goals• catalyze collaboration and • advance the adoption and use of technologies

to improve healthcare and reduce healthcare costs.

Approach• Organize for growth & impact by aligning our

eHealth Communities to the Health Policy Commission’s (15) Secondary Service Markets, then regionalizing into (3) regions

• Engage stakeholders by community and sector in a statewide needs assessment that informs the Statewide eHealth Plan

• Strengthen the foundation for exchanging health information through the Connected Community Implementation Grants

• eHealth Community Managers assigned by region will foster a collaborative environment

This approach establishes a framework and infrastructure for engagement, resourcing, evaluation and innovation.

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Connected Communities

Conducted healthcare stakeholder interviews– Interviewed 107 organizations including 86 patient treatment

organizations representing key healthcare sectors and an additional 21 interviews with state agencies, health insurance organizations and associations.

Facilitated community round-table sessions– Facilitated 19 regional meetings to refine interview responses and

establish top clinical/business needs, internal issues and external barriers related to HIT referred to as ‘eHealth priority areas’ for the community, region and state.

Completed Community eHealth Needs Assessments– Completed detailed HIT needs assessments for 13 of 15 communities.

(Fall River combined with New Bedford, and Norwood/Attleboro combined with Metro West). These assessments informed the Statewide eHealth Plan. http://mehi.masstech.org/collaboration/community-engagement

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MA Stakeholders Identified High Priority eHealth Areas

Stakeholders participating in the Connected Communities program cited the following priority needs:

Access to Clinical Data

Exchange Discharge Summaries

Health Information Exchange Adoption

Implement Closed-loop Referrals

Event Notifications

Exchange Medication Lists

Meet Regulatory Requirements

Identify Care Teams

Source: MeHI Connected Communities Program, analysis of stakeholder interviews

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MA Stakeholders Identified Barriers and Challenges

Stakeholders cited the following priority external barriers:

Immature EHR Vendor to EHR Vendor Standards and Exchange Capabilities

Navigation of Consent and Information Disclosure Laws

Not Knowing Which Trading Partners can Send and Receive

Trading Partners Not on Mass HIway

Lack of Common Data Sets

Patient Matching

Identification of Care Teams

Stakeholders cited the following priority internal challenges:

High Costs of HIT and Interfaces

Shortage of Technical Expertise

Lack of Understanding of HIE Capabilities and Value among Leadership and Clinicians

Source: MeHI Connected Communities Program, analysis of stakeholder interviews

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Connected Communities

Drafted Statewide eHealth Plan– Utilized significant stakeholder feedback, Community Needs Assessments and

gathered background data to inform a larger statewide eHealth Plan. – The “eHealth Plan” combines the statutory responsibilities of MeHI to create an

“EHR plan” and EOHHS to create an “HIE plan” for the Commonwealth and is the artifact that captures new ‘eHealth’ goals and supporting strategies and initiatives for the state.

Providing eHealth Community Manager Resources– Continued client support for the region to sustain community engagement

activities, manage stakeholder relationships, monitor grant projects, and facilitate community development activities. Continued awareness building of MeHI’s programs and other health IT initiatives, and continue efforts to foster community collaborations across the region.

• Patient Engagement• Use Cases• eQIP Grants

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Connected Communities Implementation Grant

Launched the Connected Community Implementation Grant Program – Designed to support organizations in demonstrating community

collaboration using HIT to address a real-world, practical, measurable healthcare need.

– Aimed at the priorities identified in the community needs assessments with a focus on improving two aspects of care coordination; care transitions and cross-setting care management

Completed the first phase of a 2-tier review process for the solicitation. – Conducted internal and external review of 24 pre-applications

Selected 9 pre-applicants and invited them to submit a full proposal.

Applicant projects currently include approximately 100 collaborating organizations

MeHI program staff have been engaged with applicants to respond to questions and provide feedback to improve the overall quality of the applications.

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Connected Communities Implementation Grant - Summary

Key use cases and planned exchanges– All have some integration of behavioral health and/or long-term

post-acute care sectors with primary and acute care– Distribution or expansion of Event Notification Services (ENS)– Coordination of substance abuse and opioid treatment patients– Care management solution, exchange of patient care plans– Exchange of transition of care documents (CCDAs and

Discharge Summaries)– Exchange of referral and care coordination communication and

documents– All increase connections to the Mass HIway / HISPs

Applications were due – 9/24/15

Award Notice – Late October-November

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Contact Information

Keely Benson, eHealth Community Manager- Northeast MA Region

benson@masstech.org

617-371-3999 x241

Andrea Callanan, eHealth Community Manager- Central and Western MA Region

callanan@masstech.org

508-870-0312 x402