Advancing health information technology in
Minnesota and North Dakota.

Health Information Exchange

Health information exchange (HIE) is the mobilization of health care information electronically across organizations within a region, community or hospital system. The goal of HIE is to facilitate access to and retrieval of clinical data to provide safer, more timely, efficient, effective, equitable, patient-centered care. Meaningful use requires each health care facility to exchange patient information freely and securely with other facilities external to the facility. The CMS meaningful use final rule indicates that several measures require a test of the ability of the EHR to perform health information exchange.

State Health Information Exchange Cooperative Agreement Program

The HITECH Act authorizes the establishment of the State Health Information Exchange Cooperative Agreement Program to advance appropriate and secure health information exchange (HIE) across the health care system. The purpose of this program is to continuously improve and expand HIE services to reach all health care providers in an effort to improve the quality and efficiency of health care. Cooperative agreement recipients will evolve and advance the necessary governance, policies, technical services, business operations, and financing mechanisms for HIE over a four-year performance period. This program will build from existing efforts to advance regional and state level HIE while moving toward nationwide interoperability.

Minnesota State Health Information Exchange

Effective July 1, 2010, all organizations that provide HIE services for the transmission of clinical meaningful use transactions must apply for a certificate of authority to operate in Minnesota, in accordance with Minn. Stat. §62J.498-62J.4982. There are two categories of HIE Service Providers that require certification:

  • Health Information Organization (HIO): An entity must apply for a Certificate of Authority to operate as an HIO if it provides all electronic capabilities for the transmission of clinical transactions necessary for meaningful use of EHRs in accordance with nationally recognized standards.
  • Health Data Intermediary (HDI): An entity must apply for a Certificate of Authority to operate as an HDI if it provides HIE services for the transmission of one or more clinical transactions necessary for hospitals, providers or eligible professionals to achieve meaningful use of EHRs. Examples of HDIs include entities that provide the infrastructure to connect computer systems or other electronic devices used by health care providers, laboratories, pharmacies, health plans, third-party administrators, or pharmacy benefit managers that facilitate the secure transmission of health information, including pharmaceutical electronic data intermediaries as defined under Minn. Stat. §62J.495.

As of February 14, 2011 two organizations were issued certificates of authority as Health Information Organizations in Minnesota:

MDH anticipates future announcements of State-Certified HIE Service Providers in the coming months as more organizations go through the application process.

Minnesota Response to the HITECH Act

2011 Minnesota e-Health Connectivity Grant Program for Health Information Exchange

Qualifying rural hospitals, clinics and pharmacies may apply for the 2011 Minnesota e-Health Connectivity Grant Program for Health Information Exchange to receive modest resources to help build health information exchange capacity and achieve health information exchange capability. Deadline to apply for the 2011 program is December 31, 2011.

North Dakota Health Information Exchange

North Dakota plans to build a statewide health information exchange. It will be a three phased approach with phase one being the implementation of direct functionality across North Dakota. Phase two will be the incorporation of two-way push/pull technology with several providers to pilot connections and the exchange of data, and phase three will be full implementation of a robust health information exchange for all providers.

The Health Information Technology Advisory Committee (HITAC) and workgroups are currently reviewing proposals from selected vendors interested in providing the health information technology infrastructure. Additional information on North Dakota's plan can be found on the HITAC website.

Learn more about the State Health Information Exchange Cooperative Agreement Program: