Health Information Technology Champions (HITCh)
Health care has yet to be transformed by the information technology revolution that has swept the U.S. economy. Health information technology (IT) is the use of technology to electronically collect, store, retrieve and transfer clinical, administrative and financial health information. It offers the chance to improve quality and reduce costs in health care.
States have a vital role to play as the health sector transforms from a paper to an electronic system. The Health Information Technology Champions (HITCh) project was created to help facilitate this transformation by establishing and developing state legislative policy expertise around health IT. HITCh is developing a core of legislative expertise related to health IT policy across states and at the National Conference of State Legislatures to create a base for continuing policy analyses in this rapidly evolving area.
In recent years state governments along with their federal partners have been working to bring this IT revolution to health. States will need to provide leadership around a wide range of issues as they work on health IT.
- Privacy and Security: Many consumers fear that the transformation from a paper to an electronic system will make their medical histories more vulnerable to unauthorized exposure. They fear that if this data fall into the hands of unauthorized parties, they’ll face workplace discrimination and a loss of insurance.
- Health Information Exchange: States will need to ensure systems used by providers are interoperable and stakeholders (consumers, payers, providers) will have to be engaged to build trust among groups not used to working together. For example health organizations are often reluctant to share their data with competitors, fearing a competitive disadvantage.
- Health IT adoption issues: Providers are often expected to purchase health IT systems but may hesitate because cost savings are likely to accrue mainly to insurers, government and employers. States may have to step in to deal with these misaligned incentives.
HITCh started in 2006 and began its second phase in 2008 at the HIMSS08 meeting. Phase II of the project is focused on expanding the core group of legislators and staff and addressing the most critical issues facing them. The project holds meetings and webinars throughout the year focusing on aspects of health IT chosen by the project members. HITCh is made possible through the support of members of the NCSL Foundation for State Legislatures, who are active in shaping the project and carrying out its goals. Currently the project has seven partners: AARP, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, Electronic Data Systems Corporation (EDS), Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), Johnson & Johnson, MAXIMUS and Quest Diagnostics, Inc.
NCSL project staff for HITCh responds to legislative information requests, tracks legislation, facilitates exchanges among states, creates issue briefs and prepares items for publication in State Health Notes and State Legislatures magazine.
HITCh serves as the foundation for other NCSL health IT projects and activities, including work with the State Alliance for e-Health and continued efforts with AHIMA on the State-level HIE Consensus Project.
Updated September 30, 2008 |
