The Case for Payer Participation in Health Information Exchange, a new white paper, details the value of health information exchange for payer organizations.
Health information exchanges (HIEs) are collaborative efforts that focus on health data exchange on a community, regional, or statewide basis. They provide new and efficient ways for a wide and varied set of participants (providers, labs, hospitals, payers, public health agencies, pharmacies, patients/citizens, etc.) to receive and send data. The term “HIE” can be used as both a verb and a noun. As a verb, HIE refers to the act of exchanging data through whatever means and using whatever technology that is selected. As a noun, HIE refers to the physical network or organization that enables the data exchange to take place (sometimes called Regional Health Information Organizations, or RHIOs). HIEs are quite diverse; their services have yet to be fully leveraged by the payer community.
HIE is an important tool in improving the quality of patient care and outcomes, increasing accuracy and speed of diagnosis, eliminating unnecessary or duplicative tests and procedures, and reducing healthcare expenditures. Payers who participate in HIEs can experience greater oversight and can be better equipped to manage and coordinate patient care.