California Program to Help Fund HIE Connections for Medicaid Providers

A recent survey of providers in California’s Medicaid program found low participation rates in regional health information organizations (HIOs). Only 26 percent of all Medi-Cal providers and only 17 percent of ambulatory practices currently connect to an HIO. To address the situation, the state Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) will provide incentive payments for HIOs and Medi-Cal providers to meet specific onboarding and HIE connection milestones.

Up to $50 million is available from a federal matching program. DHCS is awaiting final approval from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for the California Medi-Cal HIE Onboarding Program and expects to officially launch it in June 2019. To meet federal requirements, all Cal-HOP activities must be completed on or before September 30, 2021.

DHCS will oversee the program and distribute funds. Regional HIOs will apply to be “qualified” to participate in the program and will receive payments for meeting milestones with “qualified” provider organizations.

Read full article published in Healthcare Innovation.