Maine HIE demonstration nears finish line

Maine’s HealthInfoNet, a statewide health information exchange, is nearing the end of its clinical demonstration phase, but plans are already underway for expanding the network.

Providers last summer started accessing the exchange’s clinical data repository.

Devore Culver, executive director of HealthInfoNet, said that a clinical usage test will wrap up in about six months. The HIE has nearly 1,000 authorized users across 16 hospitals and one independent primary care group practice, he said.

Beyond the group practice, other physician practices are participating via the hospitals.

“A number of the hospital organizations are providing access to the exchange to their ambulatory practices, so it is not accurate to assume that we are too hospital centric,” Culver said.

3M Health Information Systems is the primary contractor on the exchange project, with Orion Health as a subcontractor. DrFirst, an e-prescribing vendor, works independently of 3M as a direct service provider to the exchange.

Culver said an evaluation, currently in process, will include a review of HealthInfoNet’s technical architecture. This, he added, “will lead to some changes both in the contracting approach and possibly in the mix of applications and solutions involved."

With the demonstration phase set to end in mid 2010, HealthInfoNet officials are planning for expansion.

“Both hospitals and physician practices are engaged in discussions with HealthInfoNet in preparation for executing contracts to move forward,” Culver said.

The exchange will receive about $4 million in health information exchange grant funds from the Office of the National Coordinator over the next four years. HealthInfoNet has also applied for a Regional Extension Center grant. ONC envisions 70 or more centers providing technical assistance to providers aiming to achieve meaningful use of electronic health records.

Culver said he expects to find out about HealthInfoNet’s grant proposal in late March.