New State Policy Website Features Vermont HIT Case Study

Vermont’s efforts to align its health information technology (HIT) investments with its health reform efforts is the subject of a case study posted on a State Health Policy Options. 

The website, launched this fall by the National Governors Association (NGA), provides a variety of resources to help policy makers improve health care access, affordability and quality.

The website features:

• Case studies of promising state-led efforts in health care policy.

• Policies that address specific health-related challenges that state officials confront.

• Federal regulations, guidance and grant opportunities that could help states develop health policies or programs.

• Lists of experts who are willing to provide additional information. 

Vermont Case Study

The NGA case study about Vermont describes the state’s Blueprint for Health, a health reform plan designed to reduce medical costs while improving population health. HIT has played a big role in helping the state meet these goals. For example:

• Clinicians can use a web-based clinical registry to create reports for specific populations of patients or to identify individual patients who need interventions or follow-up. The registry also serves as an integrated health record for primary care practices that do not use electronic health records (EHRs).

• The Vermont Health Information Exchange gives providers the ability to receive standardized lab results. Providers can “push” health data to other providers. The ability to “pull” data from other sources will be available by year’s end. 

• A multi-payer claims database helps policy makers evaluate cost outcomes associated with the Blueprint for Health.

• An analytics platform developed by the University of Vermont integrates claims, clinical and other data so researchers can analyze outcomes and performance.

NGA Website: Resources in 6 Categories

The Vermont case study is only one of many resources now available on the State Health Policy Options website. The “virtual resource center” provides health-related policy information in 6 categories:

• The Health IT section provides information that could help states improve the performance of HIT systems, support widespread EHR adoption and design effective health information exchanges.

• Planning for 2014 helps states comply with Affordable Care Act requirements, including the development of health insurance exchanges.

• Cost Containment examines state initiatives to reduce Medicaid costs while maintaining access to quality care for beneficiaries.

• Improving System Performance offers resources on evidence-based care, alternative payment strategies, care coordination and other strategies. 

• Prevention and Health Promotion provides resources on chronic disease prevention and other ways to promote health among residents.

• Workforce presents resources to help policy makers develop a robust workforce that could respond effectively to growing demands for health care.