Health Information Technology and Exchange

The health care industry has been relatively slow to digitize. Experts believe expanding the exchange of electronic health records could dramatically improve health care quality and cost savings by helping eliminate duplicated or unneeded services. With billions of dollars in new federal incentives soon available, the adoption of electronic medical records is expected to surge. KHI researchers help define the appropriate uses of private and secure data to improve health and KHI News Service journalists chronicle various HIE and HIT initiatives.

A Kansas digital health information network could launch by spring

Certification process to start this week

0 | HIE-HIT

The first digital health information network based in Kansas plans to apply for certification this week and could be operational by spring.

Policy and Research

Kansas e-Health Advisory Council

0 | Dec. 09, 2009 | HIE-HIT

The Kansas Health Institute is a member of the Kansas e-Health Advisory Council, a project of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment that is working to develop strategic plans to build a statewide infrastructure that will facilitate the exchange of health information.

HIE/HIT in Kansas

1 | Mar. 16, 2009 | HIE-HIT

This slide presentation to the e-Health Advisory Committee reviews the progress of implementing HIT/HIE in Kansas.

HISPC, Phase III: Kansas State Report

0 | Mar. 16, 2009 | HIE-HIT

The potential transformation of health care in terms of quality and cost through the use of health information technology (HIT) and health information exchange (HIE) has been, and continues to be, a high priority at both the federal and state level.

Health Information Security and Privacy Collaboration

0 | Mar. 01, 2009 | HIE-HIT

The Kansas Health Institute has been a part of this project to remove barriers to establishing effective health information exchanges.

Kansas HIE Exchange Commission Final Report

0 | Aug. 31, 2007 | HIE-HIT

This report summarizes the findings of the Kansas Health Information Exchange Commission regarding the ability to facilitate a statewide exchange of health information.

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News

KHIE board tasks new group with crafting sustainability plan

0 | Jan. 11, 2012 | HIE-HIT

The board responsible for overseeing a health information exchange in Kansas began grappling with the question of how to pay for its operations once federal funding runs out in the next year or so.

KDHE: Hospitals can now apply for Medicaid HIT payments

0 | Jan. 09, 2012 | KDHE, HIE-HIT

Kansas hospitals may begin applying for incentive payments for adopting electronic health records, officials at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment announced.

State immunization registry enrolls 114 schools, 36 providers in 2011

0 | Jan. 04, 2012 | KDHE, HIE-HIT, Immunizations

The Kansas immunization registry continues to grow. State health officials said 114 school nurses and 36 private health care providers were enrolled in 2011.

Kansas REC hits first goal for moving doctors to electronic health records

0 | Dec. 16, 2011 | Health Care Delivery, Workforce, HIE-HIT

The regional extension center created nearly two years ago to help Kansas health care providers implement electronic health records has reached its goal of signing up at least 1,200 "Priority Primary Care Providers."

Kansas hospitals face further delay on Medicaid HIT payments

1 | Dec. 16, 2011 | KDHE, HIE-HIT, Medicaid-CHIP

Kansas hospitals that have implemented electronic health records will not be able to apply for Medicaid incentive payments this year, however a federal deadline for doing so has been extended into next year. Kansas doctors and hospitals now face tight windows for applying for millions of dollars in federal bonus payments.

Nursing home administrators pan abuse hotline

0 | Jan. 31, 2012 | SRS, Legislature, Health Care Delivery

The chairman of the House Committee on Aging and Long-term Care says he's fed up with SRS' adminstration of the hotline for reporting adult abuse and exploitation.

Brownback appoints Gilmore new SRS secretary, unveils ERO

0 | Feb. 03, 2012 | KDHE, KDoA, SRS, Medicaid-CHIP

Gov. Sam Brownback today appointed former legislator Phyllis Gilmore to be secretary of the Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services, following the troubled tenure of Rob Siedlecki, who resigned in December after just a year at the post.

Dental association says new program will increase access in rural areas

0 | Feb. 02, 2012 | KDHE

A new Kansas Dental Association program aims to recruit new dentists to work in the state's "dental deserts."

Testimony favors diversion agreements for the mentally ill

0 | Feb. 01, 2012 | Legislature, Mental Health

A father whose mentally ill son has had several encounters with police testified in favor of a bill that would create a legal framework so that low-level offenders who are mentally ill could get treatment in lieu of jail time.

Wichita lawmaker introduces KanCare oversight bill

0 | Feb. 01, 2012 | Legislature, Medicaid-CHIP

A Wichita lawmaker has introduced a bill that would require an annual evaluation of the state's Medicaid managed care contractors.

Blue Cross Kansas not bidding on KanCare proposal

0 | Feb. 01, 2012 | Insurance, Medicaid-CHIP

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas has notified doctors and other providers that company officials have decided against bidding on Gov. Sam Brownback's KanCare proposal. "It would have required us to dramatically change our business model to serve new populations in different settings in less than a year," a Blue Cross official wrote. "We decided that we could not responsibly commit to so great a change at this time."

Video: Community Water Fluoridation

3 | Jun. 22, 2011 | About KHI

In this video, KHI senior analyst Tatiana Lin discusses community water fluoridation from a public health perspective.

SRS defends change in food stamp policy

1 | Jan. 30, 2012 | Children, SRS, Legislature, Nutrition

A top official at the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services defended a change in policy that has resulted in at least 1,000 children being dropped from the state’s food stamp program.

Governor hints at money targeted for waiting-list problem

1 | Jan. 20, 2012 | Government, Medicaid-CHIP

Gov. Sam Brownback on Friday hinted that his administration might use a portion of the revenues gained from his proposed elimination of the state’s earned income tax credit to help reduce long-standing waiting lists for services for the disabled.

Bill would take developmentally disabled services out of Medicaid makeover plan

1 | Jan. 20, 2012 | Legislature

A Wichita lawmaker has introduced a bill that would remove long-term care services for the developmentally disabled from the governor's plan to expand Medicaid managed care.

Cuts in mental health funding affect veterans

1 | Jan. 17, 2012 | Legislature, Mental Health

Recent cuts in community mental health center budgets are harming veterans and their families, according to a center director.

Brownback tax plan would harm poor families, advocates say

1 | Jan. 12, 2012 | Budget, Legislature

Advocates for poor and low-income families say Gov. Sam Brownback’s plan to eliminate the state’s earned income tax credit would hurt those that administration officials say it’s meant to help.

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