eHealth Exchange Announces Public Health Data Sharing Incentives

eHealth Exchange is launching an incentive program to drive public health data sharing across its health information exchange (HIE) network.

eHealth Exchange will waive annual fees for three years for the first five HIEs or state and local public health agencies that agree by April 30 to exchange clinical data for an agreed-upon public health use case.

Stakeholders in the incentive program can exchange clinical data through eHealth Exchange, as well as ONC’s Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA).

“We have many network members engaged with public health today, but we need early adopters for the TEFCA public health use cases to support the realization of the full potential value of the nascent, federally endorsed framework,” said Jay Nakashima, executive director of eHealth Exchange.

“Based on our current members’ extensive experience, we know electronic health data exchange can make a significant impact on electronic case reporting and public health tracking,” Nakashima added. “By providing financial incentives to current and prospective members, we will help speed further adoption of vital public health data interoperability across the entire healthcare community.”

To be eligible for the incentive program, the HIE or state or local public health agency must meet these three criteria:

• Commit by April 30 to exchanging clinical data for an agreed-upon public health use case via eHealth Exchange.
• Begin testing by June 30.
• Go live in production for public health data exchange with other eHealth Exchange participants or TEFCA Qualified Health Information Networks (QHINs) by December 30.

As a recently Designated QHIN, eHealth Exchange is looking to drive public health use cases and participation under TEFCA through the incentive program.

“We look forward to pushing innovation onward as this program will benefit not only the early adopter participants, but will advance public health and better patient outcomes,” Nakashima said.