THE DELAWARE HEALTH INFORMATION NETWORK (DHIN)
The DHIN was created in July 1997 as a public instrumentality of the state to advance the creation of a statewide health information and electronic data interchange network for public and private use. It functions under the direction and control of the Health Care Commission. It addresses Delaware's needs for timely, reliable and relevant health care information.
A statewide health information network such as is envisioned by this legislation would coordinate public and private efforts related to the collection, exchange, analysis and dissemination of access, cost, and quality utilization and other performance data. This can be used to reduce costs, stimulate competition based on quality, improve access and help determine the most appropriate ways to target resources.
The Delaware Health Care Commission in 1998 moved the Delaware Health Information Network from conceptual idea to reality. Building on the 1997 legislation which enabled the DHIN's creation, the Commission impaneled a DHIN Board of Directors which elected officers, established standing committees and adopted a mission statement. The DHIN Technology Committee will help the Board facilitate the development of uniform standards for the electronic interchange of health information and assist with the compatibility of technology. The Policy and Procedures Committee will assist with the development of guidelines and the promulgation of regulations governing the manner that the DHIN conducts business. In addition, this committee will address issues pertaining to the privacy and confidentiality concerns of health information.
Reflecting the breadth of the DHIN's importance, the mission of the DHIN as adopted by the Board is as follows: "To facilitate the design and implementation of an integrated, statewide health data system to support the information needs of consumers, health plans, policymakers, providers, purchasers and research to improve the quality and efficiency of health care services in Delaware."
Working with the Technology Committee, the DHIN drafted a "Plan of Study" which is designed to yield an initial strategic plan for development and implementation of an electronic data interchange network for public and private use. As a first step, the plan called for assessing existing health information, by examining both state and national efforts, and determining their compatibility. The second step is to determine what additional data or information is needed. A key challenge in accomplishing this task will be determining the questions that the information should answer. This will be necessary to determine additional data needed and avoid unnecessary data collection or analysis.
Through the Policy and Procedures Committee, the DHIN drafted regulations to address the duties of officers of the Board, terms of office, establishment and powers of an executive committee, meeting notice publications, public access to records regarding DHIN activities as well as health data and health information of the DHIN, conflicts of interest and resolution of disputes among Board members.
The DHIN in 1998 also adopted the following tasks for the organization, agreeing that the short-term and long-term tasks can be tackled simultaneously. The DHIN also recognized the short-term activities related to electronic transactions among payers and providers will help provide the infrastructure necessary to carry out the long-term goals.
Short-term goals of the DHIN should be limited to and focused on tasks which can be accomplished with relative ease, will establish trust and result in early success. Specifically, the DHIN should promote the use of electronic data interchange to enable providers to electronically exchange the following information, which for the most part is currently moved via paper transactions:
- Query eligibility of covered benefits, i.e. co-pays and deductibles.
- Send and receive referral authorizations for approval and routing to specialty providers.
- Submit electronic claims.
- Receive electronic payment vouchers.
- Receive electronic mail, such as capitation lists and other notices.
- Send claims inquiries and receive responses.
In accomplishing these tasks, the DHIN agreed to promote the use of uniform transmission standards, keeping in mind that national standards are under development, and in some cases already exist, and that "re-inventing the wheel" should be avoided.
Long-term concept goals relate to research and policymaking activities, and include, but are not limited to, having the information needed to:
- Identify and understand health care problems.
- Measure and understand changes in health status.
- Develop a more competitive and consumer-oriented health care marketplace, within which value can be gauged in terms of cost, quality and access.
- Analyze comparative information on health status and socioeconomic indicators.
- Utilize national regional and "best practice" benchmarks.
- Make comparisons between actual circumstances and ideal situations.
DHIN Board of Directors
Chair
Robert J. White*
Delaware Health Care Commission
Vice-Chair
Edward
Ratledge*
Delaware Health Care Commission
Secretary
William
E. Kirk, III, Esq.*
Delaware Health Care Commission
Board Members
Meaghan Brennan
Delaware Office of Management and Budget
Terry Feinour
Delaware Healthcare Association
Stephen Groff
Delaware Health & Social Services
Joann Hasse*
Delaware Health Care Commission
A. Richard Heffron*
Delaware State Chamber of Commerce
Steve Hess*
Delaware Healthcare Association
Thomas Jarrett
Delaware Department of Information & Technology
Michael S. Katz, MD
Medical Society of Delaware
Mark Meister*
Medical Society of Delaware
Linda Nemes
Delaware Department of Insurance
Scott C. Reynolds
Delaware Health Care Commission
Paul Silverman, Dr.P.H.
Delaware Division of Public Health
Robert J. Varipapa, MD
Medical Society of Delaware
Barbara Vugrinec
Delaware Healthcare Association
* Denotes Executive Committee Member
