By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    improving patient experience
    6 Ways to Improve Patient Satisfaction Within Hospitals
    December 1, 2021
    degree for healthcare job
    What Are The Health Benefits Of Having A Degree?
    March 9, 2022
    custom software development is changing healthcare
    Digital Customer Journey Mapping and its Importance for Healthcare
    July 21, 2022
    Latest News
    6 Easy Healthcare Ways to Sit Less and Move More Every Day
    September 10, 2025
    7 Most Common Healthcare Accreditation Programs: Which Should You Use?
    August 20, 2025
    Hospital Pest Control and the Fight Against Superbugs
    August 20, 2025
    Hygiene Beyond The Clinic: Attention To Overlooked Non-Clinical Spaces
    August 13, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Feinberg’s Simulation-Based Training Program Wins Innovations Challenge
    November 16, 2012
    ACA Delays
    Top 8 ACA Delays: Blatantly Illegal or Temporary Courses of Action?
    July 7, 2014
    Vegetarina Dental Concerns Marielaina Perrone DDS
    Oral Health Concerns For Vegetarians
    February 14, 2013
    Latest News
    Healthcare at a Crossroads: Why Leadership Matters More Than Ever
    September 9, 2025
    How Social Security Disability Shapes Access to Care and Everyday Health
    August 22, 2025
    How a DUI Lawyer Can Help When Your Future Health Feels Uncertain
    August 22, 2025
    How One Fall Can Lead to a Long Road of Medical Complications
    August 22, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: GAO Report on Health Information Exchange Focuses on Standards
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Policy & Law > Health Reform > GAO Report on Health Information Exchange Focuses on Standards
BusinessHealth ReformMedical RecordsPolicy & LawPublic Health

GAO Report on Health Information Exchange Focuses on Standards

Chad Johnson
Chad Johnson
Share
7 Min Read
gao report on standards healthcare
SHARE

gao report on standards healthcareLast week the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report for Congressional Committees titled, “HHS Strategy to Address Information Exchange Challenges Lacks Specific Prioritized Actions and Milestones.”

gao report on standards healthcareLast week the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report for Congressional Committees titled, “HHS Strategy to Address Information Exchange Challenges Lacks Specific Prioritized Actions and Milestones.”

The 44-page report highlights for Congress some of the known problems that exist for many HIE organizations: standards, privacy, patient matching, and costs. The standards challenges portion of the GAO report listed five different issues respondents identified as areas of concern.

Issue 1: “HHS officials told us that the extent to which the standards will lead to widespread improvements in electronic health information exchange will remain unclear until a larger number of providers begin using technology that is certified to the standards.” (CCD and Direct Project are the standards the statement references.)

More Read

Biohazard incidents
Responding To Biohazard Incidents: Best Practices
Should Physicians Profile Our Patients?
Mobile Health Around the Globe: eMocha Delivers Knowledge at the Point of Care
How One Woman May Die Because of ObamaCare
Cleveland Clinic Offering Global Care Air Rescue and Evacuation Services Program For an Annual Fee

Issue 2. Providers voiced concerns that CCD/Direct standards are too narrow. They want data standards that make all EHR data interoperable and more advanced communication methods to choose from other than Direct.

Issue 3. CCD doesn’t include the ability to exchange more detailed clinical info, such as patient narratives.

Issue 4. Standards regarding allergies are insufficient.

Issue 5. Direct allows for limited exchange, such as exchanging a secure email.

These HIE issues are well known and documented for those in health IT, but Congress’ only exposure to the challenges of health data interoperability was likely provided by The Daily Show’s segment (starting at the 4:30 mark) on the government’s two EHR systems, AHLTA and VistA. So it’s reasonable that a GAO overview of general HIE challenges is due. After all, Congress did approve the funds that led to the creation of a majority of state HIE organizations.

I had two general impressions about the standards complaints discussed in the report section.

First, the report spends a great deal of space focusing squarely on the EHR applications, stating that many do not use standards that make data exchange possible, or at least easier. The report states that a majority these complaints have been addressed and likely will see resolution in the future now that all providers will soon be using a 2014-certified EHR, which includes defined standards CCD (data) and Direct Project (transport/communication), if they plan to attest for Meaningful Use.

But what about the HIE organizations? Are they also ready to use standards designated in Meaningful Use?

Just last month, we released a HIMSS Analytics report on health data interoperability that told the story of a provider unable to send CCD documents to their state HIE organization because it is not yet able to accept them. The CIO said, “The state cannot do anything with this information, yet it’s a requirement of meaningful use that we exchange them. …Instead of buying an MRI, we are going to have to spend money on something that is not going to be used because we have to check off a box [under meaningful use criteria.]”

So, there are ONC-funded state HIEs that do not use ONC-mandated health data exchange standards.* Is it unreasonable to think that the ONC’s HIE initiative and the standards it defined for data exchange in Meaningful Use be aligned?

Second thought, respondents in the report place too much emphasis on the ONC’s guidance for interoperability. The report paints providers as completely dependent on the government for direction.

Meaningful use criteria are indeed shaping the industry and modernizing how health data is used, but the criteria isn’t a paint-by-numbers instruction manual. IT departments should not feel reliant on or handcuffed by the ONC. There is still plenty of room for IT leaders to set ambitious, innovative goals that help create a competitive advantage through data exchange. This is technology after all.

Direct Project, for example, is the “minimum threshold” for data exchange and is appealing because of its ease of use and accessibility for providers of all sizes, not because it is the most interoperable method of data exchange.

There is still plenty of room for innovation in Meaningful Use. We frequently hear from providers who are successfully using query-based web services for highly interoperable data exchange outside the four walls of their organization. IHE integration profiles have been defined for SOAP-based data exchange. As John Moehrke said, providers can “Go simple with Direct, or add value with other IHE Document Sharing Profiles. The good news is that security is already baked in.”

Healthcare providers are working diligently to incorporate interoperability solutions for their business operations, both internally and externally, and also are making strides to attest for Meaningful Use. Providers, for the most part, have the means ($) and the motivation to make a more interoperable health system, so odds are good that they will meet their goals.

HIE organizations, on the other hand, do not have the same advantages. Government grants helped HIEs get started and establish the needed IT architecture for exchange, but the complexity of CCD and CDA (HL7 v3) are real hurdles. The lack of trained staff and available budget make it very difficult to align the multiple stakeholders that are needed for future financial sustainability. It will be interesting to see how the HIE marketplace unfolds.

 

*The ONC’s State Health Information Exchange Cooperative Agreement Program has provided funding for 56 states, eligible territories, and qualified State Designated Entities since March 2010.

* While the GAO report mentions CCD, Meaningful Use Stage 2 requirements designated the Summary of Care Consolidated CDA as a requirement for exchange of patient data. CCD is part of the Consolidated CDA family of documents.

(GAO report / shutterstock)

TAGGED:HIEinteroperabilitymeaningful use
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

a woman walking on the hallway
6 Easy Healthcare Ways to Sit Less and Move More Every Day
Health
September 9, 2025
Clinical Expertise
Healthcare at a Crossroads: Why Leadership Matters More Than Ever
Global Healthcare
September 9, 2025
travel nurse in north carolina
Balancing Speed and Scope: Choosing the Nursing Degree That Fits Your Goals
Nursing
September 1, 2025
intimacy
How to Keep Intimacy Comfortable as You Age
Relationship and Lifestyle Senior Care
September 1, 2025

You Might also Like

A High Price for Rare Cancer Drugs

August 31, 2011

Getting Value from Technology in Healthcare Is All about People

November 6, 2014
Organic Pharmacies
Health carePublic Health

What Is An Apothecary? A Quick History Of Organic Pharmacies

September 14, 2018

High Levels of Physical Activity Could Reduce Silent Stroke Risk

July 24, 2011
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?