Report: RHIOs need governance, technical standards

A new AHIMA report examining how RHIOs and HIEs are run has concluded that the industry sorely needs technical and governance standards--and a fair amount of direct state guidance and support--to move ahead effectively.

The report, which was funded by a contract with HHS's Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, suggests that efforts to make HIEs work should be rooted in the political and financial culture of the states involved.

It suggests that each state should create a single public-private entity that manages HIE efforts; that each state should provide a single point of leadership who can go to bat for the HIEs within government; and that states should work with HIEs to foster interoperability standards.

To learn more about the report:
- read this Health Data Management piece
- read the preliminary report

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