Executive Order 95 (2009)

Establishing the Health Information Technology Advisory Commission

Importance of the Issue

Building and improving our health information technology infrastructure is critical to providing quality health care. As the complexity of our health care system continues to grow, health care providers must leverage information technology to improve patient safety and health outcomes. It is critical that Virginia health care providers employ health information technology to provide the best care for patients. Improving health care technology infrastructure offers the potential for both improving the quality and safety of patient care and helping control costs.

To that end the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 established state grants to promote health information technology and specifically Health Information Exchange. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT has created two collaborative programs: State Health Information Exchange Cooperative Agreement Program and Health Information Technology Extension Program.

The purpose of the Health Information Exchange (HIE) program is to continuously improve and expand health information exchange services over time and reach all health care providers in an effort to improve the quality and efficiency of health care. The program will build off of existing efforts to advance regional and state level HIE while moving towards nationwide interoperability. The purpose of the Regional Centers is to furnish assistance, defined as education, outreach, and technical assistance to help providers in their geographic service areas select, successfully implement, and meaningfully use certified EHR technology to improve the quality and value of health care.

Establishing the Office of Health IT

By virtue of the authority vested in me as Governor under Article V of the Constitution of Virginia and under the laws of the Commonwealth, including but not limited to Section 2.2.-104 of the Code of Virginia, and subject always to my continuing and ultimate authority and responsibility to act in such matters, I hereby direct the Virginia Department of Health to serve as the Commonwealth’s Health Information Technology Lead through an Office of Health IT. The Office will consist of a director appointed by the Secretary of Health and Human Resources in consultation with the Commissioner of Health and additional professionals as the Secretary shall determine.

The director shall have the following responsibilities:

1.  Serve as the Commonwealth’s Health IT Lead to fulfill the responsibilities outlined in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).

2.  Support the work of the Governor’s Health Information Technology Advisory Commission.

3.  Facilitate collaboration between the Commission and all appropriate stakeholders.

4.  Ensure broadband and telemedicine initiatives are integrated into the Commission’s planning and implementation process

5.  Ensure VDH Health IT projects including the Advanced Directive Registry, the Immunization Registry, as well as any future Electronic Medical Record initiatives are appropriately aligned with the Commission’s planning and aligned with ARRA-funded projects.

Establishing the Commission

By virtue of the authority vested in me as Governor under Article V of the Constitution of Virginia and under the laws of the Commonwealth, including but not limited to Section 2.2.-134 of the Code of Virginia, and subject always to my continuing and ultimate authority and responsibility to act in such matters, I hereby establish the Governor’s Health Information Technology Advisory Commission.

The Commission shall have the following responsibilities:

1.  Encourage public-private partnerships to increase adoption of electronic medical records for physicians in the Commonwealth.

2.  Provide healthcare stakeholder input to build trust in and support for a statewide approach to HIE.

3.  Ensure that an effective model for HIE governance and accountability is in place.

4.  Examine and definean integrated approach with the Department of Medical Assistance Services and the Virginia Department of Health to enable information exchange and support monitoring of provider participation in HIE as required to qualify for Medicaid meaningful use incentives.

5.  Develop and/or update privacy and security requirements for HIE within and across state borders.

6.  Encourage and integrate the proliferation of telemedicine activities to support the Virginia healthcare improvement goals.

7.  Monitor and support the activities of any Regional Extension Centers awarded in the Commonwealth.

8.  Examine other health related issues as appropriate.

The Secretary of Health and Human Resources will chair the Commission and will be responsible for convening the Commission. The Commission shall consist of members appointed by the chair in consultation with the Secretary of Technology and representing broad stakeholder engagement in health information technology and exchange.

The Commission shall meet at the call of the chair to oversee the responsibilities as outlined above. Members of the Commission shall serve without compensation.

Staff support shall be provided through the Secretary of Health and Human Resources. Staff support from other agencies will be made available as the Secretary shall designate.

This Executive Order shall be effective upon its signing and shall remain in full force and effect, unless sooner amended or rescinded by further executive order.

Given under my hand and under the Seal of the Commonwealth of Virginia this 9th day of October 2009.
 

/s/ Timothy M. Kaine, Governor

Attest:

/s/ Secretary of the Commonwealth