Minnesota received $9.6 million in federal stimulus money to establish a state HIE. The Community Health Information Collaboration operated an HIE based in Duluth and serving northeast and north central parts of the state, as well as parts of Wisconsin, North Dakota and South Dakota.
The Minnesota Health Information Exchange served the Minneapolis-St. Paul Twin Cities region. The HIEs, while waiting for a request for proposals from the state government, decided it was better to consolidate, says Cheryl Stephens, president and CEO of CHIC.
CHIC served as a pilot site using Nationwide Health Information Network protocols for data exchange. It also works with the Social Security Administration to electronically transmit disability determinations, and works with the Veterans Administration to share patient data with private providers.
Under the merger, CHIC became the surviving legal entity, called HIE-Bridge. It presently serves 10 hospitals, 50 clinics, three federally qualified health centers and two long-term care facilities.
Transactions available under HIE-Bridge, which remains in its early stages of development, include clinical summaries, immunization information, prescription medication histories and eligibility information. More information is available at hiebridge.org.
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