2. The “Problem” of Behavioral Health
Information Exchange
• Physical Health Focus of the Industry
• Privacy Laws and Regulations – Mental Health Code
and 42 C.F.R. Part 2
• Party-Specific Consents
• Redisclosure
• Expiration
• The “Risk of Being Wrong”
• Engaging Stakeholders
• Software Vendors
3. The Real Problem
• Integration of Behavioral Health and Physical Health is
really, really important!
• Behavioral Health and Substance Use Disorders affect
Physical Health outcomes, and vice versa
• High Utilizers
• Increased Rate of Inpatient Readmission
• Decreased Mortality Age
HIE Must Support Integrated Health Initiatives
4. Why not just change the laws?
• Privacy laws and regulations
aren’t just annoying hurdles
to overcome.
• We must serve the
healthcare consumer
• The laws have a purpose
• Stigma
• Fear of disclosure and
dissemination
• There’s no time.
5. Behavioral Health VQO Solution
• Engagement from Two Levels
• Grassroots
• Top-Down
• Establishment of the Virtual Qualified Organization
(VQO) for Behavioral Health Exchange
• Consent Management Platform serves as a buffer
between Physical Health and Behavioral Health
communities
• Balance of technology, legal, business process, and
customer service
8. Technologies in Use
• Industry Standards (where possible)
• Service-Oriented-Architecture / SOAP Web Services
• HL7 Transactions
• NwIN Standards / IHE Profiles using CONNECT 4.1
• Available Data:
Laboratory Test Results
Medication List
Diagnosis List / Problem List
Allergies and Adverse Reactions
Vital Signs
Treatment Plan (IPOS)
Clinical Documents (PDF and/or
structured)
CCR / CCD / CDA
Appointments / Schedule
Care Team / Secure
Messaging
Staff Service Activity Log
Demographics (MDCH QI)
Insurance Information
Admissions
Consents
9. Current Projects
• MiHIN CCD Gateway Pilot
• MiHIN (Nitor), NorthCare Network (PCE), and
UPHIE (ICA)
• Policy Recommendation Workgroup
• Metro-Region Integrated Care Collaboration
• Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne County CMH Boards
+ Medicaid Health Plans
• Washtenaw Community Health Organization Integrated
Care projects
• Other BH-to-BH Projects
