The Wisconsin Relay for Electronic Data for Health, also known as WIRED for Health,
submitted its plan (PDF) to HHS for a statewide electronic health information-exchange network, and it includes a suggested framework for the governance and financing of the network, the services it would provide and the technical architecture it would require.
A
draft had been submitted in July. The state is receiving $9.4 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 stimulus money to pay for developing and implementing the plan. According to a state news release, Wisconsin providers are expected to receive between $500 million and $800 million in stimulus-law funds to help subsidize their purchase of electronic health-record systems.
The plan states three goals for the health-information exchange:
- By 2016, all ambulatory-care providers and hospitals will have and use nationally certified EHRs;
- By 2020, all healthcare consumers, providers and public health agencies will have access to nationally certified EHR systems and health IT; and
- By 2020, most patients, healthcare providers and public health agencies will use EHRs and the health information exchange to improve outcomes related to the effectiveness, quality, efficiency and safety of healthcare and population health services.
