lect one or more vendors in the fall. The state shared services will support con- nectivity among Texas local HIEs and to NHIN next year.
HIE connectivity Mr. Gilman says Texas HIEs are at a criti- cal juncture of moving from planning to implementation.
Sixteen community-based HIEs re-
ceived federal funding in 2011 through the local HIE grant program. Only 12 continued into the implementation phase this year, and they plan to connect about 86 percent of all active physicians in Texas. (See “THSA-funded HIEs,” op- posite page)
“The operational status of each HIE differs, but almost all of them have se- lected an HIE technology partner that allows them to move forward with im- plementation of data exchange services,” Mr. Gilman said.
Additional information on the HIEs
funded by HHSC is available online,
http://hietexas.org/local-hies/hie-pro files-and-business-plans.
A majority of publicly funded HIEs now offer Direct Secure Messaging ser- vices that support exchange of informa- tion, including clinical summaries and lab results. Mr. Gilman explains Direct Secure
Messaging is promoted in Texas’ white space, a term referring to the areas of the state without local and regional HIE activity. A list of counties that make up the Texas white space region is available online,
http://hietexas.org/white-space/ additional-white-space-information. He says Direct Secure Messaging re-
quires physicians simply to have Internet access; they don’t have to purchase new hardware or sign a long-term contract. The email messages and attachments are encrypted for security and privacy, as well. Mr. Gilman explains Direct Secure Messaging uses a “push-based” method of exchange that functions much like email with additional layers of security. “Through ‘push-based’ HIE, physicians can securely and actively send clinical information to others, enabling deliv- ery of lab results or delivery of a clinical summary upon referral to a specialist or a hospital,” he said.
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THSA chose qualified health informa-
tion service providers (HISPs) in January to support white space HIE connectivity through Direct Secure Messaging. Phy- sicians are eligible for a $400 voucher paid to the HISP they select to offset their initial connectivity costs, Mr. Gil- man says. “Although THSA has issued eight voucher numbers, no voucher payments have been made at this time. THSA’s qualified HISPs, physicians, hospitals, and others report various factors that may be hindering adoption, including lack of familiarity with HIE, HISPs, and the voucher program; lack of knowledge of federal meaningful use requirements; not wanting to be a first adopter; and not understanding the value of adopting Direct-based secure messaging services,” he said. THSA worked on marketing and out- reach efforts in conjunction with TMA,
the Texas Hospital Association, the re- gional extension centers, the Texas Or- ganization of Rural & Community Hospi- tals, and county medical societies to get physicians in the white space connected. In coordination with TMA, THSA also conducted conference calls with medi- cal societies in the white space area and is working on a direct mail campaign to further promote the program. Mr. Gilman encourages physicians
in Texas’ white space to take advantage of the Direct Secure Messaging vouch- er program because once the $400 in voucher funds run out, they have to pay for the services. Physicians practicing in the white space can request a voucher number online by visiting http://hietex
as.org/white-space/voucher-requests. Pricing for HISPs is available online at
http://HIEtexas.org. Click on the White Space tab to access the HISPs’ pro- file sheets with pricing.
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October 2012 TEXAS MEDICINE 47
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