MX April Newsletter
A monthly roundup of news and updates from MX
April 2023 Edition
Data Sharing Agreement (DSA): State Highlights Upcoming Grants and Policy Decisions
The CalHHS Center for Data Insights and Innovation (CDII) devoted the April installment of its “Information is Power” webinar series to the imminent launch of the DSA Signatory Grant Program. CDII will make available up to $47 million in state funds to support investments that healthcare entities may need to achieve their Data Exchange Framework (DxF) requirements, including onboarding to a qualified health information organization (QHIO). Manifest MedEx will provide educational activities and resources to help DSA signatories access this critical funding opportunity, which opens in May.
At the April 24 DxF advisory committee meeting, CDII announced that despite “significant…stakeholder support for facilitating exchange by requiring hospitals and EDs to share [ADT] notifications with [at least one] QHIO,” the center has determined not to pursue this requirement at this time. Physician groups, clinics, and health plans voiced their disappointment with this decision, which perpetuates the status quo for small and independent practices that are in most need of, but least able to receive, ADT alerts for their patients.
In addition, Manifest MedEx pointed out the significant burdens that will likely fall upon hospitals unwilling to share ADTs with at least one QHIO. Because CDII still plans to require hospitals to send ADTs to any authorized DSA signatory that requests these notifications, those facilities stand to be inundated with ADT requests for millions of patients across thousands of panels. This is an unworkable situation in stark contrast to using a QHIO that can securely and efficiently manage, attribute, and route a daily statewide volume of ADTs to the appropriate care teams.
Regardless of the final policy outcome, Manifest MedEx is committed to becoming a QHIO, to help participants comply with and benefit from the DxF by sharing real-time health information through our network. CDII has posted draft versions of the QHIO Program application and associated policy for public comment by May 15.
Check out our new resource center to stay updated on the Data Exchange Framework, Data Sharing Agreement, policy updates, and upcoming events!
The Role of Admission, Discharge, Transfer (ADT) Notifications
in Improving Care Coordination
Optum, formerly NAMM California, is an independent physician association (IPA) that develops and manages provider networks, representing a network of more than 600 primary care providers and 2,000 specialists in Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego Counties.
In August 2022, Optum’s case management team launched a pilot focused on Transitions of Care to improve post discharge follow-up and reduce 30-Day Emergency Department (ED) bounce backs and inpatient readmissions. The goal was to increase the outreach rate to high-risk patients while also reducing readmission rates. To achieve this, Optum joined Manifest MedEx with a goal of reducing the rate of utilization by utilizing MX’s real-time admission, discharge, and transfer (ADT) notifications and longitudinal patient medical records.
Read the full case study to learn how IPAs like Optum can integrate MX tools into their workflow to improve care coordination and reduce ED and inpatient readmissions.
MX Welcomes New Board Members
Manifest MedEx is committed to providing every healthcare organization in California with the information they need to improve care, enhance health, and lower costs. To support these goals, MX welcomes Dr. J. Marc Overhage, Chief Health Information Officer, Elevance Health to our Board of Directors.
Marc is responsible for the design, development, and execution of Elevance Health's strategic vision, policy, and planning related to health information technology (HIT) in ways that optimize operational efficiency and clinical outcomes. In his 35 years of experience, Marc's work focuses on developing, deploying, and evaluating clinical information systems, emphasizing clinical decision support and health information exchange.
Marc joins an MX board that includes new members Kerry Heinrich, President and Chief Executive Officer, Adventist Health, and Peter Long, Ph.D., Executive Vice President of Strategy and Health Solutions, Blue Shield of California who both joined in 2022.
Kerry and Peter are leaders in community health and healthcare transformation. Kerry Heinrich serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Adventist Health. He joined the Adventist Health Board of Directors in 2014 and was appointed System President and CEO effective Jan. 1, 2022. He came to Adventist Health from Loma Linda University Medical Center as CEO and Administrator of Loma Linda University Children's Hospital and the Behavioral Medicine Center. Mr. Heinrich provided strategic leadership and oversight of the day-to-day operations of the six hospitals that together form Loma Linda University Medical Center. In addition, he served as Executive Vice President for Hospital Affairs of Loma Linda University Health. Mr. Heinrich received his bachelor’s degree in history and a minor in business with an emphasis in finance and management from Walla Walla University in Washington.
Peter Long is executive vice president, strategy and health solutions, at Blue Shield of California. He leads collaborations with healthcare providers, community leaders, and other stakeholders to design innovative clinical and community programs, healthcare delivery, and payment systems that provide all Californians access to value-based, high-quality, and affordable care. Previously, Peter was president and chief executive officer of Blue Shield of California Foundation, where he focused on building lasting and equitable solutions to make California the healthiest state and to end domestic violence.
As MX continues to accelerate data sharing across the state, we are thrilled to have Marc, Peter, and Kerry on our board! Their collective expertise and leadership in community health and healthcare transformation propel MX’s mission to advance data sharing that enhances health, improves care, and lowers cost across the state.
MX Welcomes New Participant!
Manifest MedEx is excited to announce that Central Health Medicare Plan is joining our ever-growing network. Central Health Medicare Plan is a Medicare Advantage Plan that was founded in 2004 by local physicians determined to provide better health solutions to the culturally diverse communities they served. Central Health Medicare Plan provides service in 11 counties in California, with more than 6,000 contracted physicians and other providers of care.
MX looks forward to this new partnership as we collaborate towards closing health equity gaps and improving patient care throughout the state of California.
MX Launches County Workgroups
Last month, Manifest MedEx kicked off our inaugural County Workgroup, open to all counties participating in the MX network. This bi-monthly forum is a collaborative space for counties to innovate on the evolution of MX's services against the backdrop of rapidly changing policies and procedures, where data interoperability and integration is key to improving health equity.
The County Workgroup will support a positive and participatory MX county community, provide a forum for feedback, guidance, recommendations on MX county services, and serve as a conduit for input between county participants, MX leadership and stakeholders.
The MX County Workgroup meetings take place bi-monthly, on the fourth Friday at 11 AM. The next meeting will be held on May 26, and we encourage all participating counties to attend. If you would like to receive the meeting invitation for next month or have any questions about the County Workgroup, please email Abby Chavez at abby.chavez@manifestmedex.org.
News and Events
As California transforms health data exchange across the state through the Data Exchange Framework, the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA) published by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) is transforming the health care ecosystem nationwide. TEFCA, also referred to as “the Common Agreement,” is a governance framework to enable health data sharing among health information networks/health information exchanges, providers, health plans, individuals, and other entities to establish a universal floor for interoperability across the country. Its main goal is to develop uniform policies and technical requirements for data sharing to ensure that all participants can access real-time interoperable health information.
Listen to the full podcast with Erica Galvez, Chief Executive Officer, Manifest MedEx; Jay Nakashima, Executive Director of eHealth Exchange; and Nichole Sweeney, General Counsel and Chief Privacy Officer of CRISP Shared Services as they each share their experiences in the health information exchange industry and their expectations of TEFCA.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CEO of Manifest MedEx Talks Need for Seamlessly Connected ADT Network in California
As California works towards transforming health care through the seamless sharing of health data through the Data Exchange Framework, now is the time invest in strengthening CA's health data safety net by ensuring Admission, Discharge, and Transfer (ADT) notifications get to the providers and care teams who need them.
“I have yet to meet a provider who does not want to know when their patients are in the hospital. They want to take good care of their patients, and without this kind of notification structure, they have zero visibility—unless they’re part of a large health system where they’re owned and operated by that health system, and they’re part of the technology that runs within the hospital. If they don’t have that, they don’t have visibility.”
Read the full State of Reform interview with Manifest MedEx, CEO, Erica Galvez here as she highlights the need for an ADT network for providers and care teams to receive ADTs from across the state.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Five of the Nation’s Leading Health Data Organizations Launch Health Data Utility Maturity Model
As a member of The Consortium for State and Regional Interoperability, a collection of the nation’s largest and most robust nonprofit health data organizations, Manifest MedEx is excited announce the release of the CSRI Health Data Utility Maturity Model to address the most pressing health and public health challenges facing states across the country.
The CSRI Health Data Utility Maturity Model provides a blueprint for states and the health data organizations within those states to clarify, advance, and apply the health data utility concept. The maturity model includes a robust tiered model of the characteristics and services of a health data utility and the private and public segments it serves, offering a starting point to help health care, health data, and government leaders identify assets and gaps in their respective states.
Read the full press release here.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CAHP Seminar: Improving Health Care Data Sharing and Exchange
Manifest MedEx is proud to sponsor the California Association of Health Plans' seminar on "Improving Health Care Data Sharing and Exchange" on May 17th! Join a conversation on how improving health data exchange, interoperability, and integration can positively impact health outcomes for members.
Stop by and say hello to Manifest MedEx's Director of Policy, Felix Su, and Director of Sales, Brian Mattson. You'll find them at our sponsor table!
Register here for more information.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CMA Health IT Conference, "Health IT: Powering Value-Based Care"
Join Manifest MedEx CEO, Erica Galvez, on May 22nd at 1:45 pm PT as she serves as a panelist in the Data Exchange breakout session at the California Medical Association's first annual health IT conference, themed "Health IT: Powering Value-Based Care."
The CMA Health IT Conference will bring together a diverse set of thought leaders from across California and the nation to explore the intersection of technology and payment reform as it relates to positively impacting how care is delivered in this state.
Register here to save your seat!
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2023 Northern California State of Reform Health Policy Conference
Mark your calendars for May 23rd where Manifest MedEx's Vice President of Public Policy & Partnerships, Mimi Hall, will join public health and health data experts in the Interoperability & Data Exchange Town Hall at the 2023 Northern California State of Reform Health Policy Conference.
Register here for more information.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Mimi Hall, Vice President of Public Policy & Partnerships, will present on "Advancing a Health Data Safety Net Starting with ADT Notifications" session at the 2023 WEDI Annual Spring Conference, on May 24th, where she will discuss how some of the most simple pieces of data – like ADT notifications – can streamline care coordination, reduce costly readmissions, and most importantly ‒ improve outcomes for all patients.
Save the date and register here for more information!
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
APG Annual Spring Conference 2023: Going The Distance
Erica Galvez, CEO, Manifest MedEx will join Camey Christenson, Chief Business Development Officer at 211/CIE San Diego; Timi Leslie, President at Bluepath Health and leader, Connecting For Better Health; and Larry Carlos, Senior Client Executive at Gainwell Technologies, on a panel titled "California’s Data Exchange Framework Mandate: Definition, Infrastructure, and Compliance" at the American Physician's Group 2023 Annual Spring Conference.
Register here to save your seat and gain insight on the definition of a data exchange framework, the goals of these frameworks, the status of the DxF in California, the information physician groups will be required to exchange starting in January 2024, the impact of ADT notifications, and the infrastructure physician groups will need to leverage to comply with DxF requirements.
Network Growth
New data sources available on MX today:
CCDAs from the following 5 participants:
Arthur E. Jimenez, M.D., Inc. (2 locations)
Chorng Lii Hwang, M.D.
Hedyeh M. Golshan, M.D. And Associates, Inc.
New Hope Medical Group, A Professional Corporation
Lab data from the following 25 participants:
Arrae Health (2 locations)
Arvind Salwan, M.D., P.C. (2 locations)
Bear Valley Community Healthcare District
JRP Medical Group, Inc.
Los Angeles Christian Health Centers (9 locations)
Neighborhood Healthcare (3 locations)
OCHIN, Inc.
Pomona Community Health Center
Premium Care Clinic
Southern California GI & Liver Centers (4 locations)
Have questions or want to learn more? We're here to help. Reach out.
We want to hear from you! Let us know how we're doing.