SCHeMA
To help improve the
quality of health care delivery, the quality of health data, and reduce
unnecessary administrative costs, the Sue Crystal eHealth Memorial
Associates (SCeHEA) , a nonprofit group, seeks to continue the
development of public domain software by maintaining an eHealth
Software Registry and Repository. To support this effort, SCHEMA
also sponsors the SCHEMA Policy Institute at The Evergreen State
College, Olympia, Washington. SCHeMA is comprised of faculty and
interns dedicated to non-profit research and consulting with special
emphasis on optimizing eHealth interchange for Government Funded Health
Programs, including Medicaid, Medicare, and Public Health. |
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Purpose and Mandate
SCeHMA, a non-profit corporation, was established in 2001 to
provide
regional health
care community collaboration to develop electronichealth information
policy
and initiatives. Its mission is to support, examine, and
develop
health
information policy and initiatives while exploring interactions
with administrative
cost reduction and other impediments of health care quality and
access.
SCeHMA currently supports two primary components to further its
mission:
a Shareware Registry and Repository(R&R)
and a SCeHMA Policy Institute.
A critical component to policy decision-making, theory, and
development
is access to information technology. The shareware registry and
repository
will provide an opportunity for eHealth Shareware Members to utilize
and
contribute to the development and design of information technology
products.
The software developed by eHealth Shareware is available to be shared
throughout
the industry.
SCeHMA Institute, in Memory
of
Sue
Crystal, "The Sue Crystal eHealth Memorial Associates Policy
Institute"
SCeHMA Institute provides an academic environment for all
industry
and public sectors to develop collaborative projects, promote education
and information sharing, and caucus on critical issues. Other benefits
include research topics, access to institute resources, network with
industry
and public participants, ability to share similar concerns, issues,
problems,
successes, best practices, common policies, procedures, and other
resources.
SCeHMA Institute academic setting and experience increases grant
potential
and participation in State Legislature initiated research and policy
development.
The Evergreen State College is strongly commitment to an
educational
environment where theory is put into practice by encouraging
community-based
partnerships to address pertinent issues for the public good. Evergreen
policy institutes have yielded tremendous public and educational
benefits.
The SCeHMA Policy Institute also enhances the attendance,
visibility,
and quality of Washington’s participation in increasingly critical
national
health "congress" and industry groups by sending delegates representing
the region or coalition based groups.
Business
environment/background
The early 1990s wave of health care reform targeted electronic
capabilities
seeking to ease administrative inefficiencies. Emerging technologies
also
held the promise of new opportunity and efficiency.
However, without clearly defined mandates efforts towards
administrative
cost reductions disintegrated into traditional, competitive-based payer
defined solutions. The managed care model of business showed early
returns
and savings further shifting the focus from administrative cost
reduction.
However, as medical costs have again begun to rise at
astronomical
inflation rates and managed care mandated documentation has overwhelmed
provider industry interest has been rekindled in cost saving optionsIt
is estimated that 25% of all health care dollars are spent on
administration,
not services. With rising overall medical costs, reducing
administrative
costs is imperative. Reconciling data for conducting research and
comparative
analysis however, is difficult to impossible due to poor quality,
incomplete,
and incompatible data.
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996
(HIPAA)
federal mandates have provided a renewed catalyst for the industry to
form
alliances and explore e-health initiatives. HIPAA changes the industry
landscape and policies can no longer be formed in isolation nor driven
by payers alone. In order for new standards and policies to address
local
and regional needs, the Northwest regional presence must be leveraged
in
national congress and other national industry groups.
This change requires strong new alliances to influence national
policies
and inform new health congresses. Alliances by region, public and
industry
sectors need to have a neutral setting to encourage an open,
participatory
and collaborative environment.
The forum must encourage participation from all members of the
health
community – including private and public payers and providers,
government
benefits, public health, advocacy groups, patients, industry
associations,
non-traditional provider industry representatives and academia.
Membership
must include equal participation not based solely on political or
financial
influence and other factors.
Participation/
Membership/Sponsorship
To carry out the goals of the institute,
participation
is broad based and membership must be unrestricted and free of
traditional
barriers such as interest based grouping, financial or political
requirements.
For more information email Joan Bantz, SCEHMA Policy Institute
Director, at bantzj@evergreen.edu,.
Leah Hole-Curry, (CV)
Assistant SCHeHMA Policy Institute Direcector at Leah.Hole-Curry@foxsys.com
Kathleen Connor,(CV)
Techncial and R&R Director at Kathleen.Connor@foxsys.com
Vickie Hohner, Symposium and Training Coordinator at Vicki.Hohner@foxsys.com
Michelle Coleman, Techncial Advisor
Chris Toal, Board President
Annie Mockabee, Board Member
Kris Kernan, Board Member
Some helpful links on HIPAA and must reads for those interested in
directions
of health care:
CMS'
HIPAA Home Page
CMS'
Links to Other Web Sites for Administrative Simplification Information
US Department of Health
and Human Services
Information
Technology Association of America
American
Medical Association
American Hospital
Association
American Medical
Informatics
Association
http://www.centerforinnovation.org/
National
HealthKey Program
The
American National Standards Institute (ANSI) X12N Insurance Industry
Implementation
Guides
Committee
E31 on Healthcare Informatics
DHHS
Administrative Simplification Rules
WEDI
Virtual Resource Center (VRC) - The HIPAA Glossary
Office
for Civile Rights, Privacy
http://www.nhsia.nhs.uk/nelh/
( Health Care Resource Library)
If you want to read the most comprehensive paper on eHealth
Resources:
Download White Paper from
Robert Woods Johnson :"The
eHealth
Landscape (June 2001)"
Bantz
Homepage
Madeby: JWB
E-mail:bantzj@evergreen.edu
Last modified: 09/15/02