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Press Release: Executives for Health Innovation (EHI) Ends 22-Year Successful Run

Washington, DC – May 16, 2023 - Executives for Health Innovation (EHI), formerly eHealth Initiative announced today they will wind down operations in the coming months. Founded in 2001 to promote the adoption of health technology, the nonprofit convened thousands of health and technology executives, successfully advocated for federal incentives, provided grant funding to communities and conducted groundbreaking research. The Board of Directors is now forming a committee to distribute EHI’s current assets to other nonprofits that align with its mission.

“Over the past 20 years, EHI has brought together stakeholders from across the health sector to share diverse perspectives, advance innovations to improve population health and build meaningful collaborations that are transforming healthcare delivery,” said Amy McDonough, Chair of the Board of Directors and Managing Director of Fitbit, Google. “I’m so proud of what this community has achieved. While the work is not done, we are confident in the power of the partnerships we've built to sustain and carry our mission forward.”

Through the years, EHI supported vigorous efforts for federal reimbursement for e--prescribing, electronic health records and most recently telehealth. “Looking back, our members, supporters and staff created a new reality in healthcare,” said Jen Covich Bordenick, current Chief Executive Officer, EHI. “In the early 2000s, prescriptions were handwritten, less than 20 percent of physicians had electronic health records and telehealth was something you saw in movies.” In 2021, close to 94% of all prescriptions were electronic, EHR adoption is reported at over 90% and telehealth adoption skyrocketed over the last three years.
 
EHI was known for convening groups of competitors and stakeholders who did not normally communicate. “Healthcare connects a variety of players who don’t always like to play in the sandbox together,” said Covich Bordenick. “We helped people recognize that collaboration improves the experience for both patients and providers.”

“EHI inspired and shaped healthcare by sharing real stories of how organizations can harness the power of technology for the betterment of patient care and well-being," said Roy Schoenberg, Chief Executive Officer of Amwell. “The true legacy of EHI is embodied in the countless individuals who participated in our mission, carrying forward the torch of innovation and driving positive change in healthcare.”

Over the years, EHI had a significant impact on health technology policy. “EHI's unique strength lies in its ability to bring together multi-stakeholders and competitors in health and technology, fostering a spirit of collaboration. This collaborative approach was instrumental in driving innovation, breaking down barriers, and accelerating progress in health technology,” said Micky Tripathi, National Coordinator for Health Information Technology at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “Their legacy is a group of collaborative leaders who will boldly propel us into the future.”

“United Healthcare & Optum have been working with Jen and the EHI team for almost two decades. We are proud to have contributed to groundbreaking research that has paved the way for transformative advancements in the health technology," said Kevin Larsen, Senior Vice President, Clinical Innovation and Translation, Optum.

"As a former Board Chair and CEO of a health system, I witnessed firsthand the tremendous value that EHI brought to the healthcare landscape. EHI created an invaluable platform for collaboration and innovation. Their work has not only inspired our organization but propelled the entire industry forward,” said Susan Turney, MD, CEO, Marshfield Clinic Health System.

"Jen's remarkable leadership and the unwavering dedication of EHI leadership have been instrumental in bringing together visionary leaders from across the healthcare industry. They have not only propelled the adoption of cutting-edge technologies but also nurtured a community of forward-thinking individuals who continue to push the boundaries of what is possible in healthcare," said John Glaser, PhD, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

EHI’s Principles for the Ethical Use of Social Determinants of Health were instrumental when COVID-19 struck. EHI’s online educational initiatives supported organizations transitioning to telehealth during the pandemic, including reports related to social determinants of health & COVID-19, privacy, and policy recommendations.

EHI’s years of resources and information, including online events and reports, will continue to be available on its website, www.EHIdc.org for several months.

About Executives for Health Innovation
Executives for Health Innovation (EHI) is a catalyst for healthcare transformation, convening diverse leaders from across the industry to unlock opportunities for collaborative innovation. EHI, along with its coalition of members, focuses on education, thought leadership, and advocacy. We believe that innovation and diverse perspectives power the transformation of healthcare. Our members are working toward consumer-centered health that is lower cost, higher quality, and more accessible for all populations. www.ehidc.org

22-Years of Accomplishments by Executives for Health Innovation

  • From 2001-2003, EHI worked with the Markle Foundation on the Connecting for Health Initiative, convening dozens of experts on interoperability issues.
  • From 2003-2004, EHI led a national initiative on ePrescribing and released a groundbreaking report, which helped contribute to the rapid adoption of eprescribing by the private sector and policymakers.
  • Beginning in 2004, EHI released an Annual Report on Health Information Exchange or Data Exchange that assessed the state of the field. In 2005, EHI created the seven-stage adoption framework which was widely embraced by the industry
  • In 2005, EHI launched Connecting Communities, a rapidly growing coalition of leaders representing more than 250 states, regional, and community-based initiatives, focused on improving healthcare through health information exchange.
  • In 2007, the EHI Blueprint: Building Consensus for Common Action was released. The Blueprint represented a multi-stakeholder consensus on a shared vision for improving healthcare through technology. This work resulted in a multi-stakeholder consensus legislation that informed HITECH provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA stimulus act) of 2009.
  • Similar to previous landmark initiatives, the National Progress Report on eHealth (2010), represented a multi-stakeholder consensus on a shared vision and a set of principles, strategies, and actions for improving health and healthcare through information and information technology across five key areas: engaging consumers; transforming care delivery; improving population health; aligning financial and other incentives; and managing privacy, security, and confidentiality.
  • From 2011-2014, EHI led national workgroups and produced a series of groundbreaking reports on the use of social media, mobile health tools, and other innovations to support Chronic Care.
  • Beginning in 2011, EHI started surveying and analyzing accountable care organizations (ACOs), data analytics, and population health efforts, releasing annual reports and surveys on the state of the field.
  • In 2013, the Executive Advisory Board on Privacy and Security was formed. The first multistakeholder health forum for Chief Privacy Officers and Chief Security Information Officers from payer, provider, and pharmaceutical organizations to gather quarterly and discuss key concerns with policymakers on cybersecurity issues.
  • In 2014, EHI spearheaded the 2020 Roadmap, a multi-stakeholder collaborative intended to support current leadership efforts, including those involving the Administration, Congress, and private sector organizations engaged in health IT and healthcare. The 2020 Roadmap process engaged over two hundred executives from key organizations across the spectrum of healthcare as well as the leadership in the Department of Health and Human Services. The priorities outlined in the 2020 Roadmap provide a framework for future policy and practice.
  • In 2015, launched the Innovation Challenge and Summit, gathering submissions and comments from over 2,000 entrepreneurs and executives, matching entrepreneurs with the established payer, providers, and vendors in search of new products and strategies.
  • In 2016 and 2017, EHI began interviewing provider executives and assessing the State of the Field for Genomics and Precision Medicine.
  • In 2017, EHI is launching the Electronic Medication Adherence Collaborative, a multi-stakeholder initiative evaluating innovative solutions to improve outcomes and reduce costs.
  • In 2019, a multi-stakeholder group released the Ethical Principles for the Appropriate Use of SDOH.
  • In 2019, EHI and the Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT) secured a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to develop a Consumer Framework for Health Data. A multi-stakeholder steering committee was formed with dozens of executives from the technology, health, and consumer industries. The final Framework was released in January 2021.
  • In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic struck and EHI began educational initiatives to support best practices during COVID-19. Reports related to SDOH & COVID-19, privacy, and policy recommendations were released throughout the year.
  • In 2021, eHealth Initiative officially changed its name to Executives for Health Innovation (EHI).
  • In 2021, EHI produced the Digital Health Equity Summit, a two-day, online event, addressing how digital health tools are being used to bridge geographical issues, language barriers, and affordability gaps, and how robust individual-level data can help health organizations improve patient outcomes.
  • In 2022, EHI released the report, The Case for Accountability: Protecting Health Data Outside the Healthcare System. The report makes the case for why a robust accountability mechanism is needed to govern the use of health data held and used by health tech companies. EHI put forward a private-sector solution – a neutral, independently run self-regulatory program, managed by BBB National Programs.
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