As the old model of patient care silos—where behavioral health providers treat patients separately from the rest of the healthcare system—breaks down, participants from across healthcare are attempting to access patient-specific behavioral health data to create integrated care models. Primary care providers are taking on a greater role in treating those with addictions, as are new players (teletherapy companies), and traditional entities (providers, health plans, pharmaceutical companies). The opioid epidemic has increased the need for behavioral health services and for healthcare stakeholders to seek a more active role in managing behavioral health.

On May 1, eHealth Initiative Foundation and Manatt, Phelps & Phillips hosted an executive advisory board on the role of health information technology in protecting and sharing behavioral health data amid the opioid crisis. The roundtable meeting, Sharing Behavioral Health Information in Light of the Opioid Epidemic, explored the role of privacy and security in the context of the crisis. Much of the discussion focused on the impact of policies and regulations that hinder the sharing of sensitive patient data and affects health outcomes. Experts and industry leaders from Walgreens, Surescripts, CRISP, OhioHealth, Senator Shelley Moore Capito’s office, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) provided information on the policies and technologies that affect the use of behavioral health information in patient care and discussed ways to address challenges.

This brief addresses the role of electronic prescribing of controlled substances (EPCS), regulatory and legislative obstacles, including 42 Code of Federal Regulations Part 2 (42 CFR Part 2), the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP), and aims to provide potential solutions for tackling the opioid crisis.

3/30/18 article by Richard Hartunian, Jacqueline Wolff, Joel Ario, Jocelyn Guyer, Sandy Robinson, Andrew Case, and Robert Rebitzer

The nation's opioid epidemic claimed more than 42,000 lives in 2016 and experts fear it will get worse before it gets better. What can be done to combat this multi-faceted threat to public health? This article looks at how the crisis began, reviews how four sectors have responded, and considers what might bring the crisis under control.

Presentation slides from Dana Richter, Office of  Senator Shelley Moore Capito​, from eHealth Initiative’s Executive Advisory Board on Privacy and Security on May 1, 2018.

Presentation slides by CRISP at eHealth Initiative’s Executive Advisory Board on Privacy and Security on May 1, 2018.

Presentation slides from Paul Uhrig at eHealth Initiative’s Executive Advisory Board on Privacy and Security on May 1, 2018.

Presentation slides and recording from 2/22/18 webinar.

The Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA) will be finalized at the end of 2018. Please join us to gain an understanding of key focus areas to ensure TEFCA compliance and gain a wider perspective and viewpoints from the healthcare community.

This informative webinar will begin with a brief introduction of TEFCA followed by a facilitated panel discussion. We will discuss the goals and complexity of TEFCA and invite an open conversation of associated risks, interdependencies with state and federal agencies, consent and consent management, impact on the opioid epidemic, and more.

Panelists include:
- Gerard Scheitlin, Global VP, Security, Risk and Assurance, Orion Health
- Kelly Thompson, CEO, Strategic Health Information Exchange Collaborative (SHIEC)
- ONC Representative invited

On January 25, 2018, eHealth Initiative (eHI) held its annual Government Affairs Retreat at the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill. The gathering convened eHI members and policy experts to discuss the 2018 federal legislative and regulatory landscape. During this day long meeting, participants shared important, up-to-the-minute intelligence on healthcare priorities for Congress and the Administration; identified impactful federal policy and regulatory shifts; and developed policy priorities and action items for eHealth Initiative, and its members, for the upcoming year.

On November 2, 2017, eHealth Initiative and PwC held an invitation-only, roundtable meeting for privacy and
security executives from the healthcare industry and government agencies. The purpose of the meeting was to
discuss public-private partnerships, share information, and foster collaborations among attendees. Executives
addressed the current privacy and security landscape, ways to improve data sharing, cyber threat mitigation,
and industry best practices. This document summarizes the meeting and who participated.

Presentation slides from McDermott and Consulting and McDermott Will & Emery from eHI's Government Affairs Retreat held 1/25/18.

eHealth Initiative’s 2017 Provider Survey on Access to Patient Information examines perspectives on:
• Increased access to patient information
• Interoperability
• Changing regulations, including compliance with Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and Meaningful Use (MU)
• Latest findings on provider-related interoperability solutions, which drive outcomes and organizational priorities

After careful analysis of the survey results, the following key findings emerged:

• Key Finding 1: Patient engagement appears to be increasing, with more patients accessing their health information and managing how it is shared
• Key Finding 2: Providers are struggling to meet patient access regulations, which do not necessarily align with business needs
• Key Finding 3: Changing federal requirements, and the costs associated with them, are causing great concern among providers
• Key Finding 4: Current interoperability solutions do not meet the needs of providers
• Key Finding 5: Patient security, privacy and confidentiality remain top concerns amongst providers
• Key Finding 6: Professional societies and industry groups play a key role in educating providers on new regulations
• Key Finding 7: EHR vendors are viewed as “helpful” in addressing current patient access regulatory requirements
• Key Finding 8: Providers are engaged in a variety of alliances and participate in different interoperability frameworks
• Key Finding 9: Providers prioritize connectivity in a variety of ways