FAQs about VITL
What does VITL do?
VITL is both the designated health information exchange for the state of Vermont and the federally-designated regional extension center for the state of Vermont. Our work revolves around meeting both of those requirements, as well as supporting Vermont’s health care reform efforts.
What is a health information exchange?
A health information exchange (HIE) is a secure computer network that connects the electronic health information systems of different health care providers, enabling those providers to share clinical and demographic data of patients they have in common. Because different health information systems use their own codes, they may not be able to communicate with each other directly. An HIE, like the one operated by VITL, makes it easier for those different systems to send and receive information. The Vermont Legislature has named VITL as the operator of the exclusive statewide HIE for Vermont.
What is a regional extension center?
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has designated about 60 non-profit organizations around the country, including VITL, as regional extension centers (RECs). The RECs have been tasked with reaching out to health care professionals in their areas and educating them about the benefits of adopting electronic health records systems (EHRs) and the incentives that the Medicare and Medicaid programs are offering eligible professionals who become meaningful users of EHRs. Health care professionals who agree to participate in the voluntary EHR incentive program can receive assistance from the RECs in the form of training and support as they select, adopt and implement an EHR and achieve meaningful use.
Is VITL part of state government?
No, VITL is a private, independent organization with its own board of directors and staff. However, VITL does work very closely with state government on its health care reform efforts.
Who is responsible for health IT policy and planning in Vermont?
The state’s health information technology coordinator, who is part of the Division of Health Care Reform in the Department of Vermont Health Access, is responsible for health IT policy and planning. The division coordinates development of the Vermont Health Information Technology Plan, which outlines the strategic vision for Vermont health IT and the operational plan for making that vision a reality. VITL helps the state health IT coordinator develop the plan, and VITL is responsible for executing much of the operational side of it. While the state health IT coordinator is responsible for governance, including organizing a monthly health IT stakeholder meeting, VITL is responsible for the oversight and deployment of the HIE. The current plan can be downloaded from http://hcr.vermont.gov/improve_quality/healthcare_IT
What is Vermont doing to reform health care?
Vermont’s major health care reform initiative is called the Vermont Blueprint for Health. It is an integrated approach to patient centered medical homes, community health teams, and multi-insurer participation in structural payment reforms to primary care. The Blueprint has been piloted in three communities and is scheduled to expand statewide between July 1, 2011 and Oct. 1, 2013.
How will the Blueprint be expanded?
By July 1, 2011 there will be at least two “medical homes” in each of the state’s 13 hospital service areas. By Oct. 1, 2013, the Blueprint will expand statewide to primary care practices – including pediatric practices – to serve every Vermonter.
How does VITL support Vermont’s health care reform initiatives?
VITL connects the EHRs of physician practices participating in the Blueprint to the HIE, so that patient data can be collected from the EHRs and transmitted to the Blueprint’s electronic registry. Providers participating in the Blueprint then use the registry to analyze patient care and identify opportunities for intervention and improvement. As the Blueprint expands statewide, VITL will increase its capacity to connect providers participating in the Blueprint to the HIE. Act 128 of the 2010 Vermont Legislature, which set the Blueprint expansion schedule, also requires hospitals to maintain connections with the HIE as a condition of their annual budget approval process. VITL will be accelerating the connection of hospitals to the HIE so that lab tests and other electronic data is available to providers participating in the Blueprint.
What other projects is VITL working on?
VITL has signed a contract with the Vermont Department of Health to develop interfaces for the Vermont Immunization Registry, so that health care providers can use the Vermont HIE to send data on immunizations they’ve given to the registry directly from their EHRs. Providers will also be able to use their EHRs to query the registry via the Vermont HIE for information on a patient’s previous immunizations. VITL continues to build out its electronic lab orders and results service, adding more physician practices and labs. VITL is also working on expanding the electronic information delivery service to include radiology orders and results, as well as other types of transcribed reports.
How is VITL funded?
VITL's annual budget of approximately $7.5 million is funded by both the state and federal governments. The Vermont Legislature instituted the Vermont Health IT Fund in 2008 and created a fee of 2/10ths of one percent of the dollars paid on commercial health insurance claims to generate revenues for the fund. The Vermont Health IT Fund, administered by the state, then makes grants to VITL to support its work. The federal government has given VITL several grants to support its work as a REC and an HIE.