Sunday, April 6, 2025
4/6/2025
Community Project Funding/Congressionally Directed Spending - Construction - Description Title of Applicant’s Project: Support for Conversion of HIE (Health Information Exchange) Consent Model to Opt-Out • Address: 315 Iron Horse Way, Suite 102, Providence, Rhode Island 02908 • Project Director Name: Darlene Morris, MBA, CIPP • Contact Phone Numbers (Voice, Fax): 401-276-9141 / 401-276-9144 • Email Address: dmorris@riqi.org • Website Address, if applicable: https://riqi.org • List all grant program funds requested in the application, if applicable: $750,000 The Rhode Island Quality Institute (RIQI), as the state designated Regional Health Information Organization (RHIO), is required by Rhode Island statute (R.I. Gen. Laws §5-37.7) to convert the statewide health information exchange (HIE, “CurrentCare”) consent model from opt-in to opt-out. Since 2011, individuals were given the option to consent to have their electronic health data shared among their treating providers and requested this service by enrolling in CurrentCare (“opt-in”). Healthcare providers request access to patient health information by signing a data use agreement and training to use the system. Under the new law, the health records of all Rhode Island residents will be available to their treating providers unless these individuals choose to unenroll in CurrentCare (“opt-out”). This change in consent model necessitates both technical and operational modifications to the HIE. RIQI, as the owner and operator of CurrentCare, will prepare for the implementation of an opt-out consent process by: (1) standing up a copy (clone) of the HIE database, (2) completing a solution architecture evaluation, and (3) implementing a new testing tool. The project is expected to take 12 months to complete. This project will prepare RIQI to expand the benefits of the HIE and its services to all Rhode Islanders, expanding the benefits of HIE beyond a subset of the population who are aware or capable of accessing and utilizing health information exchange. Providers will have available a comprehensive, longitudinal medical history for their patients in a single accessible location, bringing together data from wherever care is delivered in the State of Rhode Island. The availability of real-time, comprehensive electronic health data across geographic, proprietary, and payer boundaries enhances care coordination and communication for providers and their patients and benefits quality improvement and public health initiatives. Lower utilization of hospital and emergency department services, fewer medical errors, reduced spending, and better health are expected outcomes of more widespread availability and use of an opt-out HIE.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).