WELCOME

The Honorable Phil Bredesen, Governor of Tennessee, and The Honorable Jim Douglas, Governor of Vermont, co-chairs of the State Alliance for e-Health, will provide opening remarks and review the agenda.

UPDATE FROM THE OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL COORDINATOR FOR HEALTH IT

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) incorporates a number of health IT-related provisions that are beginning to influence state initiatives. The National Coordinator for Health IT will provide an update on the state of ONC’s programs, followed by discussion with the State Alliance.

• David Blumenthal, National Coordinator for Health IT, HHS

RELEASE AND DISCUSSION OF THE STATE ALLIANCE REPORT, “PREPARING TO IMPLEMENT HITECH”

The NGA Center for Best Practices and the State Alliance today are releasing a report that is intended to serve as interim guidance to state leaders as they begin efforts to implement the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act included in ARRA. Many of these actions require decisions within the year. The NGA Center will provide an overview of the report, followed by State Alliance discussion.

• John Thomasian, Director, NGA Center for Best Practices

UPDATE ON STATE ALLIANCE ACTIVITIES - Part I

This panel will showcase firsthand, on-the-ground experience from states that are working to implement health IT and electronic HIE. Panelists will share challenges faced and overcome. They also will discuss the State Alliance activities that they have participated in, such as the State Alliance’s Learning Network and Regional Health IT Consultations, and provide ideas for future technical assistance to states.

• Ree Sailors, Health IT Program Director, NGA Center for Best Practices (Moderator)

• Rachel Block, Deputy Commissioner, New York State Department of Health

• Melissa Hargiss, Director, Tennessee Office of e-Health

UPDATE ON STATE ALLIANCE ACTIVITIES - Part II

This panel will showcase firsthand, on-the-ground experience from states that are working to implement health IT and electronic HIE. Panelists will share challenges faced and overcome. They also will discuss the State Alliance activities that they have participated in, such as the State Alliance’s Learning Network and Regional Health IT Consultations, and provide ideas for future technical assistance to states.

• David Sundwall, Executive Director, Utah Department of Health

• Stephen Palmer, Texas Health Care Policy Council, Office of the Governor

QUALITY IMPROVEMENT AND HEALTH REFORM

Many states and health care providers have made strides to enhance the quality of care delivered through chronic disease management, care coordination, health IT, and prevention initiatives. These programs have improved the care received and are moving to address value and spending in the system. This panel will present various models for quality improvement and reform that have been successfully implemented, followed by discussion with the State Alliance.

• Hunt Blair, Deputy Director, Vermont Office of Health Reform

• Phil Magistro, Deputy Director for Program Implementation, Pennsylvania Office of Health Care Reform

• Diane Stollenwerk, Development Director, Puget Sound Health Alliance, and Local Project Director, Aligning Forces for Quality Program, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

FUTURE OF THE STATE ALLIANCE

State Alliance members will review their accomplishments to date, discuss outcomes and gaps, and develop their plans to move forward.

PUBLIC COMMENT AND CLOSING REMARKS

Members of the audience may sign-up to provide comments to the State Alliance for e-Health. The co-chairs of the State Alliance will make closing remarks.