FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Tiffany Vause, Press Secretary November 19, 2009
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, 850-922-5871 FLORIDA AGENCY FOR HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION LAUNCHES ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS PORTAL FOR MEDICAID PROVIDERS ~Florida is the first state to offer claims-based electronic health records of Medicaid recipients to their treating providers~ TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (Agency) announced today that Florida is the first state to launch a Medicaid claims-based electronic health record portal for providers. The Florida Medicaid Health Information Network powered by Availity is available through a common portal where similar records from other payers may also be accessed. This will allow health care providers treating Medicaid recipients to access up to 18 months of Medicaid claims history, helping them make better-informed decisions about their patients. The network was made possible through an innovative agreement with Jacksonville-based Availity, LLC. The portal is free to Florida’s Medicaid providers and was created without cost to Florida’s taxpayers. “We are excited about the potential this has to improve quality and cost effectiveness in the care delivered to Medicaid recipients in Florida,” said Secretary Thomas W. Arnold. “By partnering with Availity to offer providers access to Medicaid claims history, we are giving access to important information about the patient’s health care at the point of service. Armed with information about tests, diagnoses and procedures, providers will be better able to avoid duplication and deliver high-quality care.” "The Florida Department of Health supports the Agency’s efforts to make this key information available to providers when they are treating Medicaid recipients. Our county health departments are often on the front lines when treating this population," said State Surgeon General Ana Viamonte Ros. "Having access to the clinical history of patients has great potential for improving quality and coordination of the care we deliver." Beginning today, Medicaid providers, including physician practices, hospitals, county health departments, and other providers of care, now have real-time access to health information on their Medicaid patients through the Florida Medicaid Health Information Network. Available via the secure portal, this information provides valuable insights into their patients’ health histories, and helps them to make more informed decisions about patient care. The information is sourced from Medicaid claims data and includes: - Office visits and hospitalizaitons
- Diagnoses and associated procedures
- Prescription history
- Lab event history
- Radiology event history
- Immunization history
- ePrescribing
“Availity is very pleased to join the Agency for Health Care Administration in this innovative public-private collaboration to bring vital decision-making information to the front line of health care delivery,” said Russ Thomas, President of Availity. Health care providers may also use the Florida Medicaid Health Information Network to look up patient eligibility and benefits and to submit claims, not only related to Medicaid, but also to other payers. Providers can access the Florida Medicaid Health Information Network at www.FloridaHealthFinder.gov, www.AHCA.MyFlorida.com and the Florida Medicaid Provider Portal, www.MyMedicaid-Florida.com. In the future, providers will have access to a clinical decision support tool which analyzes claims data to identify gaps and duplications in care for individual patients. “The Florida Medicaid Health Information Network is a big step forward for county health departments across the state,” said Dr. Robert Harmon, Director of the Duval County Health Department. “If a clinician has access to more information at the time of the visit, he or she can improve the quality and continuity of care for the patient.” The patient’s choice to participate in the Florida Medicaid Health Information Network is entirely voluntary. Medicaid recipients must explicitly authorize access (except in a medical emergency) and will benefit from various providers having access to their medical claims history. A Medicaid recipient can choose which providers may view their personal health information and can revoke that permission later if they desire. Audit reports are sent to the Agency, listing each date, the time, patient consent status, and user information once the claims record is accessed. The Agency will conduct audits to ensure recipients’ information is being accessed appropriately. The Florida Medicaid Health Information Network was created without cost to Florida’s taxpayers, after negotiations with Availity, LLC. The Agency will be piloting the Florida Medicaid Health Information Network over the next two years. This initiative serves to promote the effective use and exchange of health care information in a secure environment, and reflects the intent of the health information technology provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The Agency for Health Care Administration is committed to better health care for all Floridians. The Agency administers Florida’s Medicaid program, licenses and regulates more than 40,000 health care facilities and 43 health maintenance organizations, and publishes health care data and statistics. For more information, please visit http://ahca.myflorida.com. Availity optimizes information exchange between multiple health care stakeholders through a single, secure network. The Availity Health Information Network encompasses administrative, financial, and clinical services, supporting both real-time and batch exchange via the web, business-to-business (B2B) integration, and electronic data interchange (EDI). For more information, including an online demonstration, please visit www.availity.com. Frequently Asked Questions |