ACA Decision and Impact for HIN

After the Supreme Court decision on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), a number of people have asked what impact the decision will have on HealthInfoNet. On the surface, there appears to be no immediate impact. The federal programs that shape HealthInfoNet the most are anchored within the HITECH Act and include funding for the health information exchange (HIE) program, the regional extension center (REC), Bangor Beacon, and the EHR meaningful use incentive program. However, the Court's decision on the ACA does introduce an element of certainty for a fundamental transition in care management and payment reform. This reinforces the role that HealthInfoNet will play going forward.

The accountable care framework is based on the assumption of community-wide coordination of care and the ability to measure the impact of care management across points of service regardless of how providers are corporately aligned. As HealthInfoNet continues its efforts to connect all providers in Maine to the HIE, the unique nature of the dataset will strengthen options for enhanced coordination of care, reporting on clinical performance at a patient-specific level and supporting population health analysis. Providers and patients in Maine will materially benefit from HealthInfoNet as a statewide, community-focused, medical information resource in support of the transition to accountable care delivery structures.