As part of the State Innovations Model (SIM) Testing Grant, HealthInfoNet has just released a request for proposal (RFP) to provide 20 behavioral health organizations with financial support to adopt health information technology, including HealthInfoNet’s health information exchange (HIE). Organizations will be selected through a competitive RFP process explained in this application, due March 3rd. Awardees will be selected and notified in April.

The SIM testing grant presents a timely opportunity for Maine to drive integration of care by including behavioral health data in the statewide HIE. Maine State law changed in 2011 to allow licensed mental health providers and facilities to share patient information through the HIE if the data is managed through an opt-in consent.

In order for many of Maine’s behavioral health providers to participate with the HIE they need to optimize their health information technology capabilities. This includes enhancing their system’s interoperability and quality measurement. The 20 organizations chosen will receive $70K over three years to offset the cost of upgrading their systems and connecting to the HIE.