Maine Regional Extension Center (MEREC)

January 21, 2010Maine HIT Steering Committee

Meeting

Regional Extension Center (REC) Program

• Applicant: − Merit-based Cooperative Agreements to be awarded in two batches to

non-profit entities by the Office of the National Coordinator for HIT− An applicant may serve:

• A geographic area within a state; • A Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) or other medical trading area• An entire state, including any and all MSAs and rural areas; or • Multiple contiguous states, including any and all MSAs and rural

areas within.• Target Audience

− Primary-care providers in individual and small group practices (fewer than 10 providers

− Physicians, physician assistants, or nurse practitioners who provide primary care in settings that predominantly serve uninsured, underinsured, and medically underserved populations

− FQHCs, RHCs, CAHs, and Public Hospitals

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REC Core and Direct ServicesCore Services• Practice HIT Stage Assessment• Vendor Selection and Group

Purchase• Outreach and Education• National Learning Consortium • Functional Interoperability HIE• Privacy and Security Practices• Quality Measurement,

Reporting, and Improvement• Local Workforce Development

Direct Services• Practice Workflow Redesign• EMR Implementation• HIE Interface Support• eRx Implementation Support• “Meaningful Use” Compliance

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REC Services Divided into 2 Programs1.Support providers with NO EMR 2.Support providers with EMR

REC Performance Milestones

Milestones

• Signed contracts with financial commitments by priority primary-care providers.

• Number of priority primary-care providers that are actively using an EHR, including active use of electronic prescribing.

• Utilization of EHRs and promoting features essential for meaningful use.

• Helping priority primary-care providers to understand, and implement technology and process changes needed to attain, and demonstrate attainment of, meaningful use requirements

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Proposed Maine REC (MEREC) Structure

HealthInfoNet(Prime Contractor)

HealthInfoNet(Prime Contractor)

MEREC Controller Office

MEREC Controller Office

Direct Brokerage for REC Direct Services

• Request for Proposal (RFP) Process for all Direct REC Services

• Vendor Neutral Contracting Processes

• Builds off Wholesale and Retail Marketplace Needs

Direct Brokerage for REC Direct Services

• Request for Proposal (RFP) Process for all Direct REC Services

• Vendor Neutral Contracting Processes

• Builds off Wholesale and Retail Marketplace Needs

Direct Services• Practice Workflow

Redesign• EMR Implementation• HIE Interface Support• eRx Implementation

Support• Meaningful Use

Compliance

Direct Services• Practice Workflow

Redesign• EMR Implementation• HIE Interface Support• eRx Implementation

Support• Meaningful Use

Compliance

REC ContractsREC Contracts

Core Services (HIN and Partners)• Provider Education and

Outreach• Project Management• Workforce Integration• National Learning Consortium• Functional Interoperability• Privacy and Security• Group purchasing • Quality Improvement

Core Services (HIN and Partners)• Provider Education and

Outreach• Project Management• Workforce Integration• National Learning Consortium• Functional Interoperability• Privacy and Security• Group purchasing • Quality Improvement

Unaffiliated Practices (Retail Marketplace)

•Private Practices•Small-Med Groups•Independent Clinics / Hospitals

Unaffiliated Practices (Retail Marketplace)

•Private Practices•Small-Med Groups•Independent Clinics / Hospitals

Affiliated Practices (Wholesale Marketplace)•Eastern Maine•Maine General•Central Maine•Maine Health•Maine PCA•Others

Affiliated Practices (Wholesale Marketplace)•Eastern Maine•Maine General•Central Maine•Maine Health•Maine PCA•Others

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Proposed MEREC Technical Assistance Program

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HealthInfoNet Organizational Chart with MEREC Award

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Questions/Comments

• The REC application is being submitted January 27th

• Expected award date is April 1, 2010• Sustainability planning underway

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