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The associations between query‐based and directed health information exchange with potentially avoidable use of health care services
Author(s) -
Vest Joshua R.,
Unruh Mark Aaron,
Shapiro Jason S.,
Casalino Lawrence P.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
health services research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.706
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1475-6773
pISSN - 0017-9124
DOI - 10.1111/1475-6773.13169
Subject(s) - health information exchange , medicaid , certification , health care , medicine , family medicine , business , health information , political science , law , economics , economic growth
Objective To quantify the impact of two approaches (directed and query‐based) to health information exchange ( HIE ) on potentially avoidable use of health care services. Data Sources/Study Setting Data on ambulatory care providers’ adoption of HIE were merged with Medicare fee‐for‐service claims from 2008 to 2014. Providers were from 13 counties in New York served by the Rochester Regional Health Information Organization ( RHIO ). Study Design Linear regression models with provider and year fixed effects were used to estimate changes in the probability of utilization outcomes for Medicare beneficiaries attributed to providers adopting directed and/or query‐based HIE compared with beneficiaries attributed to providers who had not adopted HIE . Data Collection Providers’ HIE adoption status was determined through Rochester RHIO registration records. RHIO and claims data were linked via National Provider Identifiers. Principal Findings Query‐based HIE adoption was associated with a 0.2 percentage point reduction in the probability of an ambulatory care sensitive hospitalization and a 1.1 percentage point decrease in the likelihood of an unplanned readmission. Directed HIE adoption was not associated with any outcome. Conclusions The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ ( CMS ) EHR certification criteria includes requirements for directed HIE , but not query‐based HIE . Pending further research, certification criteria should place equal weight on facilitating query‐based and directed exchange.