Pennsylvania eHealth Collaborative

The purpose of the Pennsylvania eHealth Collaborative is to improve healthcare
delivery and healthcare outcomes in Pennsylvania.

The Collaborative will make these improvements by providing leadership and
strategic direction for public and private, federally-funded and state-funded
investments in health information technology initiatives, including health
information exchange capabilities and other related health information technology efforts. The Collaborative’s direction will consider stakeholder community needs, complement commonwealth agency operations, and ensure ongoing interagency cooperation.

The Collaborative will leverage the investment that the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act (ARRA) provides for health information technology. Pennsylvania was awarded $17.1 million under ARRA to help establish a health information exchange. ARRA also provides Medicare and Medicaid incentives to eligible healthcare professionals and hospitals to encourage the adoption and meaningful use of certified electronic health record systems.

Quality Insights of Pennsylvania also received funding through ARRA to create the Regional Extension Center program that provides free technical assistance, guidance and information on best practices to support and accelerate the meaningful use of electronic health record systems.

Pennsylvania is engaging various stakeholders in a structured, open and transparent process to support this initiative. The stakeholders, including healthcare providers, insurers, academics and consumer advocates, are working together toward the ultimate goal of improving patient health.