Health Data Exchange approved after debate

Faced with a request for $350,000 in one-time funding to kick off a “health data exchange,” a program highlighted by Gov. Butch Otter in his State of the State address this year to bring together hospitals and other health care providers around the state to help provide a patient’s information when it’s needed in an emergency – such as what drugs they’re on – the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee this morning debated at length. Rep. George Eskridge, R-Dover, questioned why the proposal came as a supplemental budget request, for funding in the current year, rather than just waiting for a new budget year. Analysts said the state Department of Health & Welfare sought a federal grant for the $350,000, but didn’t get it. The backup was to seek a supplemental appropriation. The money matches $2 million put up by private providers in the state.

Rep. Fred Wood, R-Burley, said, “They went out and they have secured $2 million in the private sector to be matched by $350,000 in public funding. The federal grant did not come through.” In 2006, lawmakers authorized $200,000 to start the health planning commission that came up with the program, Wood said, but he and Rep. Margaret Henbest, D-Boise, engineered a shift of $100,000 of that to fund additional WAMI medical education seats, leaving just $100,000 to fund the commission. Nonetheless, it has launched initiatives that stemmed from Medicaid reform efforts, including the health data exchange. “We’ve got the private sector willing to put up $2 million for what is an excellent cause, and we’re sitting here quibbling?” Wood said. “I think we’re remiss if we don’t.” Henbest called the Health Data Exchange “an important initiative for our state.” The funding was approved on a 15-4 vote.