Health IT: Related Links

Wisconsin Broadband Office
The mission of the Wisconsin Broadband Office (WBO) is to make Wisconsin more competitive through advancing the availability, adoption, and use of broadband technologies. As part of the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, WBO works with organizations to build partnerships with providers and consumers to enhance broadband across the state.

Wisconsin Department of Health Services
The Department of Health Services (DHS) is one of the largest and most diverse state departments in Wisconsin, with an annual budget of roughly $11 billion and over 6,100 employees. DHS's thousands of employees, along with the local counties, health care providers, and community partners, among others, work together to protect and promote the health and safety of the citizens of Wisconsin.

DHS oversees Medicaid, the single largest program in the state budget, and other health and social service programs. DHS activities include alcohol and other drug abuse prevention, mental health, public health, implementation of long-term care, disability determination, regulation of state nursing homes, and numerous other programs that aid and protect the citizens of Wisconsin. DHS also oversees seven 24/7 institutions: three centers for the developmentally disabled, a facility for mentally ill inmates, two psychiatric hospitals, and a facility for treating sexually violent persons.

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality – Health Information Technology (IT)
The mission of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's (AHRQ) is to produce evidence to make health care safer, higher quality, more accessible, equitable, and affordable and to work within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and with other partners to make sure that the evidence is understood and used.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – PHIN
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is a federal agency within the HHS. The Public Health Information Network Messaging System (PHIN MS) is CDC-provided software that can securely send and receive any message type over the internet, facilitating interoperability among myriad public health information systems.

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services – EHR Incentive Programs 
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is a federal agency within the HHS that administers the Medicare program and works in partnership with state governments to administer Medicaid, the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), and health insurance portability standards. CMS is a partner in the administration and oversight of the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program through development of the federal regulations governing program. CMS also provides technical assistance and support to the Division of Medicaid Services through the administration of community of practice calls and regional office staff resources.

Health Resources and Services Administration
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an agency of the HHS, is the primary federal agency for improving health care to people who are geographically isolated or economically or medically vulnerable. HRSA programs help those in need of high-quality primary health care, people living with HIV/AIDS, pregnant women, and mothers. HRSA also supports the training of health professionals, the distribution of providers to areas where they are needed most and improvements in health care delivery. HRSA oversees organ, bone marrow, and cord blood donation. It compensates individuals harmed by vaccinations and maintains databases that protect against health care malpractice, waste, fraud, and abuse.

HISPC Reports on State Law, Business Practices, and Policy Variations
Established in June 2006 by RTI International through a contract with HHS, the Health Information Security and Privacy Collaboration (HISPC) originally comprised 34 states and territories. HISPC phase 3 began in April 2008, and HISPC now comprises 42 states and territories and aims to address the privacy and security challenges presented by electronic health information exchange through multistate collaboration. Each HISPC participant continues to have the support of its state or territorial governor and maintains a steering committee and contact with a range of local collaborators to ensure that developed solutions accurately reflect local preferences.

National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics
The National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics (NCVHS) is the statutory public advisory body to the Secretary of Health and Human Services on health information policy. Established in 1949, NCVHS provides advice and assistance on key health data issues related to community and population health, standards, privacy and confidentiality, quality, and data access and use. It reports regularly to Congress on HIPAA implementation and serves as a forum for interaction between HHS and interested private sector groups.

National Syndromic Surveillance Program
The National Syndromic Surveillance Program (NSSP), within the Division of Health Informatics and Surveillance (DHIS) at the CDC, promotes and advances development of a syndromic surveillance system for the timely exchange of syndromic data. These data are used to improve nationwide situational awareness and enhance responsiveness to hazardous events and disease outbreaks to protect America’s health, safety, and security. NSSP functions through collaboration among individuals and organizations at local, state, and federal levels of public health; federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; public health partner organizations; and hospitals and health professionals.

Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) is a staff division of the Office of the Secretary within the HHS. It is primarily focused on coordination of nationwide efforts to implement and use health information technology and the electronic exchange of health information. ONC defines the certification criteria for health IT and works closely with CMS to align these criteria with the Meaningful Use requirements.

MetaStar
Wisconsin Collaborative for Healthcare Quality
Wisconsin Health Information Organization
Wisconsin Statewide Health Information Network

American Health Quality Association
The American Health Quality Association (AHQA) is an educational, not-for-profit national membership association dedicated to promoting and facilitating fundamental change that improves the quality of health care in America. AHQA represents quality improvement organizations (QIOs) and other professionals working to improve health care quality and patient safety.

Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society
The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) is a global, cause-based, not-for-profit organization focused on better health through information technology. HIMSS North America, a business unit within HIMSS, positively transforms health and health care through the best use of information technology in the United States and Canada by providing thought leadership, community building, professional development, public policy, and events.

Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative
Wisconsin Health Information Management Association
Wisconsin Hospital Association
Wisconsin Medical Society

American Health Information Management Association
Founded in 1928 to improve health record quality, the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) has played a leadership role in the effective management of health data and medical records needed to deliver quality health care to the public. AHIMA’s primary goal is to provide the knowledge, resources, and tools to advance health information professional practice and standards for the delivery of quality health care.

Employer Health Care Alliance Cooperative
The Alliance® is a not-for-profit member cooperative of more than 240 self-funded employers and insurance trusts. The Alliance contracts with over 90 hospitals, 18,300 total professional service providers, and more than 4,100 medical clinic sites in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Iowa. The Alliance provides information and resources to help employers develop a healthier workforce. The Alliance moves health care forward by controlling costs, improving quality, and engaging individuals in their health.

Center for Democracy & Technology Health - Privacy
The Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Headquartered in Washington, with an international presence in London and Brussels, CDT works inclusively across sectors and the political spectrum to find tangible solutions to today's most pressing internet policy challenges. They work to preserve the user-controlled nature of the internet and champion freedom of expression.

Drug Information
Drugwatch.com is a for-profit company that advocates for consumers injured by prescription drugs and medical devices. They provide the latest information on drugs and devices that may have life-changing side effects or complications, including information on recalls, lawsuits, and well-researched news, articles, and personal stories of people injured by these devices.

Leapfrog Group
Founded in 2000 by large employers and other purchasers, Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit organization driving a movement for giant leaps forward in the quality and safety of American health care. The flagship Leapfrog Hospital Survey collects and transparently reports hospital performance, empowering purchasers to find the highest-value care and giving consumers the lifesaving information they need to make informed decisions. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, Leapfrog’s other main initiative, assigns letter grades to hospitals based on their record of patient safety, helping consumers protect themselves and their families from errors, injuries, accidents, and infections.

National Governors Association Center for Best Practices
Founded in 1908, the National Governors Association (NGA) is the collective voice of the nation’s governors and one of Washington, D.C.'s most respected bipartisan public policy organizations. Through NGA, the governors of the 55 states, territories, and commonwealths share best practices, speak with a collective voice on national policy, and develop innovative solutions that improve state government and support the principles of federalism.

The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices develops innovative solutions to today's most pressing public policy challenges and is the only research and development firm that directly serves the nation's governors.