Texas E-Health Alliance is a 601(c)(6) corporation founded in 2009 that brings together the provider, corporate, non-profit and academic health care communities with policymakers in order to create an effective e-health policy for Texas.
The Texas e-Health Alliance is a premier entity that leaders in the Texas legislature, the Governor, and various state agencies refer to on matters related to all aspects of e-health, from HIE to telemedicine to remote monitoring. The organization engages in such activities as: advocating on behalf of e-health to the legislature and state agencies, providing timely news and updates to members, and facilitating communications efforts with the media and the general public. Membership is open to any organization that has an interest in helping shape e-health policy, and is governed by a member board, with support from a full-time, professional staff. The board meets quarterly, and is responsible for creating advisory committees on specific e-health issues and will assign board members to serve on those committees.
Promoting legislative, executive and regulatory policies that promote the adoption of e-health by health care providers and payers
Organizing and hosting an annual summit to foster dialogue and networking among leading e-health experts from both the private sector and local, state and federal government;
Creating and distributing newsletters, emails, blogs, seminars and commissioned studies on the economic impact, cost containment, and quality improvement impact that the appropriate deployment of e-health can provide; and
Supporting the efforts of health care providers and collaboratives to organize local health information exchanges (HIEs) across Texas.
Spearheading and supporting The University of Texas' College of Natural Sciences creation of a new Health IT Summer Certificate Program. As of August 26, 2010 this program received 2.7 million dollars in federal funding, and graduated its first class of 54 students this past summer.
Active participation in the state health information exchange planning and implementation process with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and the Texas Health Services Authority.
TeHA will be represented on all the THSA workgroups and will be meeting regularly with THSA leadership and staff.
Providing support to HHSC as they develop their Medicaid/CHIP health information exchange.
Developing a workforce plan for Texas to support provider transition to meaningful use in conjunction with other stakeholders such as universities, community colleges, and trade associations like TechAmerica.
Working with the research community to ensure that EMR/EHR implementation that also supports meaningful clinical research.
Partnering with the Texas Medical Association on provider education initiatives such as a guide of physicians on how to select and participate in RHIOs.
Developing a Texas CMIO academy to support our hospital and health system CMIOs.
Establishing a speakers’ bureau to link the best of industry resources to providers and community leaders.
Working with telemedicine stakeholders and the Texas Medical Board to ensure that telemedicine services are available to patients in need, with a focus on those areas that have provider shortages.
