Partners

The creation of the MiHIN Resource Center was a recommendation of the MiHIN Conduit to Care report.  Established by Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) in response to this recommendation, the MIHIN Resource Center will support the State of Michigan’s role as convener and collaborator for health information exchange initiatives, including the development of Regional Health Information Organizations (RHIOs), along with inter-regional data exchange. This centralized body will have the ability to bring different regional exchange initiatives together by providing parameters, guidelines and support, and bridging gaps between regional efforts that are in various stages of development.

The MiHIN Resource Center will promote sustained efforts to: 1.) build governance structures; 2.) coordinate national, state, and local efforts; 3.) promote education; 4.) foster collaboration among stakeholders; 5.) raise consumer awareness, and 6.) develop financial and human resources. The Resource Center is a joint effort of Michigan State University and the Michigan Public Health Institute funded by a grant from MDCH in July 2007. The HIT Commission will serve as part of the Resource Center’s Advisory Board, ensuring that Michigan has a consistent and collaborative state-wide approach.

The Institute for Health Care Studies (IHCS) is the prime group on the MiHIN Resource Center from MSU. It is a unit within the Dean’s office of the College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University.  The IHCS was formed in 1995 for the purposes of providing policy analysis and technical assistance to the MDCH Medicaid program, quality improvement consultation to Medicaid managed care organizations, and to support university health services research and evaluation. These collaborative activities inform policymakers, state agencies, and others with a goal of improving health care delivery in Michigan. IHCS's mission is to improve the health care available to Michigan residents through research, policy analysis, education and outreach, and support of quality improvement activities.

The Institute developed the methodology for defining medical trading areas using Michigan Medicaid claims data to determine logical geographic boundaries for regional HIEs and to support HIE business plan projections for transaction volume.  The IHCS provided consultation to Michigan Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) to perform a similar claims analysis of commercial insured.  The combined Medicaid/BCBS data analysis has informed state policy makers and local communities regarding population size and provider participation necessary for successful HIE implementation.  The Michigan Department of Community Health has subsequently adopted the Medical Trading Area methodology requirement for its HIE planning and implementation grants. Both the University and the Institute for Health Care Studies have a leading role in the HIE Resource Center.

MPHI is a Michigan non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation authorized under Public Act 264 of 1989 as a cooperative venture of the State of Michigan Department of Community Health, University of Michigan, Michigan State University and Wayne State University, to plan, promote and coordinate all facets of health care services. MPHI frequently acts as an agent of the State of Michigan, and currently administers a number of health information technology initiatives on its behalf. The MPHI board of directors is chaired by the MDCH Director, or the Director’s representative.

MPHI was part of the Executive Leadership team and facilitator for the MiHIN Conduit to Care report. As a trusted and impartial facilitator, MPHI bring together diverse groups for the good of the mission.  By strictly adhering to the values of collaboration, excellence in service, neutrality, and integrity, MPHI can convene stakeholders and facilitate the work toward common objectives.  MPHI has earned its role of trusted mediator due to their long record of high quality, impartial work in complex, politically-charged environments.