CMS, NRAA to Start Testing HIE System

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the National Renal Administrators Association (NRAA) have started to test its health information exchange (HIE) that will allow all dialysis providers to batch submit their data to CROWNWeb, according to a Nov. 2 post on the Project CROWNWeb website.

The NRAA unveiled the HIE on Oct. 6 at its annual conference in New Orleans. NRAA said it wants to minimize the cost to all providers, and the organization intends to provide the solution at cost with little to no margin.

With the HIE, the NRAA will act as an intermediary for the non-LDOs to electronically submit data to CMS. The NRAA said it will submit the same set of data elements that comes via batch from LDOs. All providers with EMRs will be able to submit CROWNWeb to CMS through the HIE, and any EMR vendor that can meet the technical requirements will be included.

Click HERE to read more about the NRAA HIE.

Here is the full announcement from Project CROWNWeb:

"CMS and the National Renal Administrators Association (NRAA) are testing the Health Information Exchange (HIE) - an electronic data submission solution that is designed to help meet the CROWNWeb data submission needs of small- and medium-sized dialysis organizations. CMS and the NRAA will start to analyze HIE data submitted via the Nationwide Health Information Network (NwHIN) gateway as a limited proof-of-concept project during CROWNWeb's Phase III release. As part of this solution, the NRAA will work with electronic medical record (EMR) vendors that meet the project's technical requirements. According to the NRAA, seven EMR vendors will participate in the pilot release. CMS and the NRAA will review the HIE pilot results, and determine the feasibility of making this solution widely available. Further details regarding the NwHIN gateway will be shared via www.projectcrownweb.org as work continues with NRAA to explore a solution that will help benefit the ESRD community as a whole."