“It is Time!”
Commentary on the Promises
and Pitfalls of HIT for
Improving Children’s
Healthcare
Lisa A. Simpson, MB, BCh, MPH, FAAP
National Director, Child Health Policy, NICHQ
and Endowed Chair, Child Health Policy,
University of South Florida
Five Questions

Can we create and maintain the focus?
– In general?
– On children?
– At what cost?




Can children “go where no one has gone before”?
What is the role of states in HIT for children?
How can the HIT agenda and Medicaid reform be
linked?
What is the role of the CHSR community?
1. Can We Create and
Maintain the Focus?

The indicators are positive…
–
–
–
–
It is a Presidential priority
It survived a Secretarial transition
There is public and private consensus
It even brought Bill and Hillary together
1. Can We Create and
Maintain the Focus?

The indicators are positive…
–
–
–
–
It is a Presidential priority
It survived a Secretarial transition
There is public and private consensus
It even brought Bill and Hillary together
…Bill Frist, that is!
1. Can We Create and
Maintain the Focus?


The indicators are positive…
Children’s interests are gaining a voice…
– Through activism within ONCHIT, CDC, AHRQ,
HRSA and others
– Through the efforts of the Pediatric Steering Group
– Through the efforts of HL7
– Through the efforts of the National Child Health
Data Standards Workgroup & related NICHQ
efforts
1. Can We Create and
Maintain the Focus?

The indicators are positive
Children’s interests are gaining a voice

At what cost?

– Having a clear priority means other issues
are NOT
– Broader quality efforts are sidelined
– HIT is a means to an end only
– It’s about quality after all!
2. Can Children “Go Where No One
Has Gone Before”?
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


CHALLENGES
Child health providers are
behind others in HIT
adoption
Child health IT is
“different” – but maybe not
so much
Translation and diffusion
challenges are multiplied
by 50+ different
states/programs
Evidence base on HIT &
safety/quality/costs is
smaller
2. Can Children “Go Where No One
Has Gone Before”?




CHALLENGES
Child health providers are
behind others in HIT
adoption
Child health IT is
“different” – but maybe not
so much
The “business case” for
quality is even harder
Translation and diffusion
challenges are multiplied
by 50+ different
states/programs




OPPORTUNITIES
Child health community
has a history of
collaboration
Public policy could move
the market
We have 50+ settings for
testing out the best
approaches
Hillary likes kids
2. Can Children “Go Where No One
Has Gone Before”?




CHALLENGES
Child health providers are
behind others in HIT
adoption
Child health IT is
“different” – but maybe not
so much
The “business case” for
quality is even harder
Translation and diffusion
challenges are multiplied
by 50+ different
states/programs




OPPORTUNITIES
Child health community
has a history of
collaboration
Public policy could move
the market
We have 50+ settings for
testing out the best
approaches
Hillary likes kids – and as
far as we know, so does Bill
– Frist that is!
3. Role of States

Use policy to promote HIT adoption
– Florida Medicaid and PDAs
Test out models of PFP for HIT
 Monitor and reduce the digital divide
 Measure impact

4. HIT and Medicaid Reform
AHIC and Medicaid Commission
 Legislative and administrative
strategies

–
–
–
–
FFP rates
Provider Conditions of Participation
Incentives
Reporting requirements
5. Charge to the CHSR Community

What difference will HIT make to
children’s healthcare?
– Its safety, quality, costs, timeliness,
patient-centeredness and equity?
Can we develop, test and spread
innovations that promote effective
HIT applications?
 Can we “speak truth to power”?

Thank You!
Aladdin
 Bambi
 The Lion King
 Finding Nemo
 The Incredibles

Thank You!
Aladdin
 Bambi

The
Lion King
Finding Nemo
 The Incredibles
