RD224 - Virginia Health Information (VHI) 2011 Annual Report and Strategic Plan Update


Executive Summary:
Virginia has long supported the concept of transparency of health care information. In 1996, House Bill 1307 was signed into Chapter 7.2, Health Care Data Reporting of the Virginia Code to improve the Commonwealth’s health care cost and quality initiatives. This legislation directs the Commissioner of Health to contract with a non-profit, tax-exempt health data organization to develop and implement health data projects that provide useful information to consumers and purchasers of health care, to providers including health plans, to hospitals and to nursing facilities and physicians. In implementing § 32.1-276.4(A) of the Code of Virginia, the Commissioner contracts with Virginia Health Information (VHI) to serve as the health data organization that provides these services.

Another part of the law, Section § 32.1-276.4(B)(6) requires the Board of Directors of the non-profit data organization (i.e., the VHI Board) to submit, as appropriate, strategic plans to the Board of Health, the Governor and the General Assembly.

As required by this law, the strategic plans submitted by the VHI Board shall:

• Recommend specific data projects to be undertaken and specify the data elements that will be required from health care providers

• Incorporate similar activities of other public and private entities to maximize the quality of data projects and to minimize the cost and duplication of data projects

• Evaluate the continued need for and efficacy of current data initiatives and

• Include the use of patient level data for public health purposes.

In addition to the strategic plans that must be submitted by the VHI Board, § 32.1-276.4(B)(5) requires the VHI Board to submit annual reports to the Board of Health, the Governor and the General Assembly. These annual reports must include a certified audit (See Appendix A, Financial Statements) and provide information on the accomplishments, priorities and current and planned activities of Virginia Health Information.

The VHI Board of Directors submits this 2011 document as its Annual Report and Strategic Plan Update.

Karen Remley, MD, MBA
State Health Commissioner