The Value of Health Care Information Exchange and Interoperability

This paper assesses the value of electronic health care information exchange and interoperability (HIEI) among providers (hospitals and medical group practices) and independent laboratories, radiology centers, pharmacies, payers, public health departments, and other providers. The authors created an HIEI taxonomy and combined published evidence with expert opinion in a cost-benefit model. Fully standardized HIEI could yield a net value of dollar 77.8 billion per year once fully implemented. Nonstandardized HIEI offers smaller positive financial returns. The clinical impact of HIEI for which quantitative estimates cannot yet be made would likely add further value. A compelling business case exists for national implementation of fully standardized HIEI. Much of the data, assumptions, and conclusions in this article are based on expert panels and opinion, rather than data on health outcomes. The models and arguments are well-presented, but the issues of validity and reliability of the data should be considered.