Department of Health Care Policy & Financing:

1. Department of Health Care Policy & Financing: State plans for an electronic consult (eConsult) system.

3. An electronic consultation/referral (eConsult) program would enable primary care and specialist providers to quickly and easily exchange clinical questions, messages and share patient medical records as part of a medical consultation process via a secure online HIPAA-compliant telemedicine system. • eConsult - What is it?

4. It is estimated that 30 percent of referrals could be avoided if additional forms of communication between PCPs and specialists were available. • The Potential Importance of an eConsult System:

5. The Doc2Doc study in Oklahoma 2007-12: • Established network of 502 providers (including 208 specialists) • Managed more than 110,000 patient referrals and online telemedicine consultations. • Benefits included • Reduced wait times for access to specialty care. • Reductions in unnecessary specialty visits. • Cost savings of over $130 PMPM for patients receiving eConsults when compared to patients who were simply referred for specialist visits. • eConsult Program Results

6. A survey of PCPs using San Francisco General Hospital’s program showed that, “seventy-two percent of primary care providers reported that electronic referrals improved overall clinical care compared to prior methods.” • Providers Appreciate eConsultSystems:

7. High Interest in Colorado:

8. Access & Efficiency Improvements?

9. The Department is working with CORHIO: • Working to identify an eConsult program option. • Establishing funding Authority: • Working with CMS to ascertain Colorado authority to fund an eConsult Program. • Initiate mechanisms to reimburse providers’ eConsult work. • The Department hopes to pilot an eConsult program in early-2015. • Establishing eConsult in Colorado

10. Thank You!