NJII, NJAMHAA to Manage $6 Million Investment to Confront Opioid Epidemic

On Apr 15, 2019

Newark-based New Jersey Innovation Institute (NJII), an NJIT Corporation, and the New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies (NJAMHAA) are partnering to lead project management and implementation of the Murphy administration’s $6 million investment in health information technology to address the opioid epidemic under the direction of the New Jersey Department of Health in collaboration with the New Jersey Department of Human Services. The funding is designed to support the implementation of electronic health records by behavioral health care providers in their facilities and their connection to other health care providers through the New Jersey Health Information Network (NJHIN).

The goal is to enhance coordination among substance use disorder providers and the rest of the health care system by providing increased access to electronic health records and promoting interoperability among them, which are critical elements in New Jersey’s strategy to address the opioid crisis. Substance abuse providers currently do not have adequate electronic health record systems. Approximately 60% of the providers in New Jersey surveyed by NJAMHAA reported they will require new platforms or upgrades.

“The fact is we all know there is a national opioid crisis,” said Tomas Gregorio, senior vice president, NJII Healthcare Systems Innovation. “In New Jersey, one of the biggest hurdles to combating this epidemic is the ability to share patient information between health care providers. Promoting secure interoperability between providers’ electronic health records via the NJHIN is one of the most effective tools for delivering critical information when needed most.”

NJII and NJAMHAA will be hosting a webinar May 1 on the Substance Use Disorder Promoting Interoperability Program. The webinar will provide milestone incentive payments to substance use disorder providers to gain access to electronic health records and to improve interoperability. You can register for the webinar by visiting: https://njii.com/njhin/ 

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