Delaware Health Information Network (DHIN)

In 1999 - 2000, while completing the International Executive MBA Program at Georgetown University, Dr. Mike Katz developed and wrote a business plan to establish a Delaware statewide integrated health information network leveraging evolving web technology. At the time, the term DHIN (Delaware Health Information Network) referred to a state entity created by Governor Tom Carper in the 1990’s. The DHIN originally was a paper repository and did not have a clinical technology capability.

Dr. Katz’s 2000 business plan was the birth of Delaware’s technology platform know as the DHIN. With his business plan in hand, he developed a contract relationship with Medicity to provide the backend technology and support for Delaware’s statewide health information platform.

Dr. Katz based the DHIN initiative with the Medical Society of Delaware, working with MSD’s leadership to engage Delaware’s medical community. With MSD, the DHIN initiative recruited technology executives at Christiana Care. The DHIN team, lead by Dr. Katz, began the process of educating Delaware’s hospital executives on the concept of making Delaware the first state to adopt and implement a statewide Health Information Network.

Hospital executives were very enthusiastic about the idea of health providers and patients being able to access personal health information, testing, and hospital visits within their own community. But, at that time, executives were not willing to share patient information with other hospitals due to competitive concerns.

Dr. Katz, along with MSD leadership, decided that it would be helpful to bring the technology initiative to Delaware’s Health Care Commission with the goal of bringing hospitals and state agencies to the table to workout a plan to implement a statewide integrated health information network. MSD and Dr. Katz had concerns about bringing the technology initiative to the state agency due to potential corruption and mismanagement. The technology initiative was subsequently handed over to the state agency and, unfortunately, concerns about mismanagement and corruption came true.

When Dr. Katz entered Delaware’s State Senate, he immediately turned his attention to restructuring the DHIN into a public-private partnership that required the entity to be financial self-sufficient with regular oversight and transparency.

The introduction of SB80 by SB231: Dr. Katz began the very contentious two-year battle to eradicate corruption from the DHIN and to ensure that it began to meet the best interests of all patients and Delawareans.

SB80 followed by SB This Bill creates the Delaware Health Consortium, charged with implementing and operating a State wide health information network. The network will enable ready communication throughout the State of clinical and financial health information. It establishes a twelve member oversight board, governed under the Freedom of Information Act, to adopt bylaws and to govern the affairs of the DHC. The Bill also provides for criminal and civil immunity from suit for Board members and employees conducting the affairs of the DHC. It also requires an annual report and annual audits of the DHC’s operations and financial positions.

This legislation provides a more permanent governance structure for the Delaware Health Information Network (DHIN), by removing the DHIN from the organizational structure of the Delaware Healthcare Commission and by moving toward a more traditional public/private corporation model of governance. The bill also imposes greater accountability and transparency with annual detailed reports to the Governor and the General Assembly, including annual certified audits and a detailed business/sustainability plan. The bill provides for a balanced board, with representation from the healthcare industry and government, including the State’s Director of Management and Budget and the Controller General. This legislation maintains the current law with respect to the protection of the privacy of patient specific information and limitations on liability. This legislation is the product of significant input and effort from the Joint Sunset Committee and its staff.

 

The Creation of a Delaware Statewide Health Information Network

Katz_-_Statewide_Health_Information_Network_SB80_145th.pdf

 

Katz_-_Statewide_Health_Information_Network_Senate_Amendment_1_SB80_145th.pdf

 

Katz_-_Senate_Amendment_3_to_SB80_145th.pdf

 

Katz_-_Statewide_Health_Information_Network_Senate_Substitute_1_SB80_145th.pdf

 

Katz_-_Statewide_Health_Information_Network_SB231_145th.pdf

Term Limits for the Delaware General Assembly: Katz SB 61, 146th General Assembly

Term Limits for the Delaware General Assembly

Establishing an Independent Council to Evaluate State Services and to Develop a Five Year Plan to Restructure and Reorganize State Government.

The State of Delaware is undergoing the largest budget challenges in recent history. The services that The State Government provides under the current operational structure do not match revenues that the State can reasonably or responsibly expect to generate. The State government has not undergone in recent memory global operational and structural review or transformational improvements. A prioritization of State delivered products and services, a plan to restructure and reorganize State Government is necessary.

 

Establishing an Independent Council to Evaluate State Services and to Develop a Five Year Plan to Restructure and Reorganize State Government

Comprehensive Lobby Reform, Financial Reporting, Conflict of Interest Prohibitions, Unethical Conduct (Katz: SB 141, 146th General Assembly)

Comprehensive Lobby Reform: Katz SB 141, 146th General Assembly

No Person who is a Registered Lobbyist shall be employed by or perform consulting functions for any State agency, Commission, Council, Committee, or public body of the State of Delaware.

Prohibiting Registered Lobbyists from Performing Official Duties for Government

Establishes The Brandywine Valley National Scenic Byway Protection and Preservation Board: Katz SB 241, 146th General Assembly

The Brandywine Valley National Scenic Byway Protection and Preservation

Live Streaming of the Delaware State Senate: Katz SR 14, 146th General Assembly.

Live Streaming of the Delaware State Senate

Open and Transparent Redistricting Process with Public Participation: Katz SR 9, 146th General Assembly

Open and Transparent Redistricting Process

Prohibiting Members of the Delaware General Assembly from being Employed by the State of Delaware While in Office: Katz SB 217, 146th General Assembly

Prohibiting Members of the General Assembly from being Employed by the State of Delaware

Delaware Civil Unions Passage: SB30 146th Senate Administrative Services Committee Chaired by Senator Mike Katz: The Story Behind How the Bill Got Out of Committee.

The passage of SB30 in the 146th Senate was landmark legislation that opened the floodgates in Delaware for equality. Few know the behind the scenes stories, road blocks, and struggles of how SB30 was managed through the Senate Administrative Services Committee to subsequently be signed out of The Senate Administrative Services Committee.

Through significant obstacles and Senate divide, Senator Katz created significant behind the scenes pressure and leverage to overcome Senate resistance to signing SB30 out of the Senate Committee. Only a select few know that, at the conclusion of the Senate hearing of SB30, there were not enough signatures in support of the Bill to move SB30 out of committee for a full Senate hearing.

Once Senator Katz was able obtain the required number of signatures through leverage and behind the scenes negotiations to move SB30 out of the Senate Administrative Services Committee, the Bill was then able to move to the Senate floor for passage, followed by passage in the Delaware House and finally to be signed into law by Governor Markell.

As the Chair, Senator Katz was completely committed to efficiently and effectively moving SB30 through the Senate Administrative Services Committee to enable it to be heard and voted upon by the entire Senate. But Senator Katz knew that this Bill had high visibility and would attract significant interference.

Senator Katz, through careful planning and management, was able to overcome behind the scenes Democratic Senate undermining and obstruction, including dealing with Democratic Committee members who were instructed to not sign the Bill out of Committee.

Over the years, the passage of  SB30 resulted in opening the doors for the passage of further legislation to improve and expand equality for all Delawareans.

Delaware Civil Unions Passage: SB30 146th Senate Administrative Services Committee Chaired by Senator Mike Katz