Oregon's Immunization ALERT is a statewide registry linking data from public and private providers. ALERT is a fully developed immunization registry with data from 97% of county health departments, 80% of private providers, Oregon's largest health plans, electronic birth records, and other sources. Approximately 96% of children through age two have immunization records in ALERT.
The key strategies for developing Oregon's immunization registry were collaboration with managed care, an innovative funding arrangement with Oregon Medicaid (OMAP), developing enthusiastic support from private providers, and achieving a high volume of data transmitted to the registry. The primary challenges to achieving full operational status have been maintaining the partnerships, developing security and confidentiality laws and policies, working through difficult technical challenges, and sustaining long-term operations through expanded private funding sources.
ALERT's budget is shared through Oregon Health Systems in Collaboration (OHSIC), a private, non-profit representing the largest health systems/insurers in Oregon. Collaboration worked when the plans could achieve community goals that single member organizations cannot accomplish. The Immunization Program also has an agreement with OMAP to match dollar-for-dollar any non-federal, non-pharmaceutical funding procured by ALERT.
ALERT's unique private/public partnership of managed care, Medicaid, public health departments, and private providers has resulted in a comprehensive immunization registry. By using immunization information collected from both public and private sectors, ALERT is able to provide immunization assessments for providers and health plans to improve immunization practices in Oregon. ALERT also partners with managed care to provide patient recalls and reminders.
Learning Objectives: At the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) identify key strategies for building or sustaining an immunization registry to fully operational status; 2) discuss challenges in the development of an immunization registry; and 3) describe innovative partnerships and funding opportunities for immunization registries
Keywords: Immunizations, Registry
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.