On April 3, 2012, COCHS with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Public Welfare Foundation held Health Reform and Criminal Justice: Integrating Jails into Health Information Exchanges. The conference focused attention on the potential of health information exchange in conjunction with that Afordable Care Act to facilitate electronic continuity of care between jails and the communities in which they reside.

Despite the critical role that local and county jails play as health care providers for some of society’s most vulnerable populations, they generally are left out of broader discussions concerning the national movement to expand health information technology, including through the development of HIEs and electronic health record (EHRs) systems. But in order for health information technology to achieve its full potential to improve population health and bend the health care cost curve, jails need to be part of this technology.

The keynote speaker for this convening was Judy Murphy Deputy National Coordinator for Programs and Policy at the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology.

In addition, specifically produced for this conference was The Unseen Provider, a short documentary that illustrated the need and benefit of creating connectivity between community and correctional providers through health information exchanges.