Cross-Reference: Information Resource Management Administration
TITLE: POLICY ON THE ORGANIZATION AND OPERATION OF THE MARYLAND
HEALTH INFORMATION COORDINATING COUNCIL
SHORT TITLE: HICC POLICY
I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Maryland Health Information
Coordinating Council (HICC) serves as a permanent, senior-level,
decision-making and implementation body for carrying out Department of
Health and Mental Hygiene's
(DHMH's)
information resources management responsibilities. As a department-wide
partnership of all stakeholders, the Council provides recommendations on key
components of the Department's
IRM program and policies to the Director of the Information Resources
Management Administration (IRMA), who is the Council Co-Chair.
The purpose of the Health Information
Coordinating Council is to ensure that DHMH's
investments in information resources are managed efficiently and effectively
in support of the Department's
mission. Specifically, the Council makes recommendations to the CIO
regarding approval of:
*
The Department's
Strategic IRM Plan
*
The Department's
IRM Budget
*
Major IRM contracting strategy
*
Department-wide IRM policies and standards
II. BACKGROUND
DHMH's
success in its mission requires ready access to data, both by the Department's
staff and by others. Having sound information policies and practices, and
efficient, responsive information systems is a key priority of DHMH's
senior management team. The Department is committed to gathering and
analyzing the data needed to evaluate health risks and trends, measure
health program results, and educate individuals throughout the State, making
policy decisions, and implementation of interventions to effect change.
DHMH is also committed to promoting and supporting innovative technical
solutions to health information problems. A sound IRM program is critical
to the Department's
ability to provide objective, reliable, and understandable information for
these purposes.
The Director, Information Resources
Management Administration serves as the DHMH Chief Information Officer
(CIO). The Health Information Coordinating Council is organized to ensure
that the CIO has an appropriate forum to conduct discussions, review and
endorse policies, increase IRM awareness and support, and receive
recommendations from senior managers regarding critical IRM issues affecting
the Department. State and local partners, and the public at large.
The Council makes recommendations to the
CIO regarding approval of the Department's
Strategic IRM Plan, the IRM budget, major IRM contracting strategy, and
Department-wide IRM policies and standards. Recommendations and unresolved
issues from the HICC are presented to the Executive Board. The Executive is
comprised of the Secretary, Deputy Secretaries, IRM Director, Local Health
Officer(s) and the Secretary's
Chief of Staff. One of the Executive Directors of the Commissions will
serve on the Executive Board designated by the Secretary.
This policy recognizes the independent
authority and responsibilities granted to the Health Services Cost Review
Commission, and Health Care Commission, and is not intended to impede their
independence. Any provisions in previous policies, charters, manuals, or
other DHMH directives that may be inconsistent with this policy are hereby
superseded.
DHMH Policy 02.01.05 supersedes and
replaces DHMH 1040, Policy on the Organization and Operation of the Maryland
Health Information Coordinating Council, which became effective October 6,
1997.
III. POLICY STATEMENTS
A. MEMBERSHIP
1. The Director, Information
Resources Management Administration is a Co-Chair.
2. The Maryland Association of
County Health Officers (MACHO)will designate the other Co-Chair.
3. The Maryland Health Information
Coordinating Council shall represent all DHMH organizations and Local Health
Department partners to ensure a broad set perspectives on IRM issues.
Members hold senior management positions which enable them to speak for
their organizations.
4. Staff and logistical support will be
provided by the Information Resources Management Administration.
5. Members of the Council include:
a. All Administration Directors
b. All MACHO Data Committee members
c. The Director, Health Services Cost
Review Commission
d. The Director, Health Care Commission
e. A Senior member of the Office of
Attorney General
f. A DHMH Facility Superintendent
g. A Board Member (to represent all
Boards)
h. The Inspector General, DHMH
6. The Facility Superintendent is
selected by the Deputy Secretary, Public Health Services.
7. The Board representative is selected
by the Secretary.
8. Advisory members may be appointed by
the Secretary upon recommendation of the Council. Advisory members will not
have voting rights. Advisory members may be excluded from some of the
Council's
procurement, sensitive, or confidential discussions, as determined by the
Council Co-Chairs.
9. Members may designate one senior
member of their staff to represent them at HICC meetings. The designee must
have authority to commit resources on behalf of the member's
organization.
B. WORKGROUPS
1. The work of the Council is intended to
be accomplished through workgroups, which may include nonmembers, established
on an ad-hoc or standing basis, to gather facts and information. The scope of
the work of the workgroups may be broad, ranging from sponsorship of new
information systems development projects, to conducting policy analyses, or
examining technical IRM issues.
2. All workgroups will be led by a member
of the HICC, report directly to HICC, and may be responsible for producing
plans, schedules, reports or position papers covering the results of their
work.
C. MEETING
1. The Council will meet monthly.
Meetings may be called at other times, subject to the timing of decisions and
recommendations of the Chair.
2. The Council's
meeting calendar is closely coordinated with the budget cycle to ensure agenda
items affecting resource decisions are appropriately scheduled.
D. VOTING
1. Voting is restricted to Council
members.
2. Voting is either conducted during
meetings or through correspondence from the Chair.
3. Approval of action items will require a
simple majority of votes by those members in attendance at meetings when a
vote is taken, or a majority of votes of all Council members only when
voting through correspondence.
4. Other than for the Council's
administrative matters, voting will occur only when an item is on the agenda
which has been sent to members in advance.
E. AGENDA
1. The Chair structures the agenda and
solicits recommendations from members.
2. Unless a meeting is called on an
emergency basis, the agenda is to be communicated to members in advance of the
meeting.