Membership: (§381.90, F.S.) 
The council shall be composed of the following members or their senior executive-level designees:
Secretary of the Department of Health (DOH) 
Director of the Agency for Healthcare Administration (AHCA) 
Attorney General (AG) 
Secretary of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) 
Secretary of the Department of Children and Families (DCF) 
Secretary of the Department of Corrections (DC) 
Commissioner of Education (DOE) 
Secretary of the Department of Elder Affairs (DOEA) 
State Treasurer/Insurance Commissioner (DOI) 
Secretary of the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) 
Executive Director of the Correctional Medical Authority (CMA) 
Two Representatives of County Health Departments (CHD) 
A Representative of Florida schools of public health chosen by the Board of Regents (BOR) 
A Representative of the Florida Association of Counties (FAC) 
A Representative of the Florida Healthy Kids Corporation

Council Members in Attendance:

David Taylor, representing the Department of Health
Carolyn Turner, representing the Agency for Health Care Administration
William Kearns, representing University of South Florida, College of Public Health (via phone)
Donald Bennett, representing the Correctional Medical Authority
Danny Jordon, representing Department of Children and Families
Rod Westall, representing the Department of Corrections (via phone)
Charles Faircloth, representing the Attorney General’s Office
George Hinchliffe, representing the Department of Juvenile Justice
Lisa Gill, representing the Florida Healthy Kids Corporation (via phone)

Council Members Absent:

Maureen Olson, representing the Department of Elder Affairs
Lee Cornman, representing the Department of Business and Professional Regulation
Gay Williams, representing Florida Association of Counties
Dr. John Heilman, representing Pinellas County Health Department
Rich Robleto, representing the Chief Financial Officer, Department of Financial Services
Vacancy, representing the Commissioner of Education
Vacancy, representing the County Health Departments

Others in Attendance: 

Susan Phillips, Statewide Research (DOH)
Stephanie Daugherty, Bureau of EMS (DOH)
Chaozhong Xiao (DOH)
Andrea Slapion, Brain & Spinal Cord Injury Program (DOH)
Ben Harris, Department of Children and Families (DCF)
Glenn Palmiere, Department of Children and Families (DCF)
David Reed, Department of Children and Families (DCF-Orlando)
Lori Schultz, DCF
Gary ______, DCF
Susan Swartz, Department of Corrections (DOC)
Jerry VanGuilder (AWI)
Leo Ours (AWI)
David Hagen (AWI)
Candance Hill, Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE)
Chris Tolia, Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE)
Allen Pearman (DOH)
Linda Brady (DOH)
Susan Dilmore (DOH)
David Griffith (DOH)
Paula McAuley (AHC A)
David Powers (AHCA)
Ken Baugh (AHCA)
Linda Husbands (AHCA)
Kathy Reep (Florida Hospital Association)-via phone
Bridget Singleton (Florida Healthy Kids Corporation)-via phone
Paula Tigert (Florida Healthy Kids Corporation)-via phone

I. Call to Order and Welcome: 
David Taylor, Chief Information Officer, Department of Health, called the Florida Health Information Systems Council meeting to order at approximately 1:00 p.m. and welcomed all participants. 

II. Roll Call: 
Attendees identified themselves and the organization they represented. Based upon the introductions, a quorum was established. Attendance is reflected above.

III. Approval of Minutes: 
The minutes of the Florida Health Information Systems Council meeting held May 15, 2003 were reviewed and approved without objection. 

IV. Data Sharing for Eligibility and Status Determination and Confirmation: An Open Discussion
Ben Harris (DCF/STO HHS Domain) and Danny Jordan (DCF)

Allen Pearman provided a brief history of the Florida Health Information Systems Council (FHISC) and specifically referenced the council’s web site (http://www.doh.state.fl.us/floridahisc/index.html) as a source for additional information on both the history and focus of the FHISC.

David Taylor then introduced this agenda topic with the observation that his experience at the county health department level of DOH had served to underscore the importance of information sharing especially in the area of eligibility/income determination for clients. He further observed that the charge to the council to “facilitate the identification, collection, standardization, sharing and coordination of health-related data among federal, state, local, and private entities” provided further encouragement and legitimacy to agency efforts to share data to promote program efficiencies and to reduce costs. 

Danny Jordan (DCF) was then introduced to provide background related to Children and Families efforts to exploit the advances of data sharing consistent with the fundamental objectives of that agency. He noted that the Human Services Domain (comprised of the Departments of Children and Families, Education, Elder Affairs, Health, Juvenile Justice, Veterans’ Affairs, the Agency for Health Care Administration, and Agency for Workforce Innovation) has been identified by the State Technology Offices as an initial focal point for the promotion of information sharing among state agencies. Primary focus of current efforts is the enabling of interagency data sharing by addressing whatever technical barriers may exist. In addition, the experience of the Department of Children and Families underscores the need for developing common data sharing agreements or service level agreements so that critical data can be accessed on a timely basis by all agencies requiring such access. In addition, data sharing should promote reconciliation of reporting such items as case loads and number of un-duplicated clients served by various agencies.

Ben Harris (DCF) was then introduced and provided introductory comments prior to the demonstration of the Unity One application that has been developed by DCF. A key hypothesis that he sought to confirm was that information exchanged electronically does not have any more restrictions for data sharing than would apply to a paper copy of the same information. The importance from a data sharing perspective is that agencies seem to be able to gain access to paper records but are not granted access to electronic versions of the same information. A key to the effective introduction of the Unity One, a DCF developed application, is the access to electronically maintained databases containing certain critical data for timely and efficient operation of DCF programs.

Technology has developed to a level that high levels of security can be maintained for electronically shared data. Technology no longer seems to be the issue preventing effective and efficient sharing of data.

The issue that has appeared to be a major barrier to full implementation is the development of standard data sharing or service level agreements that would facilitate data sharing among state agencies and community partners. 

Glenn Palmiere (DCF) was then introduce and provided background information on the Unity One application which is a possible web-based solution to integrating information across program disciplines and community-based care providers. Initially this system was developed for use in the G. Pierce Wood Memorial Hospital for use in the community placement of clients during the closure of that facility. As originally designed, this application limited views to a single client based upon the security and access levels granted to specific users. The system was then enhanced as part of a pilot implementing Senate Bill 1258 (2001 legislative session) in DCF District 1.

As part of the system development and implementation efforts, certain data needs or gaps were identified. These included such items as records of Medicaid eligibility, TANF eligibility, school attendance, immunization, juvenile justice system encounters, and health services received from public sector providers.

Unity One is characterized as a system that will permit secure data sharing without requiring rewriting of legacy systems. The potential uses are not limited to DCF. [It was noted that other alternative approaches are available which would support data sharing among state agencies including the use of DOH’s Enterprise Master Person Index (EMPI) and Integration Broker.] Mr. Palmiere then concluded with a demonstration of the Unity One System.

Upon conclusion of the demonstration, Ben Harris indicated that DCF will follow up with specific agencies on a one-on-one basis to obtain access to critical data for the Unity One system through interagency data sharing or service level agreements. Issues that arise during this process will be brought back to the council for review and development of specific recommendations to address data sharing barriers that are identified. 

V. Other Business

VI. Adjournment: A motion was made and seconded to adjourn. Without objection, the meeting was adjourned.