School board to meet

Wyoming Department of Health officials are set to launch the “total health record” this summer, the state’s version of an electronic program centered around Medicaid patient care.
Headed by Dr. James Bush, the Medicaid medical director at the Department of Health, the statewide program should open the door for the state to more efficiently allocate its resources and maximize its care. Bush said the program also benefits patients and care providers.

Wyoming has the chance to be a national leader in implementing electronic medical records, Bush said. This is particularly due to the state’s small population, making it easier to implement a centralized system.

The Medicaid program should be administered by the software company Cyber Access. The main goal is to promote a patient-centered medical home, Bush said. It would push patients to get most of their care from a general physician, promoting preventative care and ideally reducing instances of large Medicaid claims that come with dramatic health problems.

Phase one, electronic billing, has been implemented, Bush said, with participation from 20 clinics. The system should be offered for implementation in physician offices with the highest percentage of Medicaid patients.