This page is specific to the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (Iowa HHS) Promoting Interoperability Program and hospitals, critical access hospitals, and healthcare providers pursuing related measures and objectives. Promoting Interoperability (formerly Meaningful Use) is a national initiative to implement information technology for the ultimate purpose of improving patient care. The approach has historically been presented in three distinct stages and includes several public health objectives:
Stage 1: Data collection & sharing (implementation of electronic health record systems) - achieve during federal fiscal year (FFY) 2011-2013*
Stage 2: Advanced clinical processes - achieve during FFY 2014-2015*
Measure: The eligible provider (EP) is in active engagement with a PHA to submit immunization data and receive immunization forecasts and histories from the public health immunization registry/immunization information system (IIS).
Bidirectional exchange is available and required to achieve the objective. Contact the IRIS Help Desk at 800-374-3958 ext. 3 or 4, if a bidirectional exchange has not yet been established.
Active Engagement with IRIS can be met by:
Testing and Validation: The EP is in the process of testing and validation of the electronic submission of data. EPs must respond to requests from the PHA or, where applicable, the CDR within 30 days; failure to respond twice within an EHR reporting period would result in that EP not meeting the measure.
Production: The EP has completed testing and validation of the electronic submission and is electronically submitting production data to the PHA or Clinical Data Repository.
Objective: Capability to submit electronic data on reportable (as required by state or local law) lab results to PH agencies and actual submission in accordance with applicable law and practice.
On May 6, 2026, existing health information exchange services that facilitated electronic laboratory reporting in Iowa were terminated and a new health information exchange vendor took over. Because of the rapid timeline of transition and prioritization of reconnecting facilities, between May 7, 2026 and May 31, 2026 some providers may not have had an ability to participate in electronic lab reporting due to the PHA not being capable of receiving ELR results during those days.
Objective: The eligible hospital, CAH, or eligible provider is in active engagement with a public health agency to submit case reporting of reportable conditions
Objective: Capability to submit electronic syndromic surveillance data to PH agencies and actual submission in accordance with applicable law and practice.
On May 6, 2026, existing health information exchange services that facilitated syndromic surveillance in Iowa were terminated. At this time, Iowa providers do not operate in a jurisdiction where the PHA is capable of receiving electronic syndromic surveillance data from eligible hospitals or CAHs in the specific standards required to meet the CEHRT definition at the start of the EHR reporting period.
It is anticipated that Iowa will be ready to receive Syndromic Surveillance again no later than August 2026.
Public Health Registries
Objective: The eligible hospital or CAH is in active engagement with a public health agency to submit data to one or more public health registries.
List items for Public Health Registries
Capability to identify and report cancer cases to a public health central cancer registry, except where prohibited, and in accordance with applicable law and practice.
This measure is NOT applicable for hospitals or critical access hospitals.
If you are interested in learning more about reporting cancer cases to the Iowa Cancer Registry, please contact the Iowa Cancer Registry Operations Director, Suzanne Bentler at [email protected]
The Iowa Newborn Screening Information System (INSIS) is a secure, web-based system for reporting demographics and newborn hearing screening results in Iowa. This specialized registry option is available to eligible birthing facilities who conduct these types of newborn screenings and follow-up testing. INSIS has the capacity to receive newborn demographics and hearing screening data electronically from electronic health records using HL7 messaging. For more information, contact [email protected]
Converge Health Iowa provides the infrastructure and other services for Iowa’s health information network. Please visit the Converge Health Iowa website for more information: Converge Health Iowa
