In the second year of its Survey of Regional Health Information Organization Finance, the Healthcare IT Transition Group plans to look at the challenges of funding RHIOs that are in various stages of development.
Whether or not a RHIO can become a sustainable business remains the primary focus of the 2007 survey. HITG, a Tulsa, Okla.-based consulting firm, began seeking responses from RHIOs last week.
One key finding of the 2006 survey was that many RHIOs were relying on grants and other forms of contributions to stay in operation. Although the healthcare industry originally expected that RHIOs would become less dependent on grants, last year's survey found that 90 percent of the most successful self-supporting RHIOs still plan on applying for grants.
This information led to a concern that the perceived benefits of RHIOs may not translate into a commercially sustainable business model. The new survey is expected to shed more light on RHIOs' revenue needs and the likelihood of a shift away from grants.
Other questions the 2007 survey asks of its participants are:
• How do finances differ during startup, transition and production?
• How is the business model evolving?
• What forms of contributed and earned revenue are significant at what time?
• What mix of services and fees are successful RHIOs using?
• What are the best funding sources for a new RHIO?
The survey, open to all RHIO organizers, ends April 20. A full report on the findings will be released in June.