What is Community Information Exchange (CIE)?
Community information exchange (CIE) is a network of collaborative partners using a multidirectional technology platform to connect people to the services and supports they need.
- Partners may include human and social service, healthcare, and other organizations.
- Technology functions must include closed loop referrals, a shared resource directory, and informed consent.
CIE enables social service organizations and healthcare to coordinate more efficiently to address people's needs and can help address health equity at multiple levels in Oregon. CIE networks are foundational elements to address social determinants of health and build a more equitable system in Oregon.
Interested in joining a CIE?
CIE is available in all 36 counties in Oregon and is sponsored by CCOs, health systems, and health plans. Community partners, including CBOs, clinics, local public health departments (LPHAs), and others participate in these efforts throughout the state.
There are two main CIE efforts in Oregon - Connect Oregon/Unite Us and Findhelp (known in southern Klamath county as Healthy Klamath Connect).
Many types of organizations can join CIE for free. If your organization is interested in using CIE to connect people to social services and resources, you can contact:
OHA CIE Resources
To learn more about CIE see:
Initiatives
OHA's CIE Team monitors the CIE landscape, provides educational information, analyzes policies, and develops and implements strategies that support CIE efforts in Oregon.
CIE to Support Oregon's 2022-2027 1115 Medicaid Waiver
Oregon's 2022-2027 1115 Medicaid waiver requires using closed loop referrals to support the delivery of health-related social needs (HRSN) services, including housing, nutrition, home modifications for health, and outreach and engagement. Closed loop referral means exchanging information between organizations to make referrals and communicate about the status of referrals and services for an individual seeking services. CIE supports this waiver requirement and helps efficiently connect people with the services and resources they need, which helps eliminate health inequities.
See this flyer (Español) if you are an HRSN Service Provider or community partner interested in learning more about participating in CIE. It describes how CIE can help with HRSN services, functions beyond HRSN services, how to connect to a CIE system, and more.
Vea este folleto para proveedores de servicios de HRSN y colaboradores comunitarios si está interesado en participar en CIE.
To learn more about CIE and the waiver, including plans for a phased-in approach to CIE use for HRSN referrals and supports for HRSN Service Providers, see the CIE to Support Oregon's 1115 Medicaid Waiver Informational Brief.
CIE Procurement
OHA is procuring CIE to support Oregon's Medicaid Open Card program to meet the closed loop referral requirements under the waiver. OHA plans to contract with the two CIE vendors with a current presence in Oregon:
Findhelp and
Connect Oregon/Unite Us. OHA has no plans to disrupt the current CIE environment or CCOs' CIE contracts. Use of CIE for closed loop referrals will be phased in during the 1115 waiver implementation.
CIE Supports for HRSN Providers
OHA intends to partner with
HIT Commons to coordinate with CCOs to provide a range of supports for HRSN Providers to use CIE in 2026-2027. This will include direct training and technical assistance, regional workshops, CIE user guidance, and train the trainer opportunities. The focus of this technical assistance and support is guided by input from community-based organizations, HRSN Providers, and CCOs throughout 2025 and will be adapted as other support gaps are identified in the Oregon CIE landscape. Check back for more details and how to connect.
CIE Governance Exploration
OHA contracted with Portland State University's Oregon Consensus Program, a neutral consultant, for an independent assessment of community and partner readiness for a CIE governance process. In 2024, they completed interviews and several focus groups with partners. Results show interest among partners in community-driven CIE governance that centers the perspectives and priorities of community-based organizations; scope and structure of a community-driven governance process would need to be developed collaboratively. The full assessment, published in 2024 can be found here: Oregon Consensus: Community Information Exchange Governance Readiness Assessment.
Oregon Strategic Plan for Health IT 2024-2028: CIE Strategy
The Health Information Technology Oversight Council (HITOC) developed the Strategic Plan to provide high-level priorities for information technology (IT) over the next five years. One of the six Strategies is to "Support, accelerate, and improve statewide CIE." For more information, see the Strategic Plan webpage.
Past Initiatives
CIE Workgroup
The CIE Workgroup was chartered by the Health Information Technology Oversight Council (HITOC) under House Bill 4150 (2022) to provide recommendations on strategies to accelerate, support, and improve statewide CIE in Oregon. The Workgroup met monthly March through November 2022. The input of the CIE Workgroup, community-based organizations , and HITOC is reflected in a report submitted to the Oregon legislature in January 2023:
The report's recommendations were further informed by community-based organization interviews and a survey conducted by consultants Collective Health Strategies:
For more information visit the
HITOC Workgroup page or email
CIE.info@odhsoha.oregon.gov.