Electronic Case Reporting (eCR) in Louisiana

Electronic Case Reporting (eCR) in Louisiana

eCR is the automated generation and transmission of case reports from electronic health records to state and local public health agencies for public health response. eCR captures patient and clinical data, which are critical for disease tracking, case management, and contact tracing. This real-time exchange of information allows quicker feedback from public health to healthcare about reportable conditions and prevents possible outbreaks.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Promoting Interoperability Programs (PIP) and Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) require the eCR measure as part of the Public Health and Clinical Data Exchange Objective for eligible hospitals and critical access hospitals (CAHs) and for eligible clinicians. Louisiana declared readiness for eCR in 2022.

Electronic Case Reporting Information:

Onboarding

• Check that your electronic health record (EHR) vendor is on the Certified IT Products list 
• Verify that your EHR vendor can generate HL7 CDA R2
• Communicate intent to participate in eCR by completing the Louisiana eCR registration form. The form will ask for information such as:
  
  • Organization name
  • Organization address
  • CLIA Number
  • EHR vendor
  • Conditions to be sent
  • Primary contact information (including phone number and e-mail address)

Implementation

• LA eCR team will connect you with the CDC eCR team to initiate technical onboarding with APHL Integrated Messaging Service (AIMS) team and your EHR vendor.
• Work with your EHR vendor and the AIMS team to implement a connection to the AIMS hub.

Testing/Validation

• Enter a testing and validation phase where your eCR data undergo basic testing and validation by AIMS and further testing and validation by the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH).

Parallel Production

• Once the CDC eCR Team approves you to send Production data (“go-live”), LDH validates production data in the state’s TEST environment while you maintain manual reporting.

Note: DO NOT turn off manual reporting until you have received an official notification from LDH authorizing you to discontinue manual reporting.

Production

• LDH moves data to the Production environment and continues to monitor data. You are notified to turn off manual reporting.

Resources

• CDC: Electronic case reporting (eCR)
• APHL, AIMS Platform: eCR - Electronic Case Reporting
• AIMS Validator
• Louisiana Promoting Interoperability Program (formerly Meaningful Use)
• CMS Promoting Interoperability Programs
• CDC: List of products ready for general HCO onboarding
• AIMS Readiness and Implementation Checklist
• HL7 eICR CDA R2 Implementation Guide & Standard: HL7 Standards
• eCR Now FHIR App
• Louisiana Tumor Registry: Cancer Reporting

*For cancer-related eCR inquiries, please reach out to the LA Tumor Registry.

Is it mandatory to report via eCR?

The State of Louisiana does not mandate reporting via eCR. However, CMS PIP and MIPS require the eCR measure as part of the Public Health and Clinical Data Exchange Objective for eligible hospitals and CAHs and for eligible clinicians.

What is the benefit of registering intent to submit eCR?

Registering intent to submit eCR to your public health agency is a way to demonstrate active engagement for CMS PIP and MIPS requirements.

How are eCR and ELR different?

Electronic laboratory reporting (ELR) is the electronic transmission of laboratory reports that identify notifiable conditions. ELR is sent from laboratories to public health agencies. eCR is the automatic generation of an initial case report based on reportable conditions as determined by public health agencies. eCR is sent from a provider’s EHR system to public health agencies for review and further action as needed.

What file types are acceptable for Louisiana electronic case reporting?

Louisiana uses the HL7 electronic initial case report (eICR) standards (R1.1 and R3) for electronic case reporting (eCR) and to support the new CMS Promoting Interoperability regulations for eCR. It is these standards that we will use to eventually eliminate manual reporting requirements.

What conditions are required to be reported via eCR?

Louisiana is accepting all reportable conditions for eCR. Please refer to Louisiana Sanitary Code LAC 51:II.105 for a list of reportable conditions. Some reportable conditions may not be immediately available to be received via eCR. Your organization will still be responsible for submitting those conditions manually until approved otherwise.

How can I obtain a letter of attestation to validate meting CMS requirements?

If you need attestation documentation to validate meeting CMS requirements, please email us at [email protected]. Please contact the LA eCR Team to register intent to submit eCR or if you have questions.

Email: [email protected]