May 2023

GeorgiaDirect from GaHIN is a secure email messaging service that lets providers and other care professionals send and receive encrypted health information with other trusted recipients via the internet.

Currently there are approximately 8,000 Georgia providers and users sending/ receiving more than 1,000,000 messages a year through GeorgiaDirect. These encrypted Direct messages meet HIPAA requirements for privacy and security.

While some EHRs incorporate the ability to securely exchange health information via Direct messaging, many do not have that ability plus there are numerous organizations which do not use EHRs. That’s where GeorgiaDirect comes in. GaHIN’s service enables those organizations and providers to obtain a Direct address at no cost.

In addition to medical practices, hospitals and health systems, organizations that can benefit from Direct messaging include:

• Behavioral health
• Clinics such as dialysis and asthma
• Dentists
• EMS
• FQHCs
• Long-term care
• Pharmacies
• Public health district offices
• Social/community-based organizations
• Therapists – physical, occupational, etc.

How do I apply?

Contact GaHIN before you begin your application, as our knowledgeable team can help streamline the process. Often we find that organizations already have the Direct messaging functionality available.

GeorgiaDirect Policies and Procedures, as well as the GeorgiaDirect Member Agreement and Direct Compliant Certificate Agreement, are all located on the GaHIN website. There is also a GeorgiaDirect Directory on the website which is updated monthly.

Benefits of GeorgiaDirect include:

• Eliminates the administrative burden and costs incurred with phone calls, faxes, and couriering paper files
• Improves coordination of care by securely sharing patient health information between providers such as referrals, treatment summaries and discharge instructions 
• Meets interoperability requirements for health information exchange of electronic summary of care records and other patient records
• Provides connections to public health registries

GeorgiaDirect Users Have Access to eCR

As of January 1, 2022, electronic case reporting (eCR) is required by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Promoting Interoperability Program for eligible hospitals and critical access hospitals and the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Promoting Interoperability (PI) Performance Category for eligible clinicians.

Here’s how it works:

eCR benefits everyone involved in case reporting. It provides timely and more complete data than manual reporting and decreases the burden on both healthcare facilities and public health staff. There are currently more than 100 conditions that can be reported using eCR, including opioid overdose, foodborne illnesses and neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s disease.

Contact us to determine whether eCR and GeorgiaDirect can benefit your organization!

Copyright 2023 Georgia Health Information Network (GaHIN). All Rights Reserved.