Legal and Policy Issues in Systems Integration for Maternal-Child Health

Legal and Policy Issues in Systems Integration for Maternal-Child HealthJulia F. Costich, JD, PhDDept. of Health Management & PolicyUniv. of Ky. College of Public Health

A. Fundamental questions

1. What are the partner organizations allowed to do under the terms of their funding?

2. What are the limits on the population (e.g., age limits) or geographic area (e.g., under state-specific or municipal award) that can be served?

3. Are there requirements addressing governance (e.g., proportion of patients/beneficiaries in governance body)?

A. Fundamental questions contd4. To what extent are any of these terms of funding binding upon partners (e.g., under contractual terms)?

5. What is the likely status of future funding? Is the award for a single year or longer?

6. Do the populations served and related advocacy groups support the proposed partnership?

B. Questions about relationships among partner organizations

1. Do the partner organizations report to the same or different entities in state or municipal agency structures?

2. What terms are required in memoranda of agreement and other contractual documents formalizing relationships among partner organizations? Can terms required for each partner be reconciled with those of the other partners?

3. If the organizations have collaborated in the past, did legal issues arise in their relationships?

B. Questions about relationships among partner organizations4. Who appointed the organizations leaders and those to whom they report? Are these individuals likely to be replaced after an upcoming electoral cycle?

5. Is there the political will on the part of leadership necessary to support some level of sharing or integration?

C. Data-related questions1. Can the prospective partner organizations share data under current law?

2. If not, what steps would be required to establish a legally sufficient basis for data-sharing?

3. Are agency/organization leaders willing to share data in the absence of legal barriers?

Questions?Julia.costich@uky.edu859-257-6712

Dr. Costich will be available to advise on legal and policy issues associated with systems integration projects through her participation on the National MCH Workforce Development Center.

Watch for more resources regarding legal and policy issues associated with systems integration in future postings!