Technical Assistance Program for Health Information Exchange (TAP4HIE)

The Florida Health Information Exchange (Florida HIE) operates as the “Backbone of Interoperability” for the state’s healthcare ecosystem, ensuring clinical data flows securely across the continuum of care.

As the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) administers the $209 million CMS Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), TAP4HIE is designed to equip potential applicants with the prerequisite technical architecture, workflow guidance, and data governance frameworks required to develop “shovel-ready” applications.

Critical Eligibility Requirement

To participate in this initiative, the primary participant organization MUST BE ABLE TO SIGN THE HIE PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT. This is a mandatory prerequisite to legally and securely access Florida HIE data feeds, portals, and interoperability tools.

Program Tracks & Responsibilities

TAP4HIE emphasizes the resource constraints inherent to rural healthcare delivery. Clinics, Critical Access Hospitals, and EMS agencies operate in dynamic environments with significant workforce shortages. Proposal approaches must aim to reduce administrative friction and minimize staff cognitive load.

Track 1: Direct Care Providers

Track 2: Technical Partners

Track 3: Outreach Partners

Primary Actor

Hospitals, FQHCs, RHCs, Skilled Nursing Facilities, Post-Acute Care Organizations, Managed Care Organizations, EMS, Mobile Integrated Health (MIH), and Community Paramedicine providers.

Reminder: Florida statutes mandate that hospitals and nursing homes utilizing certified EHR technology make ADT data available to the Florida HIE.

Core Requirement

Direct execution of a Participation Agreement with CRISP Shared Services (CSS), and subsequent connectivity with the Florida HIE.

Interaction Model

Full bi-directional data exchange (where applicable) via the Florida HIE network, and/or adoption of HIE portal applications such as Population Explorer for real-time ADT tracking, and/or Image Exchange capabilities.

Primary Actor

Software vendors, provider-visit telehealth platforms, electronic health records (EHR) vendors, and Electronic Patient Care Record (ePCR) vendors.

Core Requirement

Must operate as a formal sub-contractor or authorized technology partner to a Participant Organization (Track 1) and execute the necessary Business Associate Agreement (BAA) attestations with CSS.

Interaction Model

Must demonstrate technical compatibility with Florida HIE standards. Connections generally utilize standardized HL7, FHIR, or CSV file integrations to prevent the creation of standalone data silos.

Primary Actor

Community-based organizations, health care associations, and consultant groups.

Core Requirement

Must act as an authorized agent of a Participant Organization (Track 1), documented via a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) or Letter of Intent (LOI) to demonstrate a shared responsibility framework.

Interaction Model

Focus and emphasis on Participant Organization outreach engagement, and education. May lean more heavily on CSS for technical onboarding while emphasizing operational workflow optimization and training.

Important Disclaimer

TAP4HIE provides supplementary technical and operational guidance regarding interoperability. We do not determine or evaluate programmatic eligibility for RHTP sub-awards. For eligibility criteria, rural definitions, and organizational qualifications, applicants must defer entirely to the official grant guidelines and Request for Applications (RFA).