Reentry Health Information Exchange for Justice Involved Individuals with Substance Use Disorders

The Louisiana Department of Corrections (DPS&C), is requesting $6,000,000.00 for a 36 month to create the Louisiana Tulane University Correctional Release Health Information Exchange (LaTU-CRHIE).  This project will be a public-private partnership bringing innovation and a collaborative initiative to design and implement a behavioral health information exchange network to be piloted in the selected regions to improve transitions of care for JIIs with substance use disorders (SUDs) accessing behavioral health services post-release.  LaTU-CRHIE will digitally revolutionize and actively address the way Louisiana releases and treats justice-involved individuals (JIIs) with SUDs across a continuity of care continuum.  DPS&C will work with Tulane University and Tulane’s collaborative partner, Delaware Health Information Network (DHIN) to design and implement a comprehensive behavioral information exchange network to facilitate information for the dissemination, collection and analysis of information.

Program Design: The DPS&C, and Tulane University, School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science (Tulane), will partner to reduce the impact of opioids, stimulants, and other substances on JIIs and communities, by developing and implementing a behavioral health information exchange network that will facilitate information across DPS&C, local jails, and community providers to improve continuity of care post-release as well as improve overall collection of data regarding continued illicit drug use; treatment outcomes; and overdose fatalities among JIIs.  The Goals of LaTU-CRHIE are to 1). Reduce the impact of opioids, stimulants, and other substances on JIIs and communities, by supporting comprehensive, collaborative initiatives aimed to collect, analyze and disseminate information; 2). Enhance interagency and community provider communication within local regions by supporting reentry efforts in order the improve continuity of car of JIIs with SUDs post-release; and 3). Implement a comprehensive collection tool and program analysis in order to measure JIIs compliance to treatment once released to the community and demonstrate reduced costs and reduced recidivism among JIIs with SUDs.

Priority Considerations: Southern Louisiana and the selected regions in this project makes up almost 50% of the state’s population.  Among the 16 parishes selected in his proposal, 12/16 parishes have a poverty rating above the national average and a designation status as a Medically Underserved Area/Population, specifically in mental health, where only 25% of Louisiana’s population needs are being met for the treatment of mental health care and services.