Plans to build on nonprofit health information exchange’s legacy that includes sharing its technologies with other HIEs nationwide

CRISP, the nonprofit state-designated health information exchange (HIE), has named Craig Behm President and CEO for CRISP and CRISP Shared Services.

Behm, who has been instrumental in the success of HIE efforts throughout Maryland and the region, plans to expand partner and affiliate collaborations to advocate for local, industry-led solutions to interoperability and removal of public health obstacles. CRISP and its affiliate HIEs will continue to build on strong relationships with providers, Medicaid and health departments, community organizations and other HIEs.

“Every affiliate should be an essential part of the healthcare continuum in their region, and we will continue to generate even more value over time by tapping our rich legacy of innovation and leadership across the data exchange industry,” Behm said.

As an example, he noted a recent project enabled secure, comprehensive data to public health investigators seeking health information about overdose fatalities and patients with infectious diseases. As part of the COVID-19 response efforts, CRISP mastered lab results and vaccination data to enable a data-driven pandemic response in their region.

Behm brings rich experience both in value-based payment reform and health information technology. He was the Executive Director of MedChi Network Services, a subsidiary of the Maryland state medical society, where he led the start-up of three Advance Payment Medicare Shared Savings Program Accountable Care Organizations. He then worked at a health information software, strategy and services company, and focused on the modernization efforts for Maryland’s unique all-payer hospital rate setting system. Those experiences proved essential as CRISP enabled the data and analytics aspects of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation total cost of care demonstration model.

He most recently served as Executive Director of CRISP, a key role in connecting healthcare providers and the Maryland Department of Health. He oversaw all statewide activities, including customer engagement, product implementation and reporting services. He was instrumental in passing key legislation during the past two Maryland legislative sessions, including a statute to create the first Health Data Utility in the nation.

“I am fortunate to be taking the helm of such a wonderful organization with so many talented and dedicated staff. We are eager to explore new opportunities to advance health and wellness,” Behm said. “Our stakeholders see our commitment to problem-solving through deep engagement around our region and across the country. This will continue to be the foundation of everything we do.”

CRISP shares the technologies it develops with other HIEs nationwide through CRISP Shared Services. Critical projects in conjunction with other HIEs include: West Virginia Health Information Network (WVHIN) -- end of life registry reporting where patients submit one document to one place; and a number of initiatives with CRISP DC -- a consent tool developed with the Department of Health Care Finance for exchange of patients' behavioral health information; social determinants of health tools through the DC Community Resource Information Exchange (CoRIE) project; and encounter notifications that alert providers in real-time, flagging when their patients have been treated by emergency medical services to ensure appropriate follow-up treatment.

Behm also serves as an instructor at the University of Maryland Baltimore County Master’s program in Health Information Technology, where he teaches quality and process improvement. He has a Master of Business Administration from Loyola University and Bachelor of Arts from University of Maryland, College Park.

Behm replaces David Horrocks, who was president and CEO of CRISP when it was created in 2009. Brandon Neiswender returns to his role as VP & Chief Strategy Officer after serving as acting CEO since February when Horrocks left to become CEO of the New York eHealth Collaborative.

About CRISP

CRISP is a regional health information exchange (HIE) serving Maryland, the District of Columbia, West Virginia, and the surrounding regions. A non-profit organization advised by a wide range of stakeholders who are responsible for healthcare throughout the region, CRISP has been formally designated as Maryland’s statewide health information exchange by the Maryland Health Care Commission. Health information exchange allows clinical information to move electronically among disparate health information systems. To learn more, visit: https://www.crisphealth.org.

About CRISP Shared Services

CRISP Shared Services (CSS) is a nonprofit support organization that provides technology infrastructure and other core services to Health Information Exchanges (HIEs) across the country. The primary motivation is to enable and support each local jurisdiction’s healthcare community so it can improve health outcomes for its patients. CSS works with local HIE leadership to implement solutions which best serve the needs of their unique communities, even if those solutions are deployed or built by external vendors. To learn more, visit: https://www.crispsharedservices.org.

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