Aligning state and federal policies regarding EHRs and health information exchanges and getting buy-in from the private sector will be critical to the ultimate success of information exchange efforts, according to a new report from the Brookings Institute.

The conclusions of the report are based on a review of progress made by individual states toward the goal of information exchange. The authors examined the experiences of successful states, including Massachusetts and Utah, and states that have struggled, including Tennessee and California.

The report points out that lawmakers in Massachusetts and Utah were quick to see the value of organizing private-sector groups into networks. These associations have enabled the high levels of data exchange that the states enjoy today.

Tennessee has shown less progress toward encouraging EHR implementation and data exchange. The local information exchange governing body was forced to close in 2011 due to financing problems, which has held back the state's efforts.

The conclusions of the report point out how it is important for federal and state lawmakers to learn what the private sector needs to implement new technologies and to then put in place regulations that push industry toward agreed-upon goals.