The Texas Health and Human Services Commission has awarded Hewlett-Packard a $30m contract to create a health information exchange for the state’s Medicaid patients.  By this, patients will have a permanent magnetic-stripe Medicaid ID card that will automate their eligibility with providers.  Physicians will be able to access a web-based portal that has the patient’s medical history, and allows e-prescribing with alerts for drug-to-patient, drug-to-drug and reimbursement issues before the order is sent.  The system also will have built-in messaging to patients about immunizations, screenings, unfilled prescriptions and appointments.  There are some 3 million Medicaid patients in Texas; less than half of doctors in the state accept those patients; and political leaders are discussing the possibility of “opting out” of the federal program because of state budget shortfalls.         MORE