Oklahoma tries to mandate HIE data reporting but fails

Providers are no longer required to share data with the state of Oklahoma’s newly operational health information exchange. The revised rules await Governor Kevin Stitt’s approval.

why it matters

The Oklahoma Health Care Authority initially required the state’s healthcare providers to upload and share consented patient records to a statewide online database authorized under the Health Information Act.

When mental health providers wanted to opt out of mandatory reporting to ensure patient confidentiality, the agency developed the exemptions and presented them to the state legislature in March.

Stitt rejected OHCA’s rule changes for new HIEs late last month, according to a recent report from PoncaCityNow.com, and as a result, all providers in the state are no longer required to share patient data.

Per the OHCA’s announcement this week, the board approved new emergency rules that include:

• Comprehensive discounts that allow discounts to be offered to any provider seeking a discount.
• Refined and added definitions.
• Clarification on essential participation.
• Continued adherence to state and federal law regarding patient disclosure and consent.
• Defined fee, which includes participation fee, connection fee and grant amount to cover connection fee.

big trend

In 2017, Oklahoma’s previous HIE ceased operations due to competition with other HIEs.

When OHCA’s newly created Office of the State Coordinator for Health Information Exchange first proposed the rules in September as part of Oklahoma Senate Bill 1369 — formally, the Healthcare Transparency Initiative Act — it reportedly wanted more than 300 Received more comments.

Earlier this month, Colin Walke, special counsel at regional law firm HLL Estill, reported fox 25 The rules were “too vague”.

According to the report, Walke represents two licensed counselors who filed suit against the state on constitutional grounds.

“It was an unconstitutional law because we had a constitutional provision in Oklahoma that says citizens and their providers cannot be forced to participate in the health care system,” he said.

On the record

“The OHCA is grateful for the feedback from Oklahoma patients and providers in creating these emergency regulations, which encourage better collaboration between different healthcare providers while protecting a patient’s right to privacy,” the agency said in the statement.

“OHCA is committed to creating a streamlined, holistic health care approach and improving health outcomes for Oklahomans through HIE.”

Andrea Fox is a senior editor for Healthcare IT News.
Email: afox@himss.org
Healthcare IT News is a HIMSS Media publication.