Healthcare Information System Act

Section 1-116. Definitions
When used in the Oklahoma Healthcare Information System Act, Section 1-115 et seq. of this title:

"Board" means the State Board of Health;
"Commissioner" means the State Commissioner of Health;
"Department" means the State Department of Health;
"Healthcare providers" means a hospital or related institution licensed pursuant to Section 1-702 of Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes, nursing facilities licensed pursuant to Section 1-1903 of Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes, doctors as defined in Section 725.2 of Title 59 if the Oklahoma Statutes, physical therapists, physician assistants, pharmacists, nurses and home healthcare providers licensed pursuant to the laws of this state;
"Third-party payor" means any entity, other than a purchaser, which is responsible for payment either to the purchaser or the healthcare provider for healthcare services rendered by the healthcare provider;
"Public-supported provider" means any public or private entity supported in whole or in part by federal or state funds, or any healthcare provider contracting with the state for providing healthcare services including, but not limited to, Medicaid;
"Identifying information" means a program identifying number assigned for purposes of statistical and data analysis which protects and maintains patient and physician anonymity. Identifying information shall remain confidential as provided in Section 1-120 of this title;
"Information providers" means and includes healthcare providers, third-party payors or public-supported providers required to report or submit information to the Division of Healthcare Information pursuant to the Oklahoma Healthcare Information System Act;
"Division" means the Division of Healthcare Information; and
"Healthcare information system' means the system for receipt, collection, analysis, evaluation, processing, utilization and dissemination of healthcare data established and maintained by the Division of Healthcare Information pursuant to the Oklahoma Healthcare Information System Act.

Section 1-117. Legislative findings, intent

As a result of rising healthcare costs and concerns expressed by healthcare providers, healthcare consumers, third-party payors and the general public, and as a result of public health information showing that Oklahoma has a higher death rate than the national average, the Oklahoma Legislature finds that there is an urgent need to establish and maintain, for the purposes of accurately assessing the health of the public, healthcare planning and cost containment, an information base for the State of Oklahoma that will facilitate ongoing analysis and evaluation of patterns and trends in the health status of Oklahomans, the utilization and costs of healthcare services, and the capability of the various components of the healthcare industry to provide needed services.
The Oklahoma Healthcare Information System shall be responsible for the development and operation of a method for collecting, processing and disseminating healthcare data including, but not limited to, quality, expenditure and utilization data. It is the intent of the Legislature that a uniform set of data be periodically and routinely compiled that will make possible the ongoing analysis, comparison and evaluation of trends in the quality and delivery of healthcare services in this state for the purpose of effective healthcare planning by public and private entities and cost containment.

Section 1-118. Division of Healthcare Information--Powers and duties

The Division of Healthcare Information is hereby created within the State Department of Health.
The Division Shall:
1. Collect healthcare information from information providers;
2. Establish and maintain a uniform healthcare information system;
3. Analyze healthcare data submitted;
4. Provide for dissemination of healthcare data to users and consumers;
5. Provide for the training and education of information providers regarding processing and maintenance and methods of reporting required information;
6. Require that healthcare data be submitted to the Division or its agent by all information providers;
7. Provide for the exchange of information with other agencies or political subdivisions of this state, the federal government or other states, or agencies thereof:
8. Contract with other public or private entities for the purpose of collecting, processing or disseminating healthcare data; and
9. Build and maintain the data base.
1. The State Board of Health shall adopt rules governing the acquisition, compilation and dissemination of all data collected pursuant to the Oklahoma Healthcare Information System Act.
2. The rules shall include, but not be limited to:
  1. adequate measures to provide system security for all data and information acquired pursuant to the Oklahoma Healthcare Information Act.
  2. adequate procedures to ensure confidentiality of patient records.
  3. charges for users for the cost of data preparation for information that is beyond the routine data disseminated by the office, and
  4. time limits for the submission of data by information providers.
The Division shall adopt standard nationally recognized coding systems to ensure quality in receiving and processing data.
The Division may contract with an organization for the purpose of data analysis. Any contract or renewal thereof shall be based on the need for, and the feasibility, cost and performance of, services provided by the organization. The Division shall require any data analyzer at a minimum to:
1. Analyze the information; and
2. Prepare policy-related and other analytical reports as determined necessary for purposes of this act.
The Board, shall have the authority to set fees and charges with regard to the collection and compilation of data requested for special reports, and for the dissemination of data. These funds, shall be deposited in the Oklahoma Healthcare Information System Revolving Fund account.
The division may accept grants or charitable contributions for use in carrying out the functions set forth in the Oklahoma Healthcare Information System Act from any source. These funds shall be deposited in the Oklahoma Healthcare Information System Revolving Fund.

Section 1-119. Collection of healthcare data

The Division of Healthcare Information shall, with the advice of the Healthcare Information Advisory Committee and in accordance with the rules of the State Board of Health, collect healthcare information from information providers.
1. The information to be collected about information providers may include, but shall not be limited to:
  1. financial information including, but not limited to, consumption of resources to provide services, reimbursement, costs of operation, revenues, assets, liabilities, fund balances, other income, rates, charges, units of service, wage and salary data,
  2. service information including, but not limited to, occupancy, capacity, and special and ancillary services,
  3. physician profiles in the aggregate by clinical specialties and nursing services,
  4. discharge data including, but not limited to, completed discharge data sets or comparable information for each patient discharged from the facility after the effective date of this act, and
  5. ambulatory care data including, but not limited to, provider-specific and encounter data.
2. The Division shall establish a phase-in schedule for the collection of healthcare data. The phase-in schedule shall provide that prior to January 1, 1994, only data currently collected shall be required to be submitted to the Division. Thereafter, in the collection of healthcare data, the Division shall whenever possible utilize existing health data resources and avoid duplication in the collection of healthcare data.
3. Except as provided by Section 1-120 of this title and as otherwise authorized by the provisions of the Oklahoma Healthcare Information System Act, the provisions of the Oklahoma Healthcare Information System Act shall not be construed to lessen or reduce the responsibility of the information provider with regard to:
  1. a. the accuracy of the data or information submitted,
  2. liability for release of the data or information to the Division, data processor or as otherwise authorized by this section, or
  3. the preservation of confidentiality of such data or information until submitted to the Division.
Upon the request of State Department of Health, every state agency, board or commission shall provide the Division of Healthcare Information with the healthcare data and other healthcare information requested at no charge to the Department or the Division. Except as otherwise provided by the Healthcare Information system Act for the purpose of statistical and similar reports, information which is required by state or federal law to be confidential shall not be transferred to any entity by the Division unless a separate written agreement for such transfer has been executed with the state agency, board or commission providing the information to the Division.
The University of Oklahoma College of Public Health, the Department of Human Services, the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and Oklahoma Healthcare Authority are hereby authorized to have access to the healthcare information system established pursuant to the Oklahoma Healthcare Information System Act, in accordance with a mutual interagency agreement between the State Department of Health and each specified entity on an individual basis.

Section 1-120. Confidentiality of data--Disclosure upon court order--Immunity from liability

Except as otherwise provided by Section 1-119 of this title, the individual forms, computer tapes, or other forms of data collected by and furnished to the Division of Healthcare Information or to a data processor pursuant to the Oklahoma Healthcare Information System Act, Section 1-115 et seq. of this title, shall be confidential and shall not be public records as defined in the Open Records Act, Section 24A.1 et seq. of Title 51 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
After approval by the State Department of Health, the compilations prepared for release or dissemination from the data collected, except for a report prepared at the request of an individual data provider containing information concerning only its transactions, shall be public records. The Division shall establish a Healthcare Information Advisory Committee as provided in Section 1-122 of this title, to assist with determinations related to data collection, and information to be released and disseminated to the public.
The confidentiality of identifying information is to be protected and the pertinent statutes, rules and regulations of the State of Oklahoma and of the federal government relative to confidentiality shall apply.
Identifying information shall not be disclosed, and shall not be used for any purpose except for the creation and maintenance of anonymous medical case histories for statistical reporting and data analysis.
The Division or other state agency receiving information pursuant to the Oklahoma Healthcare Information System Act shall be subject to the same confidentiality restrictions imposed by state or general law as the public or private agency providing the information and is prohibited from taking any administrative, investigative or other action with respect to any individual on the basis of the identifying information. The Division data analyzer or other state agency receiving information pursuant to the Oklahoma Healthcare Information System Act is further prohibited from identifying, directly or indirectly, any individual in any report of scientific research or long-term evaluation, or otherwise disclosing identities in any manner.
Except as otherwise authorized by the Oklahoma Heath Care Information System Act identifying information submitted to the Division which would directly or indirectly identify any person shall not be disclosed by the Division either voluntarily or in response to any legal process, unless directed to by a court of competent jurisdiction, granted after application showing good cause therefore with notice of the hearing to the Division. In assessing good cause the court shall only grant such application if it seeks to challenge the statistical efficacy of a finding made by the Division or alleges a violation of confidentiality by the Division. Such application shall then be granted only when the public interest and the need for disclosure outweighs the injury to the person, to the physician-patient relationship, and to the treatment services. Upon the granting of such order, the court, in determining the extent to which any disclosure of all or any part of any record is necessary, shall impose appropriate safeguards against unauthorized disclosure.
Any person who submits or receives data as required or authorized by the Oklahoma Healthcare Information System Act shall be immune from liability in any civil action for any action taken as required by the provisions of the Oklahoma Healthcare Information System Act. This immunity is in addition to any other immunity for the same or similar acts to which the person is otherwise entitled.

Section 1-121. Reports

The State Department of Health shall issue reports no less than annually which may include recommendations to the Oklahoma Legislature for any change in the statutes needed to further the purposes of the Oklahoma Healthcare Information System Act. The initial report shall be submitted by January 1, 1993. The initial report shall include but not be limited to an implementation schedule for the development and completion of the healthcare information system and the status of compliance with the healthcare information and data submission requirements of the Division. The system shall be fully functional and operative by January 1, 1995. Subsequent reports may include plans for expanding the uniform data base to other medical providers including, but not limited to, all licensed healthcare professionals or entities providing healthcare services.

Section 1-122. Healthcare Information Advisory Committee

The Commissioner of Health shall appoint a Healthcare Information Advisory Committee to advise and assist the Division of Healthcare Information with determinations related to data elements to be collected, reporting requirements, and the release and dissemination of information to the public.
The membership of the Healthcare Information Advisory Committee shall include, but not be limited to, the Administrator of the Oklahoma Healthcare Authority or designee and the presidents of the following organizations or their designees:
1. The Oklahoma State Chamber of Commerce;
2. The Oklahoma Hospital Association;
3. The Oklahoma State Medical Association;
4. The Oklahoma Osteopathic Association;
5. The Oklahoma AFL-CIO;
6. A statewide healthcare consumer coalition;
7. The Association of Oklahoma Life Insurance Companies;
8. The Oklahoma Healthcare Association;
9. The Oklahoma Pharmaceutical Association;
10. The Oklahoma Dental Association;
11. The Oklahoma State Chiropractic Association;
12. The Oklahoma Optometric Association;
13. The Oklahoma Physical Therapy Association;
14. The Oklahoma Podiatric Medical Association;
15. The Oklahoma Psychological Association; and
16. The Oklahoma Association of Home Care.
The Division, with the approval of the Commissioner, may appoint healthcare data technical advisory committees as needed and appropriate to assist in the development of implementation methods and in the interpretation and evaluation of the data received pursuant to the Oklahoma Healthcare Information System Act.
The Healthcare Information Advisory Committee and any technical advisory committees established pursuant to this section shall provide information and assistance to any legislative committee or task force requesting such information or assistance.

Section 1-123.1 Transfer of powers, duties, etc. from Oklahoma Healthcare Authority to State Department of Health

Effective July 1, 1998, all powers, duties, functions, personnel and responsibilities vested in the Oklahoma Healthcare Authority for operation of the Oklahoma Healthcare Information Systems Act shall be transferred to the State Department of Health.