For Immediate Release
Media Contact:
Emily Long, Public Affairs Coordinator
405-401-5290 | emily.long@okhca.org
OHCA Board of Directors Vote to Approve HIE Rules
Oklahoma City, OK – The Oklahoma Health Care Authority Board of Directors voted to approve administrative rules to implement SB1369. The bill, passed by the state legislature in May 2022, requires all providers to utilize and establish a connection with a state-wide health information exchange by July 1, 2023.
The HIE provides the capability to electronically collect, store and share clinical information among different healthcare information systems while maintaining privacy and security. The system also facilitates appropriate and secure access to and retrieval of clinical data to provide safe, timely, effective, equitable and patient-centered care. The HIE also allows multiple public health authorities to analyze broad, de-identified population health data to determine the effectiveness of treatments and gaps in care.
“With the HIE, we can vastly improve public health, care coordination, records exchange, and address care fragmentation for providers,” said Stephen Miller, CHCIO, State Coordinator for Health Information Exchange. “Utilizing our partnership with MiHealth, the State Designed Entity for HIE operations, we are on the road to making this vision a reality.”
Seventy percent of Oklahomans have a record in more than one health care delivery system. The HIE allows health information to flow seamlessly to and from authorized organizations while adhering to HIPAA and privacy and security standards.
Additionally, the HIE supports:
- Reduced health care costs associated with redundant testing, hospital readmissions and emergency department visits.
- Improving care coordination during transitions between health care settings, reducing adverse drug events and missed preventive care.
- Improved patient experience and performance on quality measures.
- Compliance with state and federal programs.
“Oklahoma is on a health transformation journey and OHCA had made a commitment to making sure we are doing everything we can to provide better health outcomes for our friends and neighbors,” said Kevin Corbett, Secretary of Health and Mental Health and Oklahoma Health Care Authority CEO. “With the HIE, Oklahoma providers can better monitor and focus on whole-person health care for their patients.”
All patient data is only accessible in secure, approved ways, compliant with HIPAA and privacy security standards. The HIE is set up to monitor access to all health care information it receives to ensure patient privacy. Misuse of the system is a crime and is subject to all penalties associated with a HIPAA violation.
Only high-priority health information will be included in the HIE, as required by Federal regulations.
Psychotherapy notes are excluded from the transmission to the HIE as well as any behavioral health data covered by 42 CFR part 2. Providers may exclude any patient data that is legally obligated to be kept confidential.
“We are excited that we are entering into this next stage where more people will be able to make the choice to participate, if that’s what they wish to do, so that when we are providing care we can do so at the highest possible level,” said Carrie Slatton-Hodges, Commissioner for the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.
Providers can apply or file for an exemption based on type of provider, financial or technical hardship, or based on size of the practice at OKSHINE.Oklahoma.gov.
Organizations and providers currently connected to and utilizing MyHealth Access Network in compliance with SB 1369 do not need to take additional action.
The Office of the State Coordinator for Health Information Exchange is offering training events to assist providers in the transition. Training event inquiries can be submitted to OKSHINE@okhca.org.
More information can be found at OKSHINE.Oklahoma.gov.
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