NoVaRHIO Legal Documents Committee

11/09/06

Minutes

Attendees:

• Sharon Arndt
• Alan Goldberg
• Kristin Seitz
• Rubin Varghese
• Jane Woods

Proposal for full name of NoVaRHIO (to be considered):

Northern Virginia Patient, Caregiver, and Payor Protection and Utilization of Regional Health Information Organization, Inc.

NoVaRHIO, Incorporated ·         Not-for-profit ·         Tax Exempt ·         501 (c)(?)

NoVaRHIO: Proactive, Patient Centric

• We must be cautious not to overwhelm the patient with too many details (fine line)

Each component and participant has

• Own interest
• Obligations and Responsibilities
• Liabilities

Tax Exempt Status

• Ultimate Decision  - Larger Governing Board
• 501 (c) (?)
• Must consider for identification of (c)(?):
• Restrictions
• Profit
• % of time
• Lobbying
• Present as more responsive to patients and needs
• For profit – can have IRS complications
• Must operate consistent with exemption letter

How will other RHIOs perceive NoVaRHIO?

• Need to structure so complimentary relationships can exist

NoVaRHIO/GMU organizing reps are meeting with other RHIOs

• Inside Beltway Blues
• Montgomery County
• Richmond RHIO
• HCA
• Bon Secour
• Not MCV

Create appropriate platform for patients to feel comfortable

• Will payors share data?
• Sensitivity to IT aspect
• Intellectual property

Software package

• Open Source recommended
• Facilitative & conduit, OR
• Storage

Central repository or neutral conduits

• Federated – polling of resources

With today’s health care system – doctors don’t always get everything

• Common electronic format
• What is most valuable
• Extract certain key elements
• Critical information, reasonable update
• Have we agreed to critical pieces?

Legislation to watch/consider

• Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act
• Implementation regulation
• JCAHO 2007 accreditation standards

Issue to consider

• 40+ million uninsured
• Gov’t & providers want to prevent doing repeats of tests
• Medicaid – won’t pay full amount
• Full pay patients
• Partial Pay patients

Patient Centric

• Privacy
• Fair information practices
• Security
• Documents
• Behave as CE

No intention on sharing MH, but may share meds

Goals:

• Increase public participation
• Make RHIO viable
• Have we achieved something for NoVa?
• Nursing homes participation

Group should consider:

• Joint Commission on Technology and Science
• Need for Bureau of Insurance & State Corporation Commission to address legislation for oversight of health information exchange
• State Policy for Health IT
• Federal Communication Commission – universal fund money, GMU lead writer