According to the State of North Carolina’s Information Technology Plan, the state’s health information infrastructure consists of various organizations operating at the local, regional, and state levels. Many of these organizations have their own health IT systems and networks.
Today’s, networks have differing priorities regarding the data they collect and transmit. However, plans are in place for the evolving statewide health information infrastructure to complement and integrate but not to supplant these networks.
The North Carolina Health Information Exchange (NCHIE) is making immediate plans to develop and operate a statewide HIE infrastructure. To begin the process, last January, a Request for Proposal (RFP) was released to find a contractor to assume the responsibility to implement HIE core services as described in North Carolina’s HIE Strategic and Operational Plans document. Responses were due last February.
On March 31, 2011, NCHIE announced the upcoming release of another Request for Proposal. At this point, vendors are being sought to work with NCHIE in designing, implementing, and operating the state’s statewide HIE platform. This RFP is to be released on Monday April 25, 2011 and will be posted on the North Carolina Office of Health Information Technology web site www.ncdhhs.gov/healthit/exchange plus the information will go out to the vendors known by NCHIE.
The Letter of Intent required for consideration will be due April 29, 2011 with the proposal due on May 20, 2011. These dates are preliminary and subject to change. At this time, any inquiries on the RFP will have to wait until the RFP is publicly released and at that time, contact information will be provided.
In legislative news related to the HIE, State Senator Josh Stein introduced Senate Bill 375 in the General Assembly of North Carolina in March. This bill would help regulate the disclosure of protected health information through the secure electronic transmission of individually identifiable health information among healthcare providers, health plans, and healthcare clearinghouses that would be consistent with HIPAA.
Go to www.scio.nc.gov/library/pdf/state%20IT%20Plan%202011-2013%20FINAL.pdf to view the State of North Carolina’s Information Technology Plan published February 2011.
