Rhode Island General Laws
Chapter 23-17.17 - Health Care Quality Program
Section 23-17.17-11. - Data collection and information sharing for the health care database.

§ 23-17.17-11. Data collection and information sharing for the health care database.
(a) All insurers shall electronically provide to the director in accordance with standards and procedures adopted by the director in regulation:
(1) their health insurance claims data;
(2) cross-matched claims data on requested members, subscribers or policyholders; and
(3) member, subscriber or policyholder information necessary to determine third-party liability for benefits provided.
(b) For purposes of all data collection and public reporting of data under this chapter the collection, storage and release of health care data and statistical information that is subject to the federal requirements of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (“HIPAA”) shall be governed by the rules adopted in 45 C.F.R. Parts 160 and 164 and other applicable law.
(c) All insurers that collect the health employer data and information set (HEDIS) shall annually submit the HEDIS information and such other relevant industry quality standard measures as the director requires to the director in a form and in a manner prescribed by the director.
(d) The director shall collaborate with the insurance commissioner within the department of business regulation and all health and human service agencies in the development of a comprehensive health care information system and shall make all data collected pursuant to this chapter available to the insurance commissioner and all relevant government agencies in furtherance of the goals of the database set forth herein. The collaboration is intended to address the formulation of a description of the data sets that will be included in the comprehensive health care information system, the criteria and procedures for the development of limited use data sets, the criteria and procedures to ensure the HIPAA compliant limited use data sets are accessible, and a proposed time frame for the creation of a comprehensive health care information system.
(e) To the extent allowed by HIPAA and other applicable law, the data shall be available as a resource for insurers, employers, providers, purchasers of health care, and state agencies to continuously review health care utilization, expenditures and performance in Rhode Island and to enhance the ability of Rhode Island consumers and employers to make informed and cost-effective health care choices. In presenting data for public access, comparative considerations shall be made regarding geography, demographics, general economic factors and institutional size.
(f) The health care quality steering committee shall advise the director as to the most effective means to make the database accessible to the public for purposes of improving the quality of health care services in Rhode Island.
(g) The director shall adopt regulations to carry out the provisions of this chapter, including standards and procedures and criteria for the required filing of such claims data, eligibility data, provider files and other information as the director determines to be necessary to carry out the purposes of this section and this chapter.
History of Section.P.L. 2008, ch. 114, § 1; P.L. 2008, ch. 207, § 1.

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