PATIENT DATA OPT-IN REVERSAL IS SOUGHT

your company or health care in Nevada?

We are not aware of any pending legislation that would affect our work. However, we would like to see some additional legislation that could improve the way we deliver services. Specifically, we would like to see the Legislature allocate some state funding to be matched by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The HITECH appropriates funds for health information exchanges at the rate of 90-10, meaning that if the state can come up with 10 percent, CMS will fund the remaining 90 percent. I estimate that we could connect nearly all the providers (clinics, hospitals and post-acute care) to the HIE for approximately $20 million. If the state could come up with $700,000 per year for the next three years, we could obtain $21 million and have nearly all providers connected.

The other legislative change we would like to see is to change the law that requires all patients to sign a consent form for their data to be shared with providers. Most states are opt-out, which means that patient data can be shared unless a patient opts out. Here, the consent model is optin. After seven years of collecting consent and data, we now have statistics showing that 95 percent of patients who are asked choose to opt in. In both cases, patients can decline consent, but when you are an optin, state you must collect consent forms on all patients rather than only 5 percent. This adds administrative burdens for providers who are already suffering burnout. Our rough estimate is that it will cost Nevada $12 million to collect consent forms on all patients while not improving privacy. Adding administrative complexity does not improve privacy.

What’s the biggest issue facing Southern Nevada?

A lack of primary care providers and specialists makes access to care difficult for patients, so many residents use emergency rooms and urgent care centers for their primary care. That is very expensive. Urgent care centers are much more cost effective, but they are best suited for relatively simple patient issues that can be resolved in a single visit.

If the patient has chronic or complex conditions, then this episodic care is far less effective. One way to solve this is to have all emergency rooms and urgent care centers connected to the HIE so each provider location could access the patient’s medical records.

What is the best business advice you’ve received?

The most successful people are not the smartest or even the hardest working. The most successful are those who are willing to do what unsuccessful people are unwilling to do.

What book are you currently reading?

I’m reading “Hillbilly Elegy,” which describes the struggles that many segments of our nation have with breaking out of their predetermined destinies.

Whom do you admire?

Bill Gates, Tom Brady and anyone who devotes their life to something bigger than themselves.

What is something that people might not know about you?

I am a certified scuba diver and I love to cook. My specialties are anything Italian or grilled.