State pursues health information exchange

Oklahoma is making progress on the creation of a statewide health information exchange, a central repository for digital patient information.

A priority of Gov. Kevin Stitt, the Oklahoma Health Care Authority is close to finalizing a contract with a company to create an exchange to make it easier for doctors, regardless of their health system, to access patient information.

Stitt and state health officials hope the exchange will help doctors coordinate patient care. Sometimes, patients have doctors across multiple health systems.

The health information exchange would allow all of a patient's doctors and care providers to see test results, prescriptions and care recommendations. The system can help prevent medical errors, duplicative tests and the redundant collection of patient information, according to a news release from the Health Care Authority.

“The initial focus will be on the state's Medicaid providers with a goal of working with all health agencies and providers in the state of Oklahoma," Health Care Authority CEO Kevin Corbett said in a statement.

Former Deputy Secretary of Health and Mental Health Carter Kimble will become the executive director of the health information exchange.

The Health Care Authority expects to launch the exchange in the fall of 2021. The costs of the project will become more clear when the agency finalizes the contract for the work.

Senate Health and Human Services Committee Chairman Sen. Greg McCortney, R-Ada, introduced legislation this year to require all health care facilities in the state use the statewide health information exchange. The bill that had bipartisan support stalled when the COVID-19 pandemic upended the legislative session.