A Health and Human Services Department advisory panel is finalizing elements of what it calls a "trust fabric" for health information exchange in order to spur confidence in using a the nationwide health information network (NHIN).
The panel developed broad recommendations for what constitutes trusted health information exchange via "NHIN Direct," a streamlined version of NHIN standards and services for sharing health information securely through the Internet.
The Health IT Policy Committee's NHIN work group will deliver its final trust recommendations to the committee at its meeting April 21, said David Lansky, chairman of the panel and CEO of the Pacific Business Group on Health.
"The value of a trust relationship creates an incentive for health information sharing," Lansky said during a work group meeting April 14.
The workgroup recommended that health information exchange participants follow the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) as well as existing state laws in a way that protects the privacy and security of patient information.
The panel also proposed that the trust requirements be monitored at different points of an exchange by private sector and government organizations, which can confirm and ensure compliance.
"Oversight must exist at multiple levels [of the exchange], and transparency of oversight must be at all levels," said Farzad Mostashari, senior advisor at the Office of the National Coordinator and its representative on the panel.
Each exchange partner must also be accountable for its exchange transactions and answer for adverse consequences, panelists said. Consequently, there may be penalties for failure to follow through on those responsibilities, such as terminating the exchange.
But the emphasis now is on correcting procedures to encourage health information exchange, according to the recommendations.
