H395 - HIE Deadline Extension & Patient Protection. (SL 2021-26)

Overview: S.L. 2021-26 does the following relative to the Health Information Exchange (HIE) Network known as NC HealthConnex: exempts ambulatory surgical centers but requires a physician who performs procedures there to be connected and to submit demographic and clinical data; extends the mandatory deadlines for certain entities to connect; allows the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to submit data on behalf of specified entities; prohibits balance billing by in-network providers and entities under the State Health Plan that have not connected; requires the HIE Authority to provide educational materials on how to access electronic health information; requires the HIE Advisory Board to submit a report by March 1, 2022 to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services containing recommendations regarding appropriate features or actions to support the Statewide Health Information Exchange Act; and requires the HIE Authority to work with the Department of State Treasurer and the DHHS to identify and contact providers and entities who have not connected to the HIE in accordance with G.S. 90-414.4 and to report on the status of these by March 1, 2022.

This act became effective May 27, 2021.