ENGR. H. B. NO. 1688 Page 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 ENGROSSED HOUSE BILL NO. 1688 By: McEntire of the House and Haste of the Senate An Act relating to health information; creating the Oklahoma Health Care Transparency Initiati ve Act of 2023; amending Section 1, Chapter 250, O.S.L. 2022 (63 O.S. Supp. 2022, Section 1 -132.1), which relates to the Office of the State Coordinator for Health Information Exchange ; broadening powers and duties of the Office; amending 63 O.S. 2021, Sec tion 1-133, as amended by Section 2, Chapter 250, O.S.L. 2022 (63 O.S. Supp. 2022, Section 1 -133), which relates to state-designated entity for health information exchange; modifying time p eriod of certain requirement; modifying a nd adding certain exemptio ns; stating legislative intent and purpose of act; defining terms; creating the Oklahoma Health Care Transparency Initiative ; providing for governance and administration of the initiative; directing implementation of sustainabilit y plan; requiring submitting entity to submit certain information to state-designated entity; allowing voluntary submission of certain information by certain health benefit plan, person, or entity; mandating complian ce with certain requirements; providing for confidentiality, privac y, and security of ce rtain data; listing circumstances under whic h certain data may be made available ; prohibiting certain use or disclosure of data; authorizing certain penalties; providing for certain remittance or mitigation o f penalties; specifying all owed use of certain f unds; requiring submission of public health data for integration into the initiative; requiring assignment of unique identifier; amending 51 O.S. 2021, Section 24A.3, as last amended by Section 1, Chapter 402 , O.S.L. 2022 (51 O.S. Supp . 2022, Section 24A.3 ), ENGR. H. B. NO. 1688 Page 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 which relates to the Oklahoma Open Records Act; modifying certain definition ; providing for codification; and declaring an emergency . BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statute s as Section 1-134.1 of Title 63, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: Sections 4 through 10 of this act shall be known and may be cited as the "Oklahoma Health Care Transparency Ini tiative Act of 2023". SECTION 2. AMENDATORY Section 1, Chapter 250, O.S.L. 2022 (63 O.S. Supp. 2022, Section 1 -132.1), is amended to read as follows: Section 1-132.1 A. There is hereby created the O ffice of the State Coordinator for Health Information Exchange within the Oklahoma Health Care Authority. B. The Office shall have the power and duty to oversee: 1. Oversee the state-designated entity for health information exchange, as described under pursuant to Section 1-133 of Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes this title; and 2. For the purpose of implementing the Oklahoma Health Care Transparency Initiative Act of 2023: ENGR. H. B. NO. 1688 Page 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 a. collect, validate, analyze, and present health data, including claims data, b. assess penalties for noncomplia nce with the Oklahoma Health Care Transparency Initiative Act of 2023, c. establish policies and procedures necessary for the administration and oversight of the Oklahoma Health Care Transparency Initiative including p rocedures for the collection, processing, storag e, analysis, use, and release of data, d. identify and explore the key health care issues, questions, and problems that may be improved through more transparent information including, but not limited to, data required to be disclosed to patients related to provider relationships or affiliations with payers and providers, financial interests in health care businesses, and payments or items of any value given to providers from pharmaceutical or medical device manufacturers or agents thereof , and e. provide a biennial report to the Legislature on the operations of the Oklahoma Health Care Transparency Initiative. C. The Office shall consist of the State Coordinator for Hea lth Information Exchange, who shall be ap pointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Administr ator of the Authority, and such other ENGR. H. B. NO. 1688 Page 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 employees of the Authority as the Administrator may assign to the Office. SECTION 3. AMENDATORY 63 O.S. 2021, Section 1 -133, as amended by Section 2, Chapter 250, O.S.L. 2022 (63 O.S. Supp. 20 22, Section 1-133), is amended to read as follows: Section 1-133. A. As used in this section: 1. "Health information exchange " means the electronic movement of health-related information among organiz ations according to nationally recognized standards f or purposes including, but not limited to, payment, treatment, and administration; and 2. "Health information exchange organization " means an entity whose primary business activity is health information exchange and which is governed by its stakeholders. B. The State of Oklahoma: 1. Shall designate a health information exchange organization as the state-designated entity for health information exchange; 2. Shall establish a transition plan to ensure c ontinued operation of the health information exchange ; and 3. May temporarily serve as the state-designated entity as part of the transition plan described in paragraph 2 of this subsection. C. Beginning July 1, 2023, all 1. All health care providers as defined by the rules promulgated by the Oklahoma Hea lth Care Authority Board and who are licensed by and located in this state shall report data to and utilize the state -designated entity. The ENGR. H. B. NO. 1688 Page 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Office of the State Coordinator for Health Information Exchan ge shall begin implementation of this requirement on or before July 1, 2023. 2. The Office of the State Coordinator for Health Information Exchange may, as provided by rules promulgated by the Board, allow exemptions from the requirement provided by paragraph 1 of this subsection on the basis of : a. financial hardship, b. size of the practice, or c. technological capability of a, d. type of health care provider , or e. such other bases as may be provided by rules promulgated by the Board. D. 1. A person who participates in the services or information provided by the state-designated entity shall not be liable in any action for damages or costs of any nature that result solely from the person's use or failure to use information or data from the state-designated entity that was entered or retrieved under relev ant state or federal privacy laws, rules, regulations, or policies including, but not limited to, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. 2. A person shall not be subject to ant itrust or unfair competition liability based on parti cipation with the state- designated entity as long as the participation provides an essential ENGR. H. B. NO. 1688 Page 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 governmental function for the public health and safety and enjoys state action immunity. E. A person who prov ides information and data to the state - designated entity retains a property right in the information or data, but grants to the other participants or subscribers a nonexclusive license to retrieve and use that information or data under relevant state or fe deral privacy laws, rules, regulations, or policies including, but not limited to, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. F. Patient-specific protected health information sha ll only be disclosed in compliance with relevant state or federal privacy laws, rules, regulations, or polic ies including, but not limited to, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. G. The Oklahoma Health Care Authority Board sha ll promulgate rules to implement the provisions of this section. SECTION 4. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1 -134.2 of Title 63, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, rea ds as follows: A. It is the intent of the Legislature to create and maintain an informative source of healt h care information to support consumers, researchers, and policymakers in health care decisions within this state. B. The purpose of the Oklahoma Hea lth Care Transparency Initiative Act of 2023 is to: ENGR. H. B. NO. 1688 Page 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1. Create the Oklahoma Health Care Transparency Initiative; 2. Establish governance of the Oklahoma Health Care Transparency Initiative; 3. Provide authority to collect health care information from insurance carriers and other entities; and 4. Establish appropriate methods for collecting, maintaining, and reporting health care information including privacy and security safeguards. SECTION 5. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1 -134.3 of Title 63, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: As used in the Oklahoma Health Care Transparency Initiative Act of 2023: 1. "Board" means the Oklahoma Health Care Authority Board; 2. "Claims data" means information included in an institutional, professional, or pharmacy claim or equivalent information transaction for a covered individual including the amount paid to a provider of hea lth care services plus any amount owed by the covered individual; 3. "Covered individual" means a natural person who is a resident of this state and is eligible to receive medical, dental, or pharmaceutical benefits under any policy, contract, certificate, evidence of coverage, rider, binder, or endorsement that provides for or describes coverage; ENGR. H. B. NO. 1688 Page 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 4. "Direct personal identifiers " means information relating to a covered individual that contains primary or obvious identifiers, such as the individual 's name, street address, email address, telephone number, or Social Security number. Direct personal identifiers shall not include geographic or demographic informatio n that would not allow the identification of a covered individual; 5. "Enrollment data" means demographic information and other identifying information relating to covered individuals including direct personal identifiers; 6. "Office" means the Office of the State Coordinator for Health Information Exchange created under Section 1 -132.1 of Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes; 7. "Oklahoma Health Care Transparency Initiative " means an initiative to create a database including ongoing all -payer claims database projects that receive and store data from a submitting entity relating to medical, dental, pha rmaceutical, and other insurance claims information, unique identifiers, and geographic and demographic information for covered individuals as permitted in the Oklahoma Health Care Transparency Initiative Act of 2023, and provider files, for the purposes of the Okl ahoma Health Care Transparency Initiative Act of 2023; 8. "Protected health information " means health information as protected by the Health Insurance Porta bility and Accountability Act of 1996, Pub. L. No. 104-191; ENGR. H. B. NO. 1688 Page 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 9. "Provider" means an individual or entity licensed by the state to provide health care services; 10. "State-designated entity for health information exchange" or "state-designated entity" means the health information exchange organization designated by the State of Oklahoma as the state- designated entity for health information exchange under Section 1- 133 of Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes; 11. a. "Submitting entity" means: (1) an entity that provides health or dental insurance or a health or dental benefit plan in the state including but not limited to an insurance company, medical services plan, managed care organization, hospital plan, hos pital medical service corporation, health maintenanc e organization, or fraternal benefit society, provided that the entity has covered individuals and the entity had at least two thousand (2,000) covered individuals in the previous calendar year, (2) a health benefit plan offered or administered by or on behalf of the state or an agency or instrumentality of the state in cluding but not limited to benefits administered by a managed ENGR. H. B. NO. 1688 Page 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 care organization, notwithstanding the number of covered individuals in the p revious year, (3) a health benefit plan offered or a dministered by or on behalf of the federal government with the agreement of the federal government, (4) the Workers' Compensation Commission, (5) any other entity providing a plan of health insurance or health benefits subject to state insurance regulation , or a third-party administrator; provided, that the entity has covered individuals and the entity had at least two thousand (2,000) covered individuals in the previous calendar year, (6) a health benefit plan subject to the Employee Retirement Income Secu rity Act of 1974, Pub. L . No. 93-406, and that is fully insured, (7) a risk-based provider organization licensed by the Insurance Department, and (8) any entity that contracts with the Department of Corrections to provide medical, dental, or pharmaceutical care to inmates. b. A submitting entity shall not include: (1) an entity that provides health insurance or a health benefit plan that is accident -only, ENGR. H. B. NO. 1688 Page 11 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 specified disease, hospital indemnity, long -term care, disability income, or other supplemental benefit coverage, (2) an employee of a welfare benefit plan as defined by federal law that is also a trust established pursuant to collective bargaining subject to the Labor Management Relations Act of 1947, Pub. L. No. 80-101, (3) a health benefit plan subject t o the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, Pub. L. No. 93-406, that is self-funded, (4) a Medicare supplemental policy as defined by 42 C.F.R., Section 403.205, or (5) a pharmacy benefits mana ger; and 12. "Unique identifier" means any identifier that is guaranteed to be unique among all identifiers for covered individuals but does not include direct personal identifiers. SECTION 6. NEW LAW A new section of law to be cod ified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1-134.4 of Title 63, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: A. Beginning July 1, 2024 , there is hereby created the Oklahoma Health Care Transparency Initiative, which shall be govern ed by the Office of the State Coordinator for Health Information Exchange . ENGR. H. B. NO. 1688 Page 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 B. The Office shall be the administrator of the Oklahoma Health Care Transparency Initiative and shall, in collaboration with the state-designated entity for health information exc hange, develop and implement a sustainability plan subject to data use and disclo sure requirements of the Oklahoma Health Care Transparency Initiative Act of 2023 and any rules promulgated by the Oklahoma Health Care Authority Board under the Oklahoma Health Care Transparency Initiative Act of 2023. SECTION 7. NEW LAW A new secti on of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1 -134.5 of Title 63, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: A. No later than July 1, 2024, and thereafter in a frequ ency specified in rules promulgated by the Okla homa Health Care Authority Board, a submitting entity shall submit claims data, unique identifiers, and geographic and demographic information for covered individuals as permitted in the Oklahoma Health Care Transparency Initiative Act of 2023, and provider files t o the state-designated entity for health information exchange in accordance with standards and procedures promulgated by the Board. B. 1. A health benefit plan, person, o r entity excluded from the definition of submitting entity as provided by Section 5 of this act shall not be subject to the requirements of subsection A of this section, but may voluntarily submit claims data, unique identifiers, and geographic and demogra phic information for covered individuals ENGR. H. B. NO. 1688 Page 13 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 as permitted in the Oklahoma Health Care Transparency Initiative Act of 2023, and provider files to the state-designated entity in accordance with standards and procedures promulgated by the Board. 2. To the extent the exc luded health benefit plan, person, or entity voluntarily submits data described in th is subsection to the state-designated entity, the health benefit plan, person, or entity shall comply with all requirements of the Oklahoma Health Care Transparency Initiative Act of 2023, other than subsection A of this section, including, but not limited to, compliance with applicable state and federal data privacy and security law s. C. Data submitted pursuant to this section shall be treated as confidential and shall be exempt fr om disclosure as a record under the Oklahoma Open Records Act as defined in Section 24A.3 of Title 51 of the Oklahoma Statutes and are not subject to subpoena except to the extent provided in the Oklahoma Insurance Code. D. The collection, storage, and re lease of data and other information pursuant to this section is subject to applicable state and federal data privacy and security law. E. The Oklahoma Health Care Transparency Initiative Act of 2023 shall not be construed to supersede, limit, a mend, or abrogate any data privacy or security law, rule, or policy. SECTION 8. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1 -134.6 of Title 63, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: ENGR. H. B. NO. 1688 Page 14 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 A. Data in the Oklahoma Health Care Transparency Initiative shall, to the extent authorize d by rules promulgated by the Oklahoma Health Care Authority Board, be available: 1. When disclosed in a form and manner that ensures th e privacy and security of protected health information as required by state and federal laws, as a resource to insurers , employers, purchasers of health care, researchers, state agencies, and health care providers to allow for assessment of health care utilization, expenditures, and performance in this state including , but not limited to, as a resource for hospital community health needs assessments; and 2. To state programs regarding health care quality and costs for use in improving health care in the state, subject to rules prescribed by the Board conforming to state and federal privacy laws or limiting access to limited -use data sets. B. Data in the Oklahoma Health Care Transparency Initiative shall not be used to disclose trade secrets of submitting entitie s, and shall be used or disclosed only in compliance with applicable state and federal data privacy and security la w and in compliance with the policies established by the Board or the state-designated entity for health information exchange . C. Notwithstanding any other section of law, the Oklahoma Health Care Transparency Initiative shall not publicly disclose any data that contains direct personal identifiers. ENGR. H. B. NO. 1688 Page 15 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 SECTION 9. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1 -134.7 of Title 63, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: A. Except for state or federal agencies that are submitting entities, a submitting entity that fails to submit data as required by the Oklahoma Health Care Transparency Initiative Act of 2023 or the rules promulgated by the Oklahoma Health Care Authority Board may be subject to a penalty. B. The Board shall adopt a schedule of penalties not to exceed One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) per day for e ach day the violation occurs, to be determined by the severity of the violation. C. A penalty imposed under this section m ay be remitted or mitigated upon such terms and conditions as the Board considers proper and consistent with public health and safety. D. A penalty remitted under this section shall be used to fund operations of the Oklahoma Health Care Transparency Initiative. SECTION 10. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1 -134.8 of Title 63, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: A. The State Department of Health shal l submit all public health data and vital statistics data collected by the Department pursuant to Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes to the state- designated entity for health information exchange for integration into the Oklahoma Health Care Transparency Initiative database ENGR. H. B. NO. 1688 Page 16 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 created pursuant to Section 6 of this act including, but not limited to, data collected regarding hospital discharge and emergency department records for the uninsured, birth and death records, and disease registry data. B. The data submitted pursuant to subsection A of this sec tion shall be assigned a unique identifier and may be used in accordance with the purposes of the Oklahoma Health Care Transparency Initiative and the rules promulgated pursuant to the Oklahoma Health Care Transparency Initiative Act of 2023. SECTION 11. AMENDATORY 51 O.S. 2021, Section 24A.3, as last amended by Section 1, Chapter 402, O.S.L. 2022 (51 O.S. Supp. 2022, Section 24A.3), is amended to read as follows: Section 24A.3 As used in the Oklahoma Open Records Act: 1. "Record" means all documents including, but not limited to, any book, paper, photograph, microfilm, data files created by or used with computer software, computer tape, disk, record, sound recording, film recording, video record or other material regardless of physical form or characteristic, created by, received by, under the authority of, or coming into the custody, control or possession of public officials, public bodies or their representatives in connection with the transacti on of public business, the expenditure of public funds or the administering of public property. "Record" does not mean: a. computer software, ENGR. H. B. NO. 1688 Page 17 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 b. nongovernment personal effects, c. unless public disclosure is required by other laws or regulations, vehicle movement records of the Oklahoma Transportation Authority obtained in c onnection with the Authority's electronic toll collection system, d. personal financial information, credit reports or other financial data obtained by or submitted to a public body for the purpose of evaluating credit worthiness, obtaining a license, perm it or for the purpose of becoming qualified to contract with a public body, e. any digital audio/video recordings of the toll collection and safeguarding activities of the Oklahoma Transportation Authority, f. any personal information provided by a guest a t any facility owned or operated by the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department to obtain any service at the facility or by a purchaser of a product sold by or through the Oklahoma T ourism and Recreation Department, g. a Department of Defense Form 214 ( DD Form 214) filed with a county clerk including any DD Form 214 filed before July 1, 2002, ENGR. H. B. NO. 1688 Page 18 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 h. except as provided for in Section 2 -110 of Title 47 of the Oklahoma Statutes, (1) any record in connection with a Motor Vehicle Report issued by the Department o f Public Safety, as prescribed in Section 6 -117 of Title 47 of the Oklahoma Statutes, or (2) personal information within driver records, as defined by the Driver 's Privacy Protection Ac t, 18 United States Code, Sections 2721 thro ugh 2725, which are stored and maintained by the Department of Public Safety, or i. any portion of any document or information provided to an agency or entity of the state or a political subdivision to obtain lic ensure under the laws of this state or a political subdivision that con tains an applicant's personal address, personal phone number, personal electronic mail address or other contact information. Provided, however, lists of persons licensed, the existence of a license of a person, or a business or commercial address, or othe r business or commercial information disclosable under state law submitted with an application for licensure shall be public record, or ENGR. H. B. NO. 1688 Page 19 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 j. data submitted under the Oklahoma Health Care Transparency Initiative Act of 2023; 2. "Public body" shall include, but not be limited to, any office, department, board, bureau, commission, agen cy, trusteeship, authority, council, committee, trust or any entity created by a trust, county, city, villag e, town, township, district, school district, fair board, court, executi ve office, advisory group, task force, study group or any subdivision thereo f, supported in whole or in part by public funds or entrusted with the expenditure of public funds or administering or operating public property, and all committees, or subcommitte es thereof. Except for the records required by Section 24A.4 of this title, "public body" does not mean judges, justices, the Council on Judicial Complaints, the Legislature or legisl ators. "Public body" shall not include an organization that is exempt f rom federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 19 86, as amended, and whose sole beneficiary is a college or university , or an affiliated entity of the college or university, that is a member of The Oklahoma State System of H igher Education. Such organization shall not receive direct appropriations from the Oklahoma Legislature. The following persons shall not be eligible to serve as a voting member of the governing board of the organization: a. a member, officer, or employe e of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, ENGR. H. B. NO. 1688 Page 20 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 b. a member of the board of regents or other governing board of the college or university that is the sole beneficiary of the orga nization, or c. an officer or employee of the college or university that is the sole beneficiary of the organization; 3. "Public office" means the physical location where public bodies conduct business or keep records; 4. "Public official" means any official or employee of a ny public body as defined herein; and 5. "Law enforcement agency" means any public body charged with enforcing state or local crimi nal laws and initiating criminal prosecutions including, but not limited to, police departments, county sheriffs, the Depart ment of Public Safety, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control, the Alcoholic Beverage Laws Enforcement C ommission, and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. SECTION 12. It being immediately necessary for th e preservation of the public peace, health or safet y, an emergency is hereby declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall tak e effect and be in full force from and after its passage and approval. ENGR. H. B. NO. 1688 Page 21 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Passed the House of Representati ves the 22nd day of March, 2023. Presiding Officer of the House of Representatives Passed the Senate the ____ day of __________, 2023. Presiding Officer of the Senate