Reflecting on 2024: A Year of Growth and Collaboration

As we close out an eventful year and embark on a new one, NCHIIN would like to reflect on our accomplishments in 2024. Your guidance and support as collaborative participants made these achievements possible.

Program Highlights

Built three new NCHIIN HIE interfaces
Expanded partnerships & functionality of the North Coast Care Connect Community Information Exchange

New Funding Partnerships

Data Exchange Framework (DxF) Technical Assistance
Redwood Region Resilient Inclusive Sustainable Economy (RRRISE) Sector Table Coordinator and Sector Investment Coordinator
Humboldt Community Health Trust (Accountable Community for Health) advanced a Hub model for supportive services in Humboldt County
Support for RxSafe Humboldt- Humboldt County's opioid safety coalition
Optimization of the North Coast Resource Hub - mobile resource directory
Core Member of the local Aging, Disability, and Resource Connection model with Tri-County Independent Living and the Area 1 Agency on Aging

We’re proud of these milestones and request your input to guide our success in 2025 and beyond. Please take a moment to complete our NCHIIN HIE Participant survey by January 15, 2025. You’re encouraged to share this survey with colleagues and others within your organization, so we gather diverse perspectives from leadership, IT, medical providers and front line team members.

Complete the Survey

Consent and Privacy: NCHIIN Guidelines

With increasing connectivity among healthcare IT systems, it’s essential to include Health Information Exchange (HIE) language in your organization's Notice of Privacy Practices (NPP). To support organizations, the California Center for Data Insights and Innovation (CDII) created a Model NPP Template.

Key Points on Consent for HIE Participants:

California is an opt-out state: Patients are automatically enrolled in the HIE but can opt out of having their information stored or disclosed.
During registration, if a patient opts out, inform them about NCHIIN's Opt-Out Process. Encourage the patient to discuss this with their care provider before making a decision, as opting out may limit access to critical medical information such as lab results or diagnostic reports.
Review ASTP/ONC's Patient Consent for Electronic Health Information Exchange webpage to learn more about meaningful consent.

NCHIIN HIE Educational Materials

NCHIIN HIE Poster

NCHIIN HIE FAQs

NCHIIN Opt-Out Form

Note: The consent information provided does not constitute legal advice. For advice specific to your situation, please consult a qualified attorney or legal professional.

Event Notifications:

How NCHIIN Supports Patient Follow-Up

NCHIIN partners with regional hospitals to secure Admission, Discharge, and Transfer (ADT) notifications. These notifications can help primary care offices identify patients in need of follow-up care, promoting recovery and improved health outcomes following hospitalization, as aligned with payment programs, such as Medicare Transitional Care Management Services.

Interested in learning more?

Contact NCHIIN to explore available options for your organization.

Join the Data Exchange Framework (DxF) to Enhance Patient Care

Despite the tremendous progress made during the last two years, the state estimates only 50% of mandatory signatories have signed the Data Sharing Agreement (DSA), and 33% have completed the corresponding entry in the DxF Participant Directory as of September 2024. Now is the time for healthcare and social service providers to join the movement toward efficient electronic health and social service information exchange.

Benefits of Participation in the Data Exchange Framework through the North Coast Health Improvement & Information Network (NCHIIN):

Improved patient care through continuity, informed treatment plans, and better communication
Reduced medical errors with access to comprehensive patient history
Increased efficiency by eliminating unnecessary paperwork and testing
Improved public health through outbreak monitoring and reporting
Technical infrastructure to support state and national initiatives

Learn more about NCHIIN's DxF Compliance Support

Sign the DSA or Update the Participant Directory

CareQuality and EPIC Align with TEFCA: What It Means for NCHIIN & Participants

CareQuality's and EPIC's recent announcements to align with TEFCA policies may have future implications for NCHIIN’s participants, many of whom connect to CareQuality or Qualified Health Information Networks (QHINs), such as Commonwell, through EHR vendors. By the end of 2025, alignment with TEFCA’s standard operating procedures may be necessary in order to continue seamless national network records sharing.

What is TEFCA?

The Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA) establishes nationwide standards for secure health information sharing. The Common Agreement Version 2.1, released in November 2024, outlines Participant and Subparticipant Terms of Participation (ToP) that entities, such as EHR vendors and QHINs, must follow.

The updated ToP outlines all Participants and Subparticipants are required to sign a Framework Agreement that includes Flow-Down provisions before engaging in TEFCA exchange activities. To help organizations understand these new guidelines, the Sequoia Project has developed a Summary of Flow Down Provisions.

TEFCA FAQs