Consent Policy for Public Comment

Pursuant to Conn. Gen. Stat. § 17b-59a(c), the Office of Health Strategy “shall establish electronic data standards to facilitate the development of integrated electronic health information systems”. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 17b-59f further designates the Health Information Technology Advisory Council (HITAC) to advise the Office of Health Strategy (OHS) “in developing priorities and policy recommendations for advancing the state's health information technology and health information exchange efforts and goals and to advise the executive director and officer in the development and implementation of the state-wide health information technology plan and standards and the State-wide Health Information Exchange, established pursuant to Conn. Gen. Stat. § 17b-59d. The advisory council shall also advise the executive director and officer regarding the development of appropriate governance, oversight and accountability measures to ensure success in achieving the state's health information technology and exchange goals.”

This Policy represents the HITAC’s recommendations for the principles and standards that the Health Information Alliance, Inc. (HIA) should incorporate into the policies and procedures of the State’s health information exchange (HIE) regarding patient consent. These policies and procedures must include identification of key Federal, including but not limited to Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and State law and regulations that govern access to or the release of Protected Health Information (PHI) and safeguards to ensure the security and proper use of patient PHI for the purposes set forth in Conn. Gen. Stat. § 17b-59d. The HIA should ensure that consumers are informed about the goals of the HIE, the benefits of participating in the HIE, and the member’s right to limit sharing of their PHI. 

A draft of the proposed OHS Consent Policy Recommendation can be reviewed here: Statewide Health Information Exchange Consumer Consent Policy Recommendation

The public comment period remained open to the public 30 days. All public comments can be found in the OHS Recommendations Regarding the Statewide Health Information Exchange Consumer Consent Public Comment Summary and Five-Year Statewide Health IT Environmental Scan

Additional public comments referred to (not included in report) can be found here: 

Consent Design_Draft_Guiding Principles_Public Comment_CT Hospital Association

Consent Design_Draft_Guiding Principles_Public Comment_Ellen Andrews

Consent Design_Draft_Guiding Principles_Public Comment_Joan_Cavanagh

Consent Design_Draft_Guiding Principles_Public Comment_Supriyo B Chatterjee

Consent Design_Draft_Guiding Principles_Public Comment_Universal Health Care Foundation