Resources for Behavioral Health Providers
Behavioral and Mental Health Providers Are Required to Connect to NC HealthConnex
Behavioral and mental health providers in North Carolina are required to connect to NC HealthConnex. The first step is to complete a participation agreement. Having a signed and executed participation agreement demonstrates a good faith effort to meet the mandate to connect as outlined in the HIE Act. More about the process can be found on our How to Connect page.
Benefits of NC HealthConnex
Many behavioral and mental health providers do not have access to critical patient information, such as labs and allergies, and can be isolated from sharing information with other health care providers. These siloed systems can sometimes lead to delays in an accurate diagnosis or a potentially harmful drug interaction.
The N.C. Health Information Exchange Authority (NC HIEA) recognizes the importance of health care providers having access to behavioral health and treatment records in their daily practice. We also recognize the importance of behavioral health providers having access to their patient's physical health records to enable whole person care.
What Data Can and Cannot Be Shared
Only participating health care providers and other HIPAA-covered entities that have signed Full Participation Agreements with the NC HIEA will be able to access a patient's medical information through NC HealthConnex. Patient data may be provided to third parties who have entered into contracts with the NC HIEA for limited purposes (e.g., Tailored Care Managers with NC Medicaid coordinating patient care).
These contracts ensure that all relevant privacy statutes and regulations are followed in how health information is viewed, used and shared. The NC HIEA also has the power to audit the use of patient information by each participating practice and each third party to ensure the law is being followed.
TYPES OF DATA SHARED
- Inpatient Admissions
- Discharge Information
- Encounters
- Diagnoses
- ER Reports
- Laboratory Results
- Allergies
- Prescribed Medications
- Procedures
- Problems
- Vital Signs
- Immunizations
- Smoking Status
- Referrals
TYPES OF DATA NOT SHARED
Federal laws and regulations prevent the NC HIEA from receiving and/or managing certain types of mental health or substance use treatment data without patient consent.
Participants cannot send substance use disorder (SUD) information covered by 42 C.F.R. Part 2 to NC HealthConnex. However, participants may share Part 2 data through Direct Secure Messaging (DSM) when communicating directly with providers or entities when otherwise permitted by 42 C.F.R. Part 2. Consult with your legal counsel to determine if your services should be considered as a federally-assisted substance use disorder treatment program.
Mental health providers should not send psychotherapy notes (as defined in HIPAA) to the NC HealthConnex data repository. However, notes can be shared with other providers via Direct Secure Messaging, as long as the provider complies with applicable laws and obtains the patient's consent.