FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. What's an Electronic Health Information Exchange?2. What's an electronic health record?
3. What are health facts?
4. How does this electronic health record help me?
5. What kinds of facts are part of the electronic health record?
6. What kinds of facts are not parts of the electronic health record?
7. How do doctors see my electronic health record?
8. How do my health facts become part of the electronic health record?
9. How will my health facts be kept private?
10. Do I have to sign up to have an electronic health record?
11. What does "Opt Out" mean?
12. How do I opt out?
13. How long will the opt out take?
14. After I opt out, can I change my mind?
15. If I opt out, do any of my medical health facts show?
16. If I do nothing now, and my health facts are included in the SCHIEx, can I change my mind later?
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1. What's an Electronic Health Information Exchange?
It's a method to share electronic medical information or "health facts" securely between doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers when it's needed for a patient's care.
2. What's an electronic health record?
It's your health facts including your health history that are kept in a computer. We can use the electronic health information exchange to send your health facts right to your doctor's office computers. The electronic health information exchange we'll use is called the South Carolina Health Information Exchange or SCHIEx.
3. What are health facts?
Your "health facts" means your Protected Health Information (PHI). Your PHI is information that identifies you, like your name and date of birth. PHI is also information about your health kept in your health care records.
4. How does this electronic health record help me?
You probably go to more than one doctor for your health care. Sometimes it's important for your doctors to know about other care you're getting.
Your health care providers already share your health facts for treatment, payment, or operations (TPO) through methods such as mailing or faxing. The SCHIEx will make this process more effective.
The SCHIEx lets your doctors see the electronic health facts that are listed in your health care record. They won't have to wait for paper copies. While you're in their office, your doctor can see:
- Other health problems you have
- The treatment you've gotten and
- The kinds of medicine you take
5. What kinds of facts are part of the electronic health record?
- Your name and date of birth
- Health problems you have now or have had in the past; including treatment you got
- Medicine you take now or have taken in the past, including medicine you get over the counter (without a prescription) if your doctor lists them in your record
- Drugs you're allergic to if your doctor lists them in your record
- The results of blood work or other tests
- Primary care doctor's name and address
6. What kinds of facts are not parts of the electronic health record?
- Facts on new health claims that your doctors haven't turned in yet
- Over the counter medicine you get without a prescription that your doctor doesn't list in your record
- Health facts that are not in electronic form yet
- X-rays and other film and charts (like EKG or MRI)
- Health facts from providers that don't share information with SCHIEx
7. How do doctors see my electronic health record?
Wherever you get care, doctors can see your health facts over a secure Internet site. BUT, the public can't see them. Federal and state laws require all doctors and other health providers to keep your health facts private.
8. How do my health facts become part of the electronic health record?
Insurance Claims (including claims submitted to Medicaid)
When you get health care, your doctor turns in a "health claim" to your insurance company. It shows the health problem(s) you were treated for and the date you got care. Most of the facts in your electronic health record come from these paid health claims.
Electronic Medical Records
Information may come from existing electronic records from your hospital, laboratory, pharmacy, or doctor's office. Your doctor or hospital may choose to share these electronic records in the SCHIEx so that other doctors will have a more complete medical history.
Some health facts, like prescriptions, will be added right away. But, it may take several weeks for other kinds of health facts to be added.
And not all of your health facts will be listed in this electronic health record. Your paper health records at your doctors' offices may have other health facts. So, it's important that you talk with all of your doctors about your health facts.
9. How will my health facts be kept private?
Providers participating in the SCHIEx will only allow people that have been authorized to see your health information. Before doctors or other health providers can be authorized to see your health facts they must:
- Sign a promise to keep your health facts private
- Use their username and password (every doctor or provider will have their own) AND
- Follow federal and state privacy laws
Your health facts can't be seen by:
- The public or
- By doctors or other health providers that are not approved
- Except for emergencies, doctors or other providers with whom you do not have an established relationship to provide your health care.
10. Do I have to sign up to have an electronic health record?
No. Your health facts are a part of the SCHIEx. If, however, you would prefer not to share your health facts, you must opt out.
11. What does "Opt Out" mean?
It means you can decide not to show your medical health facts in the South Carolina Health Information Exchange, also called "SCHIEx". This is called opt out.
Health providers won't be able to see your medical health facts:
- When caring for you
- If you are in an emergency, or
- If you are hurt and can't talk to the health providers caring for you, or
- If you can't get your health facts because of a natural disaster, like a flood or tornado
While participation in the SCHIEx may improve your care, it is completely voluntary and you will continue to receive health care from your providers if you decide to opt out.
12. How do I opt out?
Medicaid
To opt out, you must call the Resource Center at 1-888-549-0820 to inform SC Medicaid that is what you would like to do. You will be asked for identifying information such as your Medicaid identification number or your social security number to verify your identity. After that information is verified, your health information will be removed from the SCHIEx.
Lakelands Rural Health Network (LRHN)
To opt out, you just inform your provider that is what you would like to do and you will need to sign a form stating your decision. You will be asked for identifying information such as your insurance identification number or your social security number to verify your identity. After that information is verified, your health information will be removed from the SCHIEx.
13. How long will the opt out take?
Medicaid recipients calling the Resource Center are opted out immediately.
LRHN recipients are opted out in no more than 15 business days.
14. After I opt out, can I change my mind?
Yes. You can change your mind and decide to "Opt In" and share your medical health facts. To opt in, if you are in Medicaid, simply call the Resource Center at 1-888-549-0820 and tell them you would like to opt back into SCHIEx. If you are in the LRHN you just inform your provider that is what you would like to do and sign a form stating your decision. You will be asked for your insurance card number or social security number to verify your identity. After that information is verified, a request will be submitted to add your information back to the SCHIEx. Once you have opted out and then opt back in, health facts about the care you received during the period of time you had opted out will be included in SCHIEx.
15. If I opt out, do any of my medical health facts show?
No. The record will say you have decided not to show your medical health facts.
16. If I do nothing now, and my health facts are included in the SCHIEx, can I change my mind later?
Sure. You can send in the opt out form, or call the Resource Center, at any time in the future, and your information will be deleted from the system.