Ala. Admin. Code r. 410-2-1-.05

Current through Register Vol. 42, No. 7, April 30, 2024

Section 410-2-1-.05 - Data Collection And Publication

(1) Efficient health planning and Certificate of Need decisions are dependent upon the availability of reliable health care data. Accurate inventories of existing resources and accurate utilization statistics are required in the State Health Plan to continue accurately projecting the need for additional health care facilities, equipment, and services that are subject to regulation herein.

(2) In 2015 the Alabama Health Planning Facilitation Act ("Act") was enacted. The Act was written to "...provide for certain mandatory health care reporting to SHPDA, to designate the SHPDA as the agency to collect, compile, and analyze the collected reports; to establish and provide for the membership of the Health Care Information and Data [Advisory] Council; to require that the SHPDA, after receiving advice and guidance from the council, adopt rules to implement this act; to provide for penalties for failure [to] make the required reports; and to require the SHPDA to meet certain deadlines or lose its authority to require the reporting." The Health Care Information and Data Advisory Council ("HCIDAC") consists of representatives of CON authorized providers, the Statewide Health Coordinating Council, and the Certificate of Need Review Board, and has authority to review the survey instruments used by the Agency to collect utilization data from "mandatory reporters" as defined by rule, and to review and authorize publication of data collected by the Agency in furtherance of its mission. The Act further provided for the development and implementation of an electronic filing system for mandatory reports by providers with the Agency.

(3) The HCIDAC, in conjunction with the CON Review Board and the Agency, developed new rules defining a "mandatory reporter"; reviewed and revised the survey instruments used by mandatory reporters to submit utilization data to the Agency; and defined electronic filing, for the purposes of the rule, as e-mailing completed mandatory reports to an e-mail address specifically created by the Agency for use in processing said reports. Amended rules related to the Act, including the new survey instruments, were approved by the CON Review Board in January 2016. Additional rules regarding enforcement of the mandate, including administrative penalties and the ability to bar providers deemed noncompliant from participating in the CON process, were also approved. The HCIDAC further directed the Agency to research the development and implementation of an online filing system for the submission of both mandatory reports and for filings related to the Certificate of Need program in general in order to increase both the efficiency and the transparency of all interactions with the Agency.

(4) SHPDA, at the direction of the HCIDAC, is working with the Alabama Office of Information Technology ("OIT") to develop and implement an online filing system that will address all filings made with the Agency. The system will also allow for the purchase of copies of documents previously filed with the Agency, including CON applications, mandatory reports, etc. The system, once developed, is expected to be implemented in three stages.

(a) Stage one will require that all new projects (CON applications, letters of non-reviewability, changes of ownership, etc.), shall be filed through the new system, and will allow for users to become familiar with the new system while other components are developed.

(b) Stage two will require all new mandatory reports be filed through the online system. During the implementation of stages one and two, existing projects and older data collections shall continue to be filed via e-mail, to allow for consistency of filings, as well as to allow time for SHPDA staff to add older documentation and data to the system.

(c) Stage three will require that ALL filings with the Agency occur through the new system, as all existing active project files and active data collections are expected to be completely uploaded by this time.

(5) To increase and improve efficiency, SHPDA staff is also working to improve internal processes through the application of technology already available to Agency personnel. These improvements are scheduled to be developed during the development and implementation of the online system, with the goal being the implementation of the online and internal system improvements occurring at the same time. The implementation of both an online filing system and internal improvements undertaken by the Agency are expected to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of staff; provide more transparency to applicants, mandatory reporters, and boards; and to provide a clearer picture of current utilization and need to allow for a more precise decision making process for both the Statewide Health Coordinating Council and the CON Review Board.

(6) In furtherance of the stated desire of the Statewide Health Coordinating Council to have the best possible information available to make the most appropriate decisions for the citizens of Alabama, the Agency is directed to continue to research new technology to allow for a clearer and more accurate picture of existing facility utilization to be presented. Technology such as Business Intelligence or other analytical software would provide additional capability to Agency, Board, and provider representatives seeking to determine potential need. Any technology that provides more efficiency and effectiveness to the health planning process, if cost effective and user friendly, should be investigated and used if appropriate to the stated mission of the Agency and its boards.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 410-2-1-.05

Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XXXIII, Issue No. 03, December 31, 2014, eff. 1/6/2015.

Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XXXVIII, Issue No. 06, March 31, 2020, eff. 5/15/2020.

Rule .04 was renumbered .05 per certification published March 31, 2020; effective May 15, 2020.

Author: Statewide Health Coordinating Council (SHCC)

Statutory Authority:Code of Ala. 1975, § 22-21-260(4).