Virginia’s single technology platform that connected emergency departments across the state has expanded to permit data sharing between all health care providers, insurers and other organizations that have a treatment, payment or operations relationship with a patient in the Commonwealth.
The Smartchart Network Program, formerly known as the Emergency Department Care Coordination (EDCC) Program, became effective Jan. 1, 2024. In addition to the name change, the 2023 General Assembly amended and reenacted 2017 EDCC legislation to allow health care providers, health care entities and insurance carriers statewide to access to patients’ critical medical information directly via the providers’ current secure electronic health record system. Under the previous law, participation was limited to hospital emergency departments. Participation by health care providers, health care entities and insurance carriers under the new law, though permitted, is not mandatory. Following in EDCC footsteps, Smartchart strives to improve patient care and reduce costs by supporting near real-time communication and collaboration across health systems and geographic boundaries.
Besides data sharing, the program affords emergent, non-emergent and downstream providers the ability to establish real-time alerts to identify and flag patient-specific risks, as well as create and share care coordination plans and other recommendations. In addition, data can be used to identify and redirect patients from unnecessary ER visits to more appropriate care settings such as telehealth or same-day clinic appointments as well as avoid duplicative tests. This is especially helpful in reducing costly ER visits by high-utilizer patients.
Other shared information includes lab results, images, and hospital admissions, transfers and discharges, which is available to a patient’s primary care physician, managed care organization, and clinical and care management personnel. Smartchart also integrates the state’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, the Advance Health Care Directive Registry, and serves as a portal for vital public health notices.
When sharing and using information exchanged via Smartchart, participating health care providers, health care entities and insurance carriers should take steps to foster compliance with the Privacy and Security rules of HIPAA.
The 2023 legislation indicates the Smartchart program remain housed within the Virginia Department of Health like its predecessor. The law also directs that the program remain a collaboration of the Department, the Department of Medical Assistance Services, the Department of Health Professions, the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association, the Virginia Association of Health Plans, the Medical Society of Virginia, the Virginia College of Emergency Physicians, the Virginia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatricians, and the Virginia Academy of Family Physicians to advise the Commissioner and the third-party contractor that administers the program. Additional guidance is expected from this advisory council.
Attorneys and practice areas related to this topic include:
Jonathan M. Joseph
Rachel V. Rogers
Health Care
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