Kansas Health Information Exchange Calls It A Day

The board responsible for overseeing the digital exchange of Kansans' health records today unanimously approved transferring its duties to a state agency within a year, provided the Legislature acts to make the transfer legal.

If the Legislature amends the law, as is now expected, the functions of the Kansas Health Information Exchange would be transferred to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment by October 2013. Under the transition plan drafted by KDHE, the 17-member KHIE board currently appointed by the governor would become an advisory committee appointed by the KDHE secretary.

The goal of transferring the authority to KDHE is to reduce costs. Operating the board was expected to cost about $400,000 a year as an independent entity versus about $54,000 a year if the board's regulatory functions are assumed by the state.