In a solicitation released Monday, the county of Orange is looking for “IT consultant services (information blocking and interoperability)” to enable it to address the recent publication of federal-level rulings on health information. Among the takeaways:
- The Orange County Health Care Agency (HCA), in collaboration with HCA Information Technology Security Services and the county privacy officer, seeks to procure a professional contractor to address the March 9, 2020, publication of “separate, but related final rules addressing interoperability standards and information blocking regulations” by the U.S. Health and Human Services agencies, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. These, the county said in its solicitation, “present complex clinical, operational, privacy and security challenges to payers, health-care providers, health information exchanges (HIEs), and health information technology (HIT) developers.”
- Orange County wants the contractor to develop “a clear strategy to understand complex rules, identify and prioritize key focus areas for compliance, develop and standardize policies and procedures, manage the risks involved, and to maximize benefits from the significant investment in and commitment to enhanced technical infrastructure, cybersecurity, and human resources.” The entity selected must also deliver evidence of past performance, technical and administrative project management, and support including planning and requirement analysis, guidance, strategy development and execution of the technical and administrative requirements of information blocking and interoperability. The county also needs “integration with HCA’s EHRs (electronic health records) and other identified systems regarding the final rules as applicable to HCA as a health plan and a payor.”
- Among the experience and qualifications required for the position, respondent should “identify current and past contracts” with relevant services; and “any unique ability proposer has to perform the services.” Respondent should also describe how it will address the scope of work, including “experience with electronic health records vendors,” “experience with information blocking and interoperability,” and discuss “project management tools, dedicated staff and responsibilities, and project plan/timeline.” Project staff must have “a minimum of five years of expertise and experience, with emphasis on the public sector.” Specific responsibilities including identifying HCA systems that apply to the final federal rules, “business risks and scope of work for HCA as both a health plan and a payer” in areas including information blocking, resolving practices needed to address regulatory requirements, creating and integrating business and compliance implementation plans and processes; and working with HCA regarding IT developer APIs on implementation of final rules.
- This is a roughly 18-month, fixed-fee contract, estimated to run from March 14-Sept. 30, 2023, unless “earlier terminated by the parties.” Contract value is not to exceed $200,000. Questions are due by 4 p.m. Monday. Responses to the solicitation are due by 4 p.m. Feb. 15. Evaluations/contract negotiations and award will take place Feb. 22-28.
