Arkansas Code Title 20. Public Health and Welfare § 20-8-110. Health care information--Acquisition--Dissemination

(a) The Health Services Permit Agency shall act as a statewide health data clearinghouse for the acquisition and dissemination of data from healthcare providers, the Arkansas Medicaid Program, third-party payors, state agencies, and other appropriate sources in furtherance of this section.

(b) All state agencies having information with regard to health matters shall make available to the Health Services Permit Agency such health data as is necessary for the Health Services Permit Commission to carry out its responsibilities.

(c) All health facilities requiring a permit of approval by the state shall submit annually a report of utilization statistics as may be required by the Health Services Permit Agency.

(d) The Insurance Commissioner shall require all third-party payors, including, but not limited to, licensed insurers, medical and hospital service corporations, health maintenance organizations, and self-funded employee health plans, to provide the commission with claims data for health matters.

(e) State agencies which survey hospitals, home health agencies, outpatient surgery centers, or nursing homes for licensure or certification shall annually report to the Health Services Permit Agency on the surveys of the various facilities. The annual report shall list facilities by name with patient care citations and numbers of serious patient injuries per year by facility.

(f) The Director of the Health Services Permit Agency shall be empowered to release data collected pursuant to this section, subject to the following limitations:

(g) The Secretary of the Department of Health shall prescribe such rules as may be necessary to carry out the purpose of this section.