Pennsylvania Statutes Title 62 P.S. Poor Persons and Public Welfare § 1401-C. Definitions

The following words and phrases when used in this article shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

“Board.” The Pennsylvania eHealth Partnership Advisory Board.

“Department.” The Department of Human Services of the Commonwealth.

“Electronic health record.” An electronic record of health-related information relating to an individual that is created, gathered, managed and consulted by health care providers or payers.

“Fund.” The Pennsylvania eHealth Partnership Fund.

“Health care provider.” A person licensed by the Commonwealth to provide health care or professional clinical services. The term includes:

(1) A “health care practitioner” as defined in section 103 of the act of July 19, 1979 (P.L. 130, No. 48),  1 known as the Health Care Facilities Act.

(2) A “health care provider” as defined in section 103 of the Health Care Facilities Act.

(3) A public health authority.

(4) A pharmacy.

(5) A laboratory.

(6) A person that provides items or services described in section 1861(s) of the Social Security Act (49 Stat. 620, 42 U.S.C. § 1395x(s)).

(7) A “provider of services” as defined in section 1861(u) of the Social Security Act (49 Stat. 620, 42 U.S.C. § 1395x(u)).

“Health information.” Oral or recorded information in any form or medium that is created or received by a health care provider relating to the following:

(1) The past, present or future physical or mental health or medical condition of an individual.

(2) The past, present or future payment, treatment or operations for the provision of health care to an individual.

“Health information exchange.” A Statewide interoperable system established under this article that electronically moves and exchanges health information between approved participating health care providers or health information organizations in a manner that ensures the secure exchange of health information to provide care to patients.

“Health information organization.” An information technology infrastructure with an interoperable system that is established by a health care provider or payer or that connects participating health care providers or payers to ensure the secure digital exchange of health information among participants engaged in the care of the patient.

“Health information technology.” Hardware, software, integrated technologies or related licenses, intellectual property, upgrades or packaged solutions sold as services that are designed for or support the use by health care entities or patients for the electronic creation, maintenance, access or exchange of health information.

“Interoperability.” The ability of different operating and software systems to employ federally recognized standards to exchange data securely, accurately, effectively and in a manner that maintains and preserves the clinical purpose of the data.

“Participant.” A person or entity which has been approved by the department to send and receive health information using the health information exchange.

“Payer.” An entity that contracts or offers to contract to provide, deliver, pay or reimburse any of the costs of health care services, including an employer, a health care plan, the Federal government, the Commonwealth, a municipality, a labor union or an entity licensed under any of the following:

(1) The act of May 17, 1921 (P.L. 682, No. 284),  2 known as The Insurance Company Law of 1921.

(2) The act of December 29, 1972 (P.L. 1701, No. 364),  3 known as the Health Maintenance Organization Act.

(3) 40 Pa.C.S. Ch. 61 (relating to hospital plan corporations).

(4) 40 Pa.C.S. Ch. 63 (relating to professional health services plan corporations).

“Secretary.” The Secretary of Human Services of the Commonwealth.