The Sequoia Project on Tuesday published additional standard operating procedures for participation in the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common agreement. It also released the fee schedule for Qualified Health Information Networks.

WHY IT MATTERS
Tapped by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT to lead TEFCA's rollout, the Sequoia Project has been publishing a series of documents for healthcare organizations seeking to become a QHIN under the program or otherwise prepare for TEFCA participation.

Among the newest batch: Common Agreement QHIN Fee Schedule 1 (Version 1) and Exchange Purposes Standard Operating Procedures for QHINs, participants and sub-participants.

Sequoia Project is also seeking feedback on the draft Individual Access Services Provider Privacy and Security Notice and Practices SOP, which details the requirements and standards for IAS providers to follow in implementing a privacy and security notice.

Stakeholders can comment on the draft through July 21 via online submission forms.

Applications will open 30 days after the Sequoia Project releases the revised QHIN application and QHIN Onboarding & Designation SOP, reflecting user feedback, the group says.

THE LARGER TREND
The Sequoia Project published draft onboarding and designation standard operating procedures for potential Qualified Health Information Networks this past month.

This past week, Epic announced that when the application process opens later this year it will apply to connect to TEFCA as an inaugural Qualified Health Information Network.

Epic says it worked with ONC and the Sequoia Project on the project, and plans to collaborate with the other healthcare organizations around the country to "build consensus around the principles and procedures of TEFCA."

See also: Everything you wanted to know about TEFCA (but were afraid to ask

ON THE RECORD
"Healthcare providers, patients, payers, state agencies, public health professionals and other stakeholders will be able to use the policies, technical specifications, and network connectivity requirements of the TEFCA to send and receive electronic health information seamlessly," said Sequoia Project officials in an FAQ.

"Currently, stakeholders often must join multiple networks to get the information they need to support patient care. In contrast, joining a HIN that participates in the network created by the Common Agreement will enable access to and exchange of information from varied sources."

Twitter: @MikeMiliardHITN
Email the writer: mike.miliard@himssmedia.com
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