From the desk of Rachael Roehrig, Deputy Executive Director of KHIE

Welcome to the September edition of KHIE Monthly Update!

September is a significant month for our colleagues in the behavioral health community, marking both National Recovery Month and Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. These observances remind us that behavioral health and substance use disorder (SUD) treatment are essential components of a patient's whole-person healthcare, and information shared by these providers adds crucial context to patient data in KHIE.

In this edition, we will take a close look at KHIE's Consent tool, which simplifies the process for obtaining and logging patient consent for sharing SUD treatment information under 42 CFR Part 2. This important tool supports provider workflows, care coordination, and ultimately improves outcomes for our patients!

In recognizing National Recovery Month and Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, we sincerely thank the SUD and behavioral health providers, whose dedication and lifesaving work support patients and their families every day. Thank you for all you do to help individuals on their recovery journeys and to build a healthier Kentucky.

Deputy Inspector General

Contents

»September Feature: Supporting SUD Recovery Through Connected Care – KHIE's Consent Tool

September marks National Recovery Month and Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, a time to reflect on Kentuckians who are struggling with mental health conditions and substance use disorder (SUD) and the care teams who support them and their families. KHIE is committed to supporting the recovery journeys of these patients, and the providers and care teams who support them.

Current State of Behavioral Health in Kentucky

These statistics highlight the importance of early identification, access to services, and coordinated care. KHIE supports these efforts by connecting providers with timely health information to improve care coordination and help ensure Kentuckians receive the right care at the right time.

Sources: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), National Survey on Drug Use and Health state estimates; Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center (KIPRC). Reporting periods vary by measure.

The Challenge: Connecting SUD Treatment

Unlike other data shared through KHIE, SUD treatment data comes with a unique challenge: 42 CFR Part 2. This set of federal regulations protects the privacy of patients in SUD treatment and requires patients' explicit approval for their treatment information to be shared with other healthcare providers and organizations.

While these protections are essential for maintaining patient privacy and reducing stigma, they also create an administrative burden on SUD providers. They make it difficult to include a patient's SUD treatment information in the health information exchange. As a result, physical health providers get an incomplete view of the patient's health, which limits care coordination.

The KHIE Solution: Streamlined Consent Management for 42 CFR Part 2

KHIE's Consent tool is KHIE's solution for managing SUD patient consent, compliant with the requirements of 42 CFR Part 2. Consent transforms the process of obtaining and submitting patient consent for sharing data into a streamlined, patient-centered workflow:

For Patients:

• An easy way to register their consent through a user-friendly, digital interface
• Control over their information, including the ability to:
  • ⚬ Set an expiration date for their consent
  • ⚬ Revoke consent at any time
  • ⚬ Clearly see who has viewed their records

For Providers:

• Reduce administrative burden with automated consent tracking, storage, and submission
• A complete clinical picture for better-informed clinical decision-making
• Compliance with 42 CFR Part 2 and built-in safeguards

For the Healthcare System:

• Improve care coordination between behavioral health and physical health providers and care teams
• Improve patient outcomes when all of the patient's care teams are working together and staying informed
• Reduce duplicative testing and medication errors
• Support value-based care and whole-person health

Scenario 1: Pain Relief in the ER

A 42-year-old man is brought to the emergency department following a car crash. He has a broken leg and is in severe pain. The patient is in a substance use treatment program for an opioid addiction and recently consented to sharing his treatment information.

On accessing the Clinical Information application in the KHIE Portal, the attending physician can see:

• The patient's treatment record
• Notes from his substance use program provider
• A prescription for Naltrexone

Using this information, the physician can select appropriate pain management treatment in the ER, preventing a serious drug interaction and protecting the patient's recovery journey.

Scenario 2: Preventing Medication Interactions

A 28-year-old woman is being treated with buprenorphine for opioid addiction. She presents to her primary care provider with a urinary tract infection. When she began her opioid treatment program, she gave consent for her treatment information to be shared through KHIE.

Before prescribing an antibiotic, her provider checks her information in the KHIE Portal. Using this information, the provider can:

• See that the patient is in a recovery program and is taking buprenorphine.
• Prescribe a suitable antibiotic while avoiding potentially adverse drug interactions.
• Support the patient and reinforce the importance of continuing her current care plan.
• Identify and close care gaps, improving care coordination.

When patients consent to share their SUD treatment information through KHIE, their providers gain a more complete view of the patient's health, enabling safer prescribing, more effective care coordination, and better-informed clinical decisions. This September, we recognize the critical work being done by behavioral health and SUD providers across Kentucky and the important role coordinated, whole-person care plays in supporting recovery!

Visit the KHIE website to access the Consent Tool User Guide, and contact your Outreach Coordinator for additional information, training, or support.

Recent KHIE Portal Enhancements

Clinical Information App

Population Explorer / CEND

»Progress Updates: Strengthening the Exchange

As part of our commitment to transparency and continuous improvement, the KHIE team is actively advancing several initiatives designed to strengthen the exchange and enhance the participant experience. These include:

Historical Data Migration Progress – As of September 14, all available 2025 data has been migrated into KHIE, ahead of our original October 2026 target date! ⚬ It is now accessible within patient records under Structured Documents in the HIE tab. The migration of 2024 data is now underway with completion targeted for the end of 2026.

• Patient Matching Enhancements – Continuing refinements to improve patient identity matching and data accuracy across participating organizations. Our teams have conducted research and a full analysis, identifying opportunities to leverage additional demographic data to improve patient match rates, reduce duplicate records, and strengthen data quality across the exchange. We anticipate incorporating these enhancements in the coming months.
• Participant Onboarding Improvements – KHIE completed enhancements to the onboarding process, providing a more streamlined, consistent, and predictable experience. We are excited to note that onboarding is officially underway for new and existing participants on our waitlist! We can't wait to welcome you and guide you through the next steps.
  • ⚬ If you have any questions, please reach out to your KHIE Onboarding Analyst or Outreach Coordinator (or see this webpage if you need help identifying your Outreach Coordinator).

Kentucky Health Information Exchange • khie.ky.gov