Title
Business Associate Agreement to provide after hours services with Southwest Medical Center.
Body
Recommended Action: Approve the agreement and authorize the Chairman to sign.
Background: This Business Associate Agreement defines the confidentiality expectations around the protected health information shared between COMCARE and the Southwest Medical Center. It incorporates obligations on each party under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH) related to the privacy and security of protected health information. This Business Associate Agreement accompanies the agreements between COMCARE and Southwest Guidance Center for after hours services through COMCARE's Crisis department.
Alternatives: The purpose of the contract between COMCARE and Southwest Guidance Center is to provide after hours Crisis services. These after hours services may be requested by Southwest Medical Center. Protecting that shared health information is critical, and this agreement outlines and reinforces those confidentiality expectations.
Financial Considerations: N/A
Legal Considerations: The authority for this agreement is K.S.A. 19-101 and a simple majority vote is required.
Policy Considerations: All Sedgwick County policies were followed in the development of this agreement.