225C.6A Disability services system central data repository.

1. The department shall do the following relating to data concerning the disability services system in the state:

a. Plan, collect, and analyze data as necessary to issue cost estimates for serving additional populations and providing core disability services statewide. The department shall maintain compliance with applicable federal and state privacy laws to ensure the confidentiality and integrity of individually identifiable disability services data. The department may periodically assess the status of the compliance in order to assure that data security is protected.

b. Implement a central data repository under this section for collecting and analyzing state, county and region, and private contractor data. The department shall establish a client identifier for the individuals receiving services.

c. Consult on an ongoing basis with regional administrators, service providers, and other stakeholders in implementing the central data repository and operations of the repository. The consultation shall focus on minimizing the state and local costs associated with operating the repository.

d. Engage with other state and local government and nongovernmental entities operating the Iowa health information network under chapter 135 and other data systems that maintain information relating to individuals with information in the central data repository in order to integrate data concerning individuals.

2. A county or region shall not be required to utilize a uniform data operational or transactional system. However, the system utilized shall have the capacity to exchange information with the department, counties and regions, contractors, and others involved with services to persons with a disability who have authorized access to the central data repository. The information exchanged shall be labeled consistently and share the same definitions. Each regional administrator shall regularly report to the department the following information for each individual served: demographic information, expenditure data, and data concerning the services and other support provided to each individual, as specified by the department.

3. The outcome and performance measures applied to the regional service system shall utilize measurement domains. The department may identify other measurement domains in consultation with system stakeholders to be utilized in addition to the following initial set of measurement domains:

a. Access to services.

b. Life in the community.

c. Person-centeredness.

d. Health and wellness.

e. Quality of life and safety.

f. Family and natural supports.

4. a. The processes used for collecting outcome and performance measures data shall include but are not limited to direct surveys of the individuals and families receiving services and the providers of the services. The department shall involve a workgroup of persons who are knowledgeable about both the regional service system and survey techniques to implement and maintain the processes. The workgroup shall conduct an ongoing evaluation for the purpose of eliminating the collection of information that is not utilized. The surveys shall be conducted with a conflict-free approach in which someone other than a provider of services surveys an individual receiving the services.

b. The outcome and performance measures data shall encompass and provide a means to evaluate both the regional services and the services funded by the medical assistance program provided to the same service populations.

c. The department shall develop and implement an internet-based approach with graphical display of information to provide outcome and performance measures data to the public and those engaged with the regional service system.

d. The department shall include any significant costs for collecting and interpreting outcome and performance measures and other data in the department’s operating budget.

2004 Acts, ch 1090, §34; 2006 Acts, ch 1159, §1, 3; 2007 Acts, ch 218, §87, 92; 2010 Acts, ch 1031, §376; 2013 Acts, ch 19, §1; 2013 Acts, ch 140, §188

Referred to in §225C.4, 225C.52