Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) participates in electronic health information exchanges (HIEs). This notice describes how exchanging health information through HIEs helps healthcare providers give you safer, faster, and more efficient care. This information is about 2 HIEs, called Healthix and Carequality.

We will give you instructions about what to do next. Please read this information carefully. MSK recommends you give your consent. We know we can give you better care if you let us see and share your health records through both Healthix and Carequality.

Here’s a summary of your choices

Yes. You give your permission (consent):

• You let us see your health records from your other providers through Healthix.
• We can see your information through Carequality, and answering “yes” does not change that. We explain below how to tell us if you do not want us to see your information through Carequality.

No. You do not give your permission (you opt out):

• You are not taking part in Healthix and Carequality.
• MSK will not see or share your health records through Healthix and Carequality.
• MSK will not share with your other healthcare providers notifications of your MSK registration, admissions, discharges, and transfers.

You do nothing:

• If you do not make a choice about Healthix, MSK only can see your health records through Healthix during a medical emergency.
• MSK must share your health records with Healthix.
• MSK can see your health records from other providers who use Carequality.
• Your other providers who use Carequality can see your MSK health records.
• We explain below how it will affect your care if you do nothing.

What is an HIE?

It’s common for our patients to get healthcare services outside of MSK. That’s why we’re part of HIEs that let MSK, and your other providers, communicate electronically with each other.

An HIE gives us a private and secure way to share your MSK electronic medical records with your providers outside of MSK. That information can help your MSK care team make better and faster decisions about your care at MSK.

Your other providers will know about your care at MSK. We will be able to see your health history. This includes past medical treatments, the medications you take, and tests done by your non-MSK providers.

These HIEs allow MSK and your other providers to share your electronic records privately and securely:

• Healthix covers Long Island and New York City (except for the Bronx). Your healthcare providers in these locations can share your health information with each other.
• Carequality has coverage across the country.

More Information About Your Choices 

We know we can give you better care if you let us see and share your health records through both Healthix and Carequality.

Let MSK See: Under New York state law, MSK and your other providers need your permission to see your health records through Healthix. We explain how to do that below. If you don’t make a choice about Healthix, MSK only can see your health records through Healthix during a medical emergency. We cannot see that information as part of your regular care at MSK without your permission. We can see your information through Carequality, so you don’t need to do anything. If you do not want us to see your information through Carequality, we will explain how to do that below.

Let MSK Share: You don’t need to take any action for MSK to share your health records. MSK will share your MSK health records through Healthix and Carequality unless you tell us not to. In fact, under New York state law, MSK must share your health records with Healthix unless you tell us not to. If you do not want us to share your MSK health records through the HIEs, we explain how to do that below. MSK will not share with your other providers notifications of any of your MSK admissions, discharges, and transfers.

For more information, please see our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

To tell us your choice, here are your next steps: