Promoting Interoperability

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) declared readiness for all four Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) public health reporting use cases, effective Jan. 1, 2022.

Health care system and independent hospital partners working toward full reimbursement for Medicare services need to actively engage with all four of these use cases:

• Syndromic Surveillance Reporting
• Electronic case reporting (eCR)
• Electronic laboratory reporting (ELR)
• Immunization reporting (MIIC)

Health information organization

MDH has contracted with Koble Minnesota, a State-certified health information organization (HIO), to help support interoperability implementation between MDH programs and the external partners that have the information needed to perform public health work. Koble Minnesota has near statewide coverage connections with Minnesota health systems. MDH will work with our data exchange partners to ensure increased value and reduced administrative burden of public health reporting by leveraging existing connections and other strategies. Additional information, including the Koble participation agreement and contact information, can be found at Koble Minnesota.

How to initiate a connection

Partners should use the MDH Interoperability Checklist (PDF) to document their intent to engage in submission of data; email this form to health.interoperability@state.mn.us when completed.

PHINMS replacement

Decommissioning PHINMS and replacing with an alternate connection. MDH will prioritize any existing connection methods with your organization.

PHINMS Replacement Request Form

Attestation letters

MDH provides attestation letters to health care organizations who are engaged in interoperable data exchange per the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Promoting Interoperability (PI) and Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) guidelines upon their request. To request attestation letters or letters of active engagement please complete the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Interoperability Attestation Request Form.

MDH will review the CMS PI and MIPS requirements that your health care organization has met and will provide an attestation letter if requirements have been met.