Participation Agreements for SHIN-NY Due Oct. 15th
(Oct. 7, 2025) LeadingAge NY attended a meeting with the Department of Health (DOH) and other long-term care provider associations last week. The Director of the Bureau of Data Programs and Policy, Office of Health Services Quality and Analytics (also part of DOH), and staff from the NY eHealth Collaborative (NYeC) shared information with attendees about the Statewide Health Information Network for NY (SHIN-NY) and upcoming deadlines set by DOH for Article 28, 36, and 40 providers to sign up as participants in the SHIN-NY.
As members likely know, the SHIN-NY is the entity charged with the secure electronic exchange of patient health information in the state. It connects health care providers across the state through data sharing, alerts, and coordination of care. All of the state’s hospitals are connected via the SHIN-NY, along with over 100,000 health care professionals.
Since the SHIN-NY was established in 2016, technological advances have made data sharing easier, allowing broader SHIN-NY participation to coordinate care, reduce costs, and share advance care alerts to providers. Types of clinical data available to providers include demographics, allergies, medications, problem lists/diagnoses, procedures, lab results, image reports, immunizations, progress and consult notes, discharge summaries, emergency department (ED) reports, other transcribed reports, electrocardiogram (EKG) tracings, vital signs, and family/social history.
In July 2024, regulations were updated to eliminate strict technology requirements and add the promulgation of the Statewide Common Participation Agreement (SCPA) for providers. These changes make it easier for health care providers, plans, and governmental agencies to become SHIN-NY participants and access the SHIN-NY through a SCPA.
At this time, the State is requiring providers under Articles 28, 36, and 40 to choose a Qualified Entity (QE), also known as a Health Information Network (HIN), to engage with the SHIN-NY and complete a SHIN-NY SCPA. A draft SCPA is available here.
Communication from the State regarding this requirement has been a bit disjointed. There was an initial deadline of Sept. 30th. At this time, the Department has set a deadline of Oct. 15, 2025 for providers to complete a participation agreement and choose a QE. Providers not signed up with a QE by this new deadline must complete a simple Corrective Action Plan form provided by the State here. There is also a waiver process that providers can access if they are unable to participate.
Members should note that if your organization previously signed a Participation Agreement with one of the six QEs, it must still sign a SCPA.
Signing up with the SHIN-NY does not require having an electronic health record (EHR). For providers who are not yet connected, simply choose a primary QE as the HIN to support your agency. The QEs are Bronx Regional Health Information Organization (RHIO), HealtheConnections, Healthix, HEALTHeLINK, Hixny, and Rochester RHIO.
After choosing your QE, complete this contact form to be routed to your chosen QE, who will guide you through the SCPA completion process. After your agency signs the SCPA, NYeC will get you connected and walk you through the onboarding process. Your organization will also receive training to enable your staff to maximize your connectivity and take full advantage of all of the system’s features.
More information about the SHIN-NY is available here, and information about the SCPA is available here.
Stakeholders have asked for a webinar from the State to share more information with providers. DOH is also planning to issue a Dear Administrator Letter (DAL) on this requirement, but it is likely to be issued after the deadline.
Contact: Meg Everett, meverett@leadingageny.org