Okla. Stat. tit. 63, § 63-1-117: Legislative findings - Intent

A. As a result of rising health care costs and concerns

expressed by health care providers, health care consumers, third-

party payors and the general public, and as a result of public

health information showing that Oklahoma has a higher death rate

than the national average, the Oklahoma Legislature finds that there

is an urgent need to establish and maintain, for the purposes of

accurately assessing the health of the public, health care planning

and cost containment, an information base for the State of Oklahoma

that will facilitate ongoing analysis and evaluation of patterns and

trends in the health status of Oklahomans, the utilization and costs

of health care services, and the capability of the various

components of the health care industry to provide needed services.

B. The Oklahoma Health Care Information System shall be

responsible for the development and operation of a method for

collecting, processing and disseminating health care data including,

but not limited to, quality, expenditure and utilization data. It

is the intent of the Legislature that a uniform set of data be

periodically and routinely compiled that will make possible the

ongoing analysis, comparison and evaluation of trends in the quality

and delivery of health care services in this state for the purpose

of effective health care planning by public and private entities,

cost containment, health facility development, and improving access

to and quality of care.